(BRUSSELS) - EU governments on Tuesday trimmed the bloc's 2009 draft budget back by nearly two billion euros (3.2 billion dollars) from what the European Commission had proposed.

The new draft, which foresees spending worth 114.9 billion euros, was "adopted without difficulty" by budget ministers in Brussels, said French Budget Minister Eric Woerth, whose country holds the EU's presidency.

The commission, which said it was "disappointed" by the move, had proposed spending of 116.7 billion euros, which would have represented a reduction of three percent from the 2008 budget.

The European Parliament could introduce more modifications when it reviews the member states' budget proposals in November.

The biggest cut was made in on projects to improve competitiveness and employment with 721 million euros cut, followed by a 499 million euros reduction for natural resource preservation and management.

A further 392 million euros were cut from planned spending on foreign policy initiatives, 102 million euros from administrative expenses and 23 million euros from security and justice.

"This draft budget shows the determination (of member states) to boost the sound management of EU public resources and respond to European citizens concerns," the French presidency said in a statement.

European Union draft budget 2009 adopted unanimously at the ECOFIN Council

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