Just before the holiday break, the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific Research and Technology announced that it has released the 12 billion lire (US $7 million) due to the Centre's 1996 and 1997 budget. At the same time, the Ministry announced that the Centre's 1998 budget would be 26 billion lire (US $15 million). The decision does not represent an increase in the ICTP's annual budget, but it does define the contribution as an "obliged" action by law. The decision, which stabilises the Centre's annual budget, will permit more careful planning of future activities.