24/04/2019 (Agence Europe) – Greece's primary budget surplus (excluding debt service) reached 4.4% of GDP in 2018, according to figures provided by the Hellenic Institute of Statistics (Elstat) on Tuesday 23 April. The Greek budget balance recorded a surplus of 1.1% of GDP. With regard to public debt, Elstat is in line with the figures provided by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), which reported a rate of 181.1% of GDP last year (see EUROPE 12240/15). As a reminder, as part of the exit from the third financial assistance plan in Athens until last August, the Greek authorities must ensure that they have a primary budget surplus of 3.5% of GDP each year until 2022, then an average of 2.2% of GDP per year from 2022 to 2060 (see EUROPE 12046/1, 12077/1). (LT)