November 20, 2009: Greece Finalises Draft Budget to Cut Deficit

The Greek government releases a final draft of its budget that aims to cut the deficit to 8.7 percent of GDP in 2010. The deficit is now well over 10 percent, so such a reduction would show EU partners and markets that the country is trying to sort its finances out. However, the draft budget also sees public debt rising to 121 percent of GDP in 2010, from 113.4 percent in 2009. EU forecasts on Greece for 2010 are worse, with the deficit seen at 12.2 percent of GDP and national debt rising to 124.9 percent, the highest ratio in the EU. [Reuters, 3/3/2010]