Council Opinion

of 18 January 2005

on the updated stability programme of Austria, 2004-2008

(2005/C 79/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council regulation (EC) No 1466/97 of 7 July 1997 on the strengthening of the surveillance of budgetary positions and the surveillance and coordination of economic policies [1], and in particular Article 5(3) thereof,

Having regard to the recommendation of the Commission,

After consulting the Economic and Financial Committee,

HAS DELIVERED THIS OPINION:

| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |

Real GDP(% change) | SP Dec 2004 | 1,9 | 2,5 | 2,5 | 2,2 | 2,4 |

COM autumn 2004 | 1,9 | 2,4 | 2,4 | n.a. | n.a. |

SP Nov 2003 | 1,9 | 2,5 | 2,5 | 2,4 | n.a. |

HICP inflation(%) | SP Dec 2004 | 2,1 | 1,8 | 1,4 | 1,5 | 1,6 |

COM autumn 2004 | 2,1 | 1,8 | 1,4 | n.a. | n.a. |

SP Nov 2003 | 1,2 | 1,5 | 1,7 | 1,8 | n.a. |

General government balance(% of GDP) | SP Dec 2004 | – 1,3 | – 1,9 | – 1,7 | – 0,8 | 0,0 |

COM autumn 2004 | – 1,3 | – 2,0 | – 1,7 | n.a. | n.a. |

SP Nov 2003 | – 0,7 | – 1,5 | – 1,1 | – 0,4 | n.a. |

Primary balance(% of GDP) | SP Dec 2004 | 1,9 | 1,2 | 1,3 | 2,2 | 2,9 |

COM autumn 2004 | 1,7 | 0,9 | 1,2 | n.a. | n.a. |

SP Nov 2003 | 2,8 | 1,9 | 2,2 | 2,8 | n.a. |

Cyclically-adjusted balance(% of GDP) | SP Dec 2004 | – 0,9 | – 1,7 | – 1,6 | – 0,8 | – 0,1 |

COM autumn 2004 | – 1,0 | – 1,9 | – 1,7 | n.a. | n.a. |

SP Nov 2003 | – 0,4 | – 1,4 | – 1,1 | – 0,5 | n.a. |

Government gross debt(% of GDP) | SP Dec 2004 | 64,2 | 63,6 | 63,1 | 61,6 | 59,1 |

COM autumn 2004 | 64,0 | 63,9 | 63,4 | n.a. | n.a. |

SP Nov 2003 | 65,8 | 64,1 | 62,3 | 59,9 | n.a. |

[1] OJ L 209, 2.8.1997.

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