EU ends Greece's deficit procedure in positive signal to markets

The European Union states decided on Monday to close disciplinary procedures against Greece over its excessivedeficitafter improvements inGreece'sfiscal position, confirming the country's recovery is on the right track.

The move, although largely symbolic, sendsa newsignalthatGreece'spublic finances are again under control, facilitating the country's plans to tapmarketsafter a successful issue of bonds in July which ended a three-year exile.

EUfiscal rules oblige member states to keep their budgetdeficits below 3 per cent of their economic output or face sanctions that could entail hefty fines, although so far no country has received a financial penalty.

Greece had a 0.7 per cent budget surplus in 2016 and is projected to maintain its fiscal position withinEUrules' limits this year.

"In the light of this, the Council (ofEUstates) found that Greece fulfils the conditions for closing the excessivedeficitprocedure," theEUsaid in a note.

"After many years of severe difficulties,Greece'sfinances are in much better shape. Today's decision is therefore welcome", Estonia's finance minister Toomas Toniste said.

TheEUstates' decision confirmed a proposal by theEUexecutive commission in July to end the disciplinaryprocedurefor Greece.

The economics commissioner Pierre Moscovici said the decision was "a recognition of the tremendous efforts and sacrifices the Greek people have made to restore stability to their country’s public finances."

But he stressed that Greece still needs topositively exit its bailout programme whichendsin August after a third review of the country's reforms by international creditors.

"There needs to be constructive cooperation between all institutions and the Greek authorities to ensure a smooth and swift conclusion of the third review, with no unnecessary drama," Moscovici said.