HIGHER PAYMENT APPROPRIATIONS IN 2004 FOR STRUCTURAL FUNDS.

On October 13, the Commission presented the EU's Preliminary Draft Amending Budget for 2004, which increases payment appropriations by Euro 3.4 billion for most of the Structural Funds budget lines. This rise is funded by three elements: reducing payment appropriations by Euro 1.1 billion in the agricultural sector; increased revenue forecast, in particular for import duties, of Euro 1.3 billion; and the remaining Euro 1 billion to come from transfers between budget chapters as well as higher national contributions.

In contrast to previous years, Member States have improved the "use made of the resources of Structural Funds for...