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Public deficit and public debt ratios

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Definition

The public deficit and public debt ratios are the two main public finance indicators that the Member States of the European Union send to the European Commission in early March and early September in compliance with the Maastricht Treaty. The ratios are calculated as a percentage of GDP. They are based on the notions of national accounts (SEC95) and in particular on the definition of the sector of general government. Nevertheless, they present certain divergences from these notions, in accordance with European regulations.