Brussels, 16.07.2004 (Agence Europe) - The Ecofin Council (in Budget formation) approved at first reading on Friday a very strict draft budget for 2005. It agreed to finance in its own way (by reducing funding for several EU external actions programmes) aid of EUR 200 million for reconstruction in Iraq, and decided to pursue examination of the EUR 259 million (from 2004 to 2006) in favour of the northern part of Cyprus. The Council did not take on board the request made by France and Belgium...