LOCAL MEP Terry Wynn has landed a top job in the European Parliament.

The North West Labour MEP has been appointed chairman of the powerful Budget Committee.

After a meeting in Strasbourg for the opening session of the new Parliament, the 180 strong Socialist Group of MEPs went for the Budgets Committee as their first choice and Terry Wynn as their nominee.

"It's an honour and a privilege to get the support of my colleagues for this position," said Mr Wynn.

"And it's a significant coup for the British."

The European Parliament is the joint authority with the Council of Ministers responsible for the £60 million budget of the EU.

One of his first major jobs is to determine funding for the reconstruction of Kosovo.

"We have already had a couple of meetings with the Finance Ministers about this and we are determined to get a solution," added Mr Wynn.

"The chairman's job carries a lot of responsibilities, but the main task is to get agreements between seven political groups, 15 different nationalities working in 11 different languages, on figures in millions."

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