Brussels, 15.07.2004 (Agence Europe) - The Finance and Budget Ministers of the EU Member States are expected to adopt on Friday at first reading a rigorous draft budget for 2005, reduced by EUR 4.3 billion in payment appropriations compared to the initial proposal by the European Commission. The Council meeting will be preceded around 11h00 by consultation with a delegation from the parliamentary committee on budgets. The meeting between two branches of budgetary authority should be heavily...