11.5.98 Official Journal of the European Communities L 139/15 COUNCIL DECISION of 1 May 1998 abrogating the Decision on the existence of an excessive deficit for Italy (98/311/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 104c(12) thereof, Having regard to the recommendation from the Commis- sion, Whereas the second stage for achieving economic and monetary union started on 1 January 1994; whereas Article 109¢(4) of the Treaty lays down that, in the second stage, Member States shall endeavour to avoid excessive government deficits; Whereas there is an excessive deficit procedure which provides for a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit and, after the excessive deficit has been corrected, for the abrogation of that decision; whereas, during the second stage, the excessive deficit procedure is deter- mined by Article 104c of the Treaty, excluding para- graphs 1, 9 and 11; whereas the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty sets out further provisions relating to the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure; whereas Regulation (EC) No 3605/93 (') lays down detailed rules and definitions for the applica- tion of the said Protocol; Whereas, following a recommendation from the Commis- sion in accordance with Article 104¢(6) of the Treaty, the Council decided on 26 September 1994 that an excessive deficit existed in Italy; whereas, in accordance with Article 104c(7), the Council made recommendations to Italy with a view to bringing the excessive deficit situation to an end (3); Whereas a Council Decision on the existence of an exces- sive deficit is to be abrogated, in accordance with the provisions of Article 104c(12) of the Treaty, to the extent that the excessive deficit in the Member State concerned has, in the view of the Council, been corrected; Whereas, when abrogating the Decision, the Council is to act on a recommendation from the Commission; whereas, based on the data provided by the Commission after reporting by Italy before 1 March 1998 in accordance () OJ L 332, 31. 12. 1993, p. 7. (%) Council recommendations of 7 November 1994, 24 July 1995, 16 September 1996 and 15 September 1997. with Regulation (EC) No 3605/93, the following conclu- sions are warranted: Since 1993, the government deficit has been sharply reduced to 2,7 % of GDP in 1997, which is below the Treaty reference value; a further reduction to 2,5 % of GDP is forecast for 1998. The new medium-term finan- cial programme 1998-2001 recently presented to Parlia- ment by the Italian Government plans a further reduction of the general government deficit to 1,5 % of GDP in 2000 and 1 % of GDP in 2001. The government debt ratio peaked in 1994 at 124,9 % of GDP and since then has declined each year to reach 121,6 % in 1997. The new medium-term financial programme plans a reduction of the debt ratio for 1998 to 118,2 % of GDP and a further decline in the following years. In 2001, the debt ratio is planned to reach 107 % of GDP. Such reduction will be helped by annual privati- sation revenues amounting to 0,5 to 0,75 % of GDP, up to 2001. The Italian Government also announced its commitment to reduce the debt ratio below 100 % by 2003. The reduction of the deficit and in particular the steady rise in the primary surplus, which reached over 6 % of GDP in 1997, have contributed to putting the debt ratio on a downward path. The Italian Government has recently reconfirmed its commitment to keeping the primary surplus at a level that contributes strongly to the decline of the debt ratio. This primary surplus is essential to maintaining the debt ratio on its sustainable downward path. The deficit was below the Treaty reference value in 1997 and is expected to remain so in 1998 and to decline further in the medium term; the debt ratio has been decreasing in the last three years and is expected to decline at a more rapid pace in coming years, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 From an overall assessment it follows that the excessive deficit situation in Italy has been corrected.