Brussels, 04/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquín Almunia said on Thursday 4 June that the Latvian government's proposals in its supplementary budget for 2009 were a step in the right direction, but that more had to be done to tackle the deterioration in its public finances. The Latvian government says that the country's public deficit could be as much as 9.2% of GDP in 2009, rather than the 5% forecast in the international financial support plan approved at the end of 2008. While the budget presented this week was “a first step”, Almunia suggests further budgetary and structural measures. “I am looking forward to seeing additional steps adopted during the second reading of the budget, as announced by the government,” the Commissioner said in a press release, as Latvia awaits payment of the second tranche of the €3.1 billion loan from the EU (this loan remains dependent on the implementation of a detailed economic policy programme, see EUROPE 9810). (A.B./transl.rt)