Romania had in 2008 the third biggest governmental deficit in the European Union, being equivalent of 5.5 per cent of GDP, and being exceeded only by Greece (which had a governmental deficit of 7.7 per cent of GDP) and Ireland (with a governmental deficit of 7.2 per cent of GDP), according to the revised data presented yesterday by the European Office of Statistics (Eurostat).

Compared to the first estimate, published in April, Eurostat has revised upward (from 5.4 to 5.5 per cent of GDP) the figures regarding the governmental deficit of Romania in 2008.

According to the revised figures, Romania had a governmental deficit of RON 27.941 bln in 2008 (vs. RON 27.295 bln, as announced in April) and a deficit of RON 10.466 bln in 2007.

Romania is in a good position in terms of governmental debt as percentage of GDP (13.6 per cent), being exceeded only by Estonia, where the governmental debt was in 2008 equivalent of 4.8 per cent of GDP, and Luxembourg (13.5 per cent).

According to Eurostat, Romania had in 2008 a governmental debt of RON 68.532 bln, vs. a governmental debt of RON 52.292 bln in 2007. In the first estimate, published in April, Romania was on the last but one place at Community level, being exceeded only by Estonia.