The EU is missing €11 billion from its 2012 budget. MEPs look into ways to help the homeless and vote on measures to stop the spread of bluetongue in cattle.

Budget hole / Homeless / Bluetongue

The year has only just begun and  the EU is out of pocket by 11 billion euros.

The Budget Commissioner  blames the states

for not approving a 2012 budget  in line with inflation.

Others feel the Commission and finance  ministers didn’t give accurate figures

You simply have to pay your bills  and meet your commitments.

It seems that finance ministers  don’t understand this,

but it's money that has been promised  to Member States.

We have to pay it, otherwise it would be  the European Union defaulting.

The death toll climbs to over 300  as the cold snap continues.

The homeless have borne the brunt  of the sub-zero temperatures.

MEPs organised a seminar Wednesday  to consider their plight

and will be voting next week  on food aid for the needy.

The head of Eurodiaconia, Heather Roy,  says free movement in the EU means

governments have responsibilities  towards people on the street.

People move for work, from a difficult socio-  economic situation to look for a better one,

and that's when we need good  social protection systems to support them.

Transmitted by a midge, grazing livestock  are at risk of bluetongue in Europe.

but once one animal is infected,  a quarantine zone must be put in place.

Vaccination is the only way  to prevent the virus.

MEPs voted on rules for vaccinating cattle  using a new and improved vaccine.