Benefit by sharing

摘要

Under the Stability and Growth Pact, agreed when the euro began in 1999, member states are supposed to ensure their debt does not exceed 60% of their gross domestic product (GDP). According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (EU), 14 out of 27 countries in the EU have a public debt exceeding 60% of their GDP at the end of 2010. Topping the European debt league is Greece with a 142.8% government debt:GDP ratio, followed by Italy (118.4%), Belgium (96.2%), Ireland (94.9%) and Portugal (93.3%). The lowest government debt:GDP ratios were recorded in Estonia (6.6%), Bulgaria (16.2%) and Luxembourg (18.4%).