[autom.vertaling] De commentaren van commissaris Solbes over de begroting van 2004 van Portugal (en)

Commissioner Solbes said:

The Commission will give its full assessment of the 2004 budget and the medium term objectives of the Portuguese budgetary policy only after a full and thorough assessment of the measures proposed. As an initial reaction, we note with satisfaction that Portugal is committed to adhering to our common fiscal framework and continues its efforts to end the period of excessive deficits that burden the Portuguese economy.

Budgetary developments in Portugal in 2003 have been negatively influenced by the worse than expected slow down. Portugal will have a negative growth rate in 2003. It nevertheless appears that the general government deficit can be kept at below 3%, albeit with recourse to a large amount of one-off operations. Some of these operations have still to be clarified and their statistical treatment has to be formally cleared by Eurostat.

As for 2004, we take note with satisfaction of the planned deficit figures of 2.8% of GDP. This objective appears to be based on prima-facie realistic growth assumptions. However, uncertainties remain, including reliance on large one-off operations amounting to 1.1% of GDP. In our upcoming Autumn forecast we will take into consideration as usual the intended government operations (one-offs and other) to the extent that they are sufficiently well specified at that time.