Brussels, 16/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - For the euro-zone, the government balance moved from a deficit of 1.6% of GDP in 2001 to a deficit of 2.2% of GDP in 2002, and for the EU15 from a deficit of 0.9% in 2001 to a deficit of 1.9% in 2002. The largest deficits in 2002 were recorded in Germany (-3.5% of GDP), France (-3.1%), Portugal (-2.7%) and Italy (-2.3%), while the largest surpluses were observed in Finland (+4.2%), Luxembourg (+2.5%), Denmark (+2.1%) and Sweden (+1.3%). Belgium and Spain recorded small surpluses. Belgium, Greece, and Italy recorded a public debt ratio of over 100%, two further Member States also observed a ratio higher than 60% of GDP in 2002: Austria (67.3%) and Germany (60.8%). Public debt rose to 69% of GDP in the Euro zone.