Revised figures on Slovakia's reported state budget to be released by the
European Union's statistical office, Eurostat, should not threaten the country's chances of meeting the Maastricht budget criterion, National Bank of Slovakia (NBS) Governor Ivan Šramko said.
Early estimates indicate that the impact on this year's general government deficit would be 0.2-0.3 percent of GDP, Šramko told a conference called Transition to the Euro in Financial Institutions.
Eurostat demanded that the National Highway Company, the Slovak Television, the Slovak Radio and state hospitals be included in the general government
deficit too. It is expected to issue an official statement on October 22.
According to Šramko, last year's deficit would thus deepen from the current 3.4 percent to about 4.1 percent of GDP. However, meeting of the criterion this year will be decisive for the Euro adoption.
-SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
