Budget, Estonia, Financial Services, Loan

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Tuesday, 20.05.2025, 11:23

Finance Ministry of Estonia: borrowing doesn't reduce budget deficit

Juhan Tere, BC, Tallinn, 17.08.2009.Print version
Estonia has to find solution for reducing budget deficit, and, according to Jürgen Ligi, the Minister of Finance, loans can't be viewed as means to reduce the budget deficit, BBN/LETA quoted E24.ee.

"Loan makes a deficit, which must be paid back with interest. The loan does not satisfy Maastricht criterion and therefore doesn't improve the budget deficit. Still, it can't be excluded anymore; estimated loan need is in billions. Quite different terms can be talked of here," Ligi said.

 

The Minister of Finance of Estonia does not favour tax increases, he sees different one-time measures, like sales and income on assets, as possible additional sources. Besides, the government sector expenses must be limited.

 

Entrepreneur Rein Kilk finds that the funds must be gotten from the outside sources, which is why the decision to take loan is understandable.

 

"Finland has taken a loan, for instance. At the same time, Estonia must take certain decision over joining the euro-zone. Not that we try to join, but we do join. If we have certain plan to join euro-zone and someone's taking responsibility for that, Estonia's budget deficit below three% must be guaranteed," Kilk said.

 

"The economic crisis seems to be in final phase, and things go notably upward in Asia. Estonia must find the best solution for surviving that time," Kilk emphasised.






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