The general government deficit of 4.7% of GDP (EUR 801m) in the first half of the year is thus 0.4 percentage points higher than in the year before.

However, the actual overall deficit exceeds 7% of GDP if interest expenditure of nearly EUR 430m (about 2.5% of GDP) is included.

Consolidated general government debt totalled 62.6% of GDP at the end of June, having surged from 54.8% of GDP in the first quarter.

Debt of the central government is estimated at 61% of GDP, that of the local government at 2% of GDP and social security funds add another 0.2% of GDP.