Definition: In this task, a passage will be given and the goal is to identify an event from the passage. An event is defined as a single word representing something that happened, is happening, or may happen. An event can be factual or hypothetical, positive or negative, certain or uncertain. While most events are based on verbs, an event can also be based on a noun (ex. storm, snow, rainfall) or a copula verb (is, was, been, etc.). The event must not be a pronoun or an adjective. For noun events with multiple words, use the last word in the phrase as event.
Input: Passage: Without agreement on the EU financial perspective for 2007-2013, French President Jacques Chirac could only confirm that the funds destined for the region "would not decrease" under the next financial framework. A new 1.5-billion-euro (about 1.8 billion US dollars) financing facility from the European Investment Bank, intended for the private sector in the South Mediterranean, was the only "new" money put on the table in Barcelona.

confirm