28/07/2005 (Agence Europe) - Initial results for the 2004 EU-25current account reveal a deficit of EUR 21.8bn. This external EU deficit is largely due to a negative balance in goods and current transfers (- EUR 26.9bn and - 41.7bn respectively). The balance of payments for services, however, achieved a surplus of EUR 41.1bn. The EU15's current balance of payments chalked up a surplus of EUR 20.1bn due to sales in goods and services and revenue despite the deficit in current transfers. The current balance of payments for the EU15 with Canada, the USA and the EFTA countries improved on 2003 but the deficit with Japan got worse ( - EUR 23.6bn).