The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted changes to the EU financial regulation, the staff rules and the 2010 budget needed for the European External Action Service to be launched. MEPs have managed to increase Parliament's overview of the service and to ensure that recruitment will respect geographical and gender balances. The budgeting rules (the financial regulation) of the European External Action Service (EEAS) were amended to ensure transparency and financial accountability. The amendments adopted include stringent provisions on traceability and budgetary and financial accountability