Brussels, 20/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 21 September, the Commission is to examine the budgetary situation of the United Kingdom, which presented an excessive deficit of 3.2% for the last financial year (from April 2004 to March 2005). The Commission will not, on this occasion, take a decision on whether or not an excessive deficit exists in the United Kingdom, as it will not formulate its opinion and possibly make a recommendation (104§4 and 5) until it is in possession of the opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), which will have 15 days to take position. The College will go no further than to analyse the data contained in the latest British budgetary notifications and will verify whether the excessive deficit can be considered to be both temporary and close to the reference value, which is not a foregone conclusion. Despite a deficit in excess of 3% in 2003-2004, London escaped proceedings, as the deficit was minimal and showed signs of being temporary. This time, however, the budgetary forecasts for 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 threatened to exceed the limit, due partly to lower rates of growth than anticipated, according to several sources close to the dossier. If the double condition of a temporary deficit and one close to the 3% mark is fulfilled, it will be possible to take all relevant factors into account in the proceedings, such as the implementation of policies under the Lisbon programme, medium-term budgetary developments, the viability of the debt or public investment. London can boast some results on these points. In any case, the United Kingdom is not a member of the EMU and is not therefore subject to the sanctions provided for by the excessive deficit proceedings. The Commission and the Council will thus merely formulate the recommendations under article 104§6 and 7, and possibly reiterate them.