Government debt in the eurozone reached a record level

National Debt 17 EU countries using the euro in 2010 was a record 85.1% of GDP compared to 79.3% in 2009. About this site reports the Russian version of Forbes on Tuesday, April 26, referring to the EU Statistical Office (Eurostat). Government debt of all 27 EU member states has increased from 74,4% of GDP to 80%, the fiscal deficit down from 6.8% of GDP to 6,4%. Both figures are still substantially higher than acceptable levels of European legislation. Under the provisions of the Stability Pact, public sector debt should not exceed 60% of GDP, the budget deficit - 3% of GDP. However, the improvement of the budgetary situation was noted in 21 countries in the EU, the deterioration - in six states. Greece's budget deficit exceeded government estimates the country - 10,5% of GDP according to Eurostat by the National Assessment of 9,4%. However, it significantly decreased from 15.3% in 2009. Greece's debt soared to 142.8% of GDP - the highest level in Europe over the 12 years since the single currency. However, the worst performance of the budget deficit has shown not Greece, and Ireland - 32,4% of GDP. She also became the champion of Europe in terms of growth of government debt, which in 2010 increased by 30.6 percentage points - up to 96,2% of GDP. Estonia, which became the euro zone since January this year, could improve the performance of the budget and debt last year. She was the only EU country who committed a small budget surplus - 0.1% of GDP and the level of the Estonian national debt was the lowest in the EU - only 6,6% of GDP. Sweden has reduced the budget deficit to zero in 2010. Low rates of budget deficit recorded in Luxembourg (1.7% of GDP), Finland (2,5%) and Denmark (2.7%). The third-largest budget deficit in 2010, retained the UK, to reduce this figure with 11,4% to 10,4% of GDP. On the fourth line, Spain - 9.2% of GDP (11,1% of GDP in 2009), followed by Portugal (9.1% of GDP), Poland and Slovakia (7,9% of GDP), Latvia (7,7 % of GDP), Lithuania (7.1% of GDP) and France (7% of GDP) .14 of the 27 EU member states had in 2009 the national debt higher than 60% of national GDP: Greece (142.8% of GDP), Italy (119% ), Belgium (96,8%), Ireland (96,2%), Portugal (93%), Germany (83,2%), France (81,7%), Hungary (80,2%), UK ( 80%), Austria (72,3%), Malta (68%), Netherlands (62,7%), Cyprus (60,8%) and Spain (60,1%). In 2009, these countries were 12, newcomers in this group are Cyprus and Spain. Last year, government expenditures amounted to euro-zone countries 50,4% of GDP, budget revenues - 44.4% of GDP. For the 27 EU countries, these indicators were 50.3% and 44.0% respectively.