THE FINANCE Ministry has introduced a state budget draft for 2003 that forecasts a deficit of Sk38 billion, or 3.5 per cent of GDP. Finance Minister František Hajnovič has said the EU is urging the government to reduce the shortfall to below 3 per cent of GDP, especially as the deficit forecast does not include bank restructuring costs or state loan guarantees.
22. Jul 2002 at 0:00 | From press reports of TASR and SITA