MADRID, 21 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The public deficit of the euro area with respect to the gross domestic product (GDP) stood at -2.1% in the second quarter and -1.8% in the European Union (EU), compared to the negative imbalances of the -2.5% and -2.3%, respectively, registered in the previous quarter, which in both cases represents the smallest deficit since the fourth quarter of 2019, the last complete one before the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The deficit/GDP ratio decreased due to stronger increases in total revenue compared to total spending, as well as due to higher GDP compared to the first quarter of 2022," explained the community statistical office, Eurostat.

In this sense, the agency indicated that between April and June 2022, total income and total spending continued to be influenced by the measures in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, "but to a lesser degree than in previous quarters."

Among the Twenty-seven, the largest deficits in the second quarter were observed in Malta (-6.6%), as well as in Spain (-4.2%), Belgium (-4%) and France (-3.9%) , while the largest surpluses corresponded to Portugal (3%), the Netherlands and Sweden (both 2.4%), Lithuania (1.9%) and Estonia (1.8%).