28/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - According to the new estimates published on 27 April by Eurostat, the balance of operations with third countries on current accounts in the European Union (EU15) showed a surplus of EUR 15 billion during the third quarter 2003, compared to a surplus of 19.5 billion during the fourth quarter 2002 and 20.3 billion in the third quarter 2003. According to the EU's Statistical Office, the fall in the surplus of the balance on current accounts in the EU15 observed in the fourth quarter 2003 compared to the fourth quarter 2002 results in a more marked fall of current credit transactions (-3.1%) than current debit transactions (-2.1%). In the fourth quarter 2003, smaller surpluses were recorded for the balance of goods (+15 billion euros compared to +15.9 billion during the fourth quarter 2002), of services (+6.3 billion compared to +8.3 billion) and income (+3.3 billion compared to +6.3 billion). The deficit in current transfers was reduced (-9.6 billion compared to -11.0 billion). For the whole of the year 2003, the balance of transactions on current accounts in EU15 recorded a surplus of EUR 53.6 billion compared to a surplus of EUR 56.2 billion in 2002.