Adoption of Opinions on the updated Draft Budgetary Plans of Spain and Lithuania

The European Commission adopted on 17 January 2017 Opinions on Spain and Lithuania's updated Draft Budgetary Plans for 2017, which had been submitted in December 2016 following the formation of new governments in both countries.

The Commission considered Spain's budget to be broadly compliant with the Stability and Growth Pact in 2017, while Lithuania's was deemed at risk of non-compliance pending the assessment of requested flexibility.

The remaining Opinions had already been released in November 2016 during the launch of the 2017 European Semester.

ESO: Background information: Thematic Overview: Member States whose 2017 Draft Budgetary Plans Were Assessed To Be 'At Risk of Non-Compliance' with the Stability and Growth Pact http://www.europeansources.info/record/thematic-overview-member-states-whose-2017-draft-budgetary-plans-were-assessed-to-be-at-risk-of-non-compliance-with-the-stability-and-growth-pact/

EurActiv, 17.01.17: Mixed bag of results for member state budgets from Commission http://www.euractiv.com/section/euro-finance/news/mixed-bag-of-results-for-member-state-budgets-from-commission/

El País, 17.01.17: EU tells Spain to brace for cuts due to likely 2017 deficit target miss http://elpais.com/elpais/2017/01/17/inenglish/1484643965_633530.html

Eurogroup: Press Release, 27.01.17: Eurogroup Statement on the updated Draft Budgetary Plans for 2017 of Spain and Lithuania http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/01/26-eurogroup-statement-spain-lithuania/

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