28.6.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 190/76

(1)

On 2 December 2009, following a recommendation from the Commission, the Council decided, in Council Decision 2010/290/EU (1), that an excessive deficit existed in Slovakia. The Council noted that according to the data notified by the Slovak authorities in October 2009, the general government deficit was planned to reach 6,3 % of GDP in 2009, above the 3 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value, while the general government gross debt was planned to stand at around 36 % of GDP in 2009, well below the 60 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value. The general government deficit and debt for 2009 reached 8 % of GDP and 35, 6 % of GDP, respectively.

(2)

On 2 December 2009, in accordance with Article 126(7) of the Treaty and Article 3(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 (2), the Council, based on a recommendation from the Commission, addressed a Recommendation to Slovakia with a view to bringing the excessive deficit situation to an end by 2013 at the latest. That Council Recommendation was made public.

(3)

In accordance with Article 4 of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaties, the Commission provides the data for the implementation of the procedure. As part of the application of that Protocol, Member States are to notify data on government deficits and debt and other associated variables twice a year, namely before 1 April and before 1 October, in accordance with Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 (3).

(4)

When considering whether a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit ought to be abrogated, the Council is to take a decision on the basis of notified data. Moreover, a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit should be abrogated only if the Commission forecasts indicate that the deficit will not exceed the 3 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value over the forecast horizon (4).

(5)

Based on data provided by the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 479/2009, following the notification by Slovakia before 1 April 2014, and on the Commission services 2014 spring forecast, the following conclusions are justified:

(6)

Starting from 2014, which is the year following the correction of the excessive deficit, Slovakia is subject to the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact and should progress towards its MTO at an appropriate pace, including respecting the expenditure benchmark.

(7)

In accordance with Article 126(12) of the Treaty, a Council Decision on the existence of an excessive deficit is to be abrogated when the excessive deficit in the Member State concerned has, in the view of the Council, been corrected.

(8)

In the view of the Council, the excessive deficit in Slovakia has been corrected and Decision 2010/290/EU should therefore be abrogated,