In 2012 Italy recorded a deficit of 3%. This was revealed by Eurostat, trimming the provisional estimate released in February by 0,1%. However, the figure is in line with Istat calculations. The European report card is important for our country because it will determine Brussels' choices regarding whether or not Italy will exit the infringement procedure for excessive deficits.
The decision is expected by the end of May and is not obvious, especially after the approval of the decree that releases 40 billion of payments by the public administration to companies and which led to a revision of government estimates, which corrected the forecasts for the 2013 deficit from 2,4 to 2,9%. A figure that would in any case remain below the Maastricht parameter, equal to 3%.
As for the report debt-GDP, according to Eurostat Italy closed last year at 127%, in second place after Greece (156,9%). The whole Eurozone, however, recorded progress on the deficit front (from 4,4% to 3,7%) and an increase in debt (from 87,3% to 90,6%). Widening the gaze toEuropean Union, the data went from 4,4% to 4,0% and from 82,5% to 85,3% respectively.
The highest deficit is that of Spain (10,6%), followed by Greece (10%), Ireland (7,6%), Portugal (6,4%). France is at 4,8%, while Germany is the only country with a surplus (+0,2%).
