Brussels, 01/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - After consecutive three year deterioration, the average level of public deficit in euro zone Member States has gone from 2.8% of GDP in 2003 to 2.7% in 2004, according to a report for 2005 by the Commission on public finance presented on 1 June. In the EU25, the average fell from 2.9% to 26%. However, in 2004, the year was dominated by reform of the Stability and Growth Paste, the deficits of the four major states of the euro zone (France, Germany, Italy and Greece) and the seven non-EMU members (United Kingdom, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Cyprus and Malta) which overshot the 3% of GDP figure. The Commission explained that improvement in the average level of public deficit came via reductions in some of the new Member States. Average debt, however, increase in the euro zone, from 70.8% in 2003 to 71.3% in 2004 and is expected to reach 71.7% in 2005 and 71.9% in 2006 (the ceiling is 60%). The report also points to an increasing difference between the budget forecasts of Member States and the results at the end of the year, particularly due to the lack of rigour on spending, “the way the Commission and the Council implement the reformed pact in the next few months and years will be crucial” insisted a press release from Joaquin Almunia, who added, “II don't believe that reform has been a great success, particularly with regard to the uncertainty at the moment on the EU's ability to go forward…the Commission has to play a full role in rule implementation” . The report is available on: (http: //europa.eu.int/comm/economy_finance/publications/publicfinance_en.htm).