BUDGET: COMMISSION PRESENTS STRICT BUDGET FOR 2004.

The 2004 PDB is down 2% in respect of payment appropriations for the EU-15 in relation to 2003, but up 3.2% for the EU-25. The most spectacular reduction in appropriations concerns Heading 2 (Structural actions) with a 7.5% cut due on the one hand to the phasing in of the new Member States and on the other, the phasing out of the current Member States regarding programmes preceding Agenda 2000, an outcome accentuated by the "suspension clause" affecting several programmes in view of delays accumulated in their implementation. On the technical level, this PDB is a delicate exercise since it provides for a Budget for the EU-15 between January 1 and May 1, 2004, along with amendments that should be adopted for the EU-25 on the eve of the effective accession of the new Member States.

In this context of enhanced budgetary discipline, the Council has significantly altered Amending Budgets for 2003 presented by the Commission. On a recommendation from its Budgetary Committee, the Council has thus not retained the proposal for commitment appropriations of Euro 32 million and payment appropriations of Euro 10 million for the demolition...