Brussels, 25/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - Due to the EU's commitments on the reconstruction of Iraq, the increasing pressure on administrative spending of European institutions because of enlargement, and the downward adjustment of the ceilings of financial perspectives (to take current prices into account), the 2005 Budget looks as though it will be particularly tight. Such are the first budgetary indications set out in the "Annual Strategy Policy" adopted on Wednesday by the European Commission (see details in EUROPE of 24 February 2004, p.13). The expenditure ceiling in 2005 amounts to EUR 119.4 billion in commitments and EUR 114 billion in payment appropriations. The preliminary draft budget, to be presented by the Commission on 28 April, should therefore keep to this ceiling.