THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 126(12) thereof,
Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
On 13 July 2010, following a recommendation from the Commission, the Council decided, in Decision 2010/407/EU, that an excessive deficit existed in Denmark. The Council noted that according to the data notified by the Danish authorities in April 2010, the general government deficit planned for 2010 was 5,4 % of GDP, thus above the 3 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value. The general government gross debt was expected to reach 45,1 % of GDP in 2010, well below the 60 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value. The general government deficit and debt for 2010 were subsequently revised to 2,5 % of GDP and 42,8 % of GDP, respectively.
(2)
On 13 July 2010, in accordance with Article 126(7) of the Treaty and Article 3(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97, the Council, based on a recommendation from the Commission, addressed a recommendation to Denmark with a view to bringing the excessive deficit situation to an end by 2013 at the latest. That Council recommendation was made public.
(3)
In accordance with Article 4 of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaties, the Commission provides the data for the implementation of the procedure. As part of the application of that Protocol, Member States are to notify data on government deficits and debt and other associated variables twice a year, namely before 1 April and before 1 October, in accordance with Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2009.
(4)
When considering whether a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit ought to be abrogated, the Council is to take a decision on the basis of notified data. Moreover, a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit should be abrogated only if the Commission forecasts indicate that the deficit will not exceed the 3 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value over the forecast horizon.
(5)
Based on data provided by the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 479/2009, following the notification by Denmark before 1 April 2014, and on the Commission services 2014 spring forecast, the following conclusions are justified:
The general government deficit stayed within the 3 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value in the period 2010-2013, except in 2012 when the balance was negatively affected by a one-off reimbursement related to pension reform in 2011. The one-off reimbursement is estimated to have weakened the fiscal balance by 1,6 % of GDP in 2012. The general government deficit amounted to 2,5 % of GDP in 2010, 1,9 % of GDP in 2011, 3,8 % of GDP in 2012 and 0,8 % of GDP in 2013. The improvement of the fiscal balance was driven by consolidation measures both on the revenue and expenditure side, in particular through restricted growth in public consumption.
Denmark's 2014 convergence programme projects a general government deficit of 1,3 % of GDP in 2014 and 2,9 % of GDP in 2015. In the period 2013-2014, public finances have been affected by one-off revenues coming from the restructuring of existing capital pensions, giving the opportunity to pay off tax liability of future capital pensions at a favourable rate. This measure is estimated to boost the fiscal balance by close to 1,8 % of GDP in both years. In 2015, this measure will have no impact, leading to an expected increase in the public finance deficit. The Commission services 2014 spring forecast projects the general government deficit to reach 1,2 % of GDP in 2014 and 2,7 % of GDP in 2015. Thus, the deficit is set to remain below the 3 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value over the forecast horizon.
After having improved by 0,7 % of GDP in cumulative terms between 2011 and 2013, the structural balance, that is the general government balance adjusted for the economic cycle and net of one-off and other temporary measures, is forecast to deteriorate by 0,8 % of GDP in 2014 (to – 0,2 % of GDP) and by a further 0,3 % of GDP in 2015, based on a no-policy-change assumption.
The Commission services 2014 spring forecast projects the general government gross debt to decrease to 43,5 % of GDP in 2014 and to increase to 44,9 % of GDP in 2015, below the 60 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value.
(6)
Starting from 2014, which is the year following the correction of the excessive deficit, Denmark is subject to the preventive arm of the Stability and Growth Pact and should maintain its structural balance at or above its medium-term budgetary objective.
(7)
In accordance with Article 126(12) of the Treaty, a Council Decision on the existence of an excessive deficit is to be abrogated when the excessive deficit in the Member State concerned has, in the view of the Council, been corrected.
(8)
In the view of the Council, the excessive deficit in Denmark has been corrected and Decision 2010/407/EU should therefore be abrogated,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: