17/10/2002 (Agence Europe) - In its latest monthly report published on Thursday, the European Central Bank again recognises that the hopes for an acceleration of growth in 2002 are not materialising. Growth in the euro zone should return to cruising speed at some 2 to 2.5% in the course of 2003, but "this scenario depends on an upturn in domestic demand", it stresses. The ECB also notes the "net fall in the stock markets", and "geopolitical tensions" linked to a possible conflict in Iraq, that could push up the price of oil. Furthermore, it again reprimands the governments of the euro zone for their lack of determination in reducing budget deficits and demands the implementation of all European procedures available to sanction countries not respecting the budget deficit limit of 3% of their GDP. "The policies of some countries remain insufficiently ambitious to reach a budget situation close to a balance or a surplus in the medium-term", writes the ECB