Slovenia and Slovakia confront soaring public deficits

Slovenian finance minister Andrej Šircelj told a parliamentary session that the first‑half budget deficit has already reached €1.2 billion, with the full‑year shortfall projected at €2.1 billion – about 2.9 % of GDP. Expenditures were 12.3 % higher than a year earlier while revenues rose only 8.4 %. The fiscal council warned that the deficit could exceed the EU’s 3 % limit, citing higher public‑sector wages, pension and health‑care costs and increased investment spending.

In Slovakia, the Council for Budget Responsibility warned that without new consolidation measures the public debt could approach €100 billion, roughly 74 % of GDP. Deficits are expected to stay above 4 % of GDP in 2026 and could rise to 5.7 % by 2029, requiring about €1.2 billion of extra financing each year. The government aims to narrow the gap to 4.2 % of GDP, while the finance minister disputes the council’s criticism.