Brussels, 13/03/2012 (Agence Europe) -On Monday evening, the head of the Eurogroup, Jean-Claude Juncker, said that his first impression of the recent measures introduced by the Belgian government to bring the country's deficit back below the 3% cut-off point in 2012 was that they were good. EU Euro Commissioner Olli Rehn welcomed the huge efforts made by Belgium, which would boost confidence in the country's economy. The measures include an increase in cigarette duty and the stock market trading charge and additional public spending cuts. Announcing the measures, Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo said that there had not been any cut in the minimum wage in Belgium or for that matter, any cuts in the size of the retirement pension or family allowances. Neither had there been any increase in VAT. (MB/transl.fl)