Decision 2009/415 - 2009/415/EC: Council Decision of 27 April 2009 on the existence of an excessive deficit in Greece - Main contents
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official title
2009/415/EC: Council Decision of 27 April 2009 on the existence of an excessive deficit in Greece| Legal instrument | Decision |
|---|---|
| Number legal act | Decision 2009/415 |
| Original proposal | SEC(2009)564 |
| CELEX number i | 32009D0415 |
| Document | 27-04-2009 |
|---|---|
| Publication in Official Journal | 30-05-2009; OJ L 135 p. 21-22 |
| Effect | 30-05-2009; Takes effect Date notif. |
| End of validity | 26-09-2017; Repealed by 32017D1789 |
| Notification | 30-05-2009; {titleAndReference.draft.disclaimer.new|http://publications.europa.eu/resource/authority/fd_365/titleAndReference.draft.disclaimer.new} |
30.5.2009 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 135/21 |
COUNCIL DECISION
of 27 April 2009
on the existence of an excessive deficit in Greece
(2009/415/EC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 104(6) thereof,
Having regard to the recommendation from the Commission,
Having regard to the observations made by Greece,
Whereas:
(1) |
According to Article 104 of the Treaty Member States are to avoid excessive government deficits. |
(2) |
The Stability and Growth Pact is based on the objective of sound government finances as a means of strengthening the conditions for price stability and for strong sustainable growth conducive to employment creation. |
(3) |
The excessive deficit procedure (EDP) under Article 104, as clarified by Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 of 7 July 1997 on speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure (1) (which is part of the Stability and Growth Pact), provides for a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit. The Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty sets out further provisions relating to the implementation of the EDP. Council Regulation (EC) No 3605/93 (2) lays down detailed rules and definitions for the application of the provisions of the said Protocol. |
(4) |
The 2005 reform of the Stability and Growth Pact sought to strengthen its effectiveness and economic underpinnings as well as to safeguard the sustainability of the public finances in the long run. It aimed at ensuring that in particular the economic and budgetary background was taken fully into account in all steps in the EDP. In this way, the Stability and Growth Pact provides the framework supporting government policies for a prompt return to sound budgetary positions taking account of the economic situation. |
(5) |
Article 104(5) of the Treaty requires the Commission to address an opinion to the Council if the Commission considers that an excessive deficit in a Member State exists or may occur. Having taken into account its report in accordance with Article 104(3) and having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Financial Committee in accordance with Article 104(4), the Commission concluded that an excessive deficit exists in Greece. The Commission therefore addressed such an opinion to the Council in respect of Greece on 24 March 2009 (3). |
(6) |
Article 104(6) of the Treaty states that the Council should consider any observations which the Member State concerned may wish to make before deciding, after an overall assessment, whether an excessive deficit exists. In the case of Greece, this overall assessment leads to the following conclusions. |
(7) |
The general government deficit in Greece reached 3,5 % of GDP in 2007, thus exceeding the 3 % of GDP reference value. According to the Commission services' January 2009 interim forecast, the general government deficit net of one-offs is estimated at 3,6 % of GDP in 2008 (or 3,4 % of GDP including one-offs). This estimation is based on a real GDP growth rate of 2,9 % in 2008 and takes account of the latest information on the execution of the 2008 Budget Law. For 2009, the Commission services' January 2009 interim forecast projects the general government deficit net of one-offs at 4,4 % of GDP (3,7 % including one-off revenues) based on a real GDP growth projection of 0,2 % and on the basis of a prudent assessment of the 2009 Budget Law approved by Parliament on 21 December. Based on the customary unchanged policy assumption and assuming the discontinuation of one-off measures, the 2010 deficit is projected at 4,2 % of GDP. Therefore, the deficit criterion in the Treaty is not fulfilled. |
(8) |
General government gross... |
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