28.6.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 190/71 COUNCIL DECISION of 20 June 2014 abrogating Decision 2010/407/EU on the existence of an excessive deficit in Denmark (2014/406/EU) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 126(12) thereof, Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission, Whereas: (1) On 13 July 2010, following a recommendation from the Commission, the Council decided, in Decision 2010/407/EU (Y), that an excessive deficit existed in Denmark. The Council noted that according to the data noti- fied by the Danish authorities in April 2010, the general government deficit planned for 2010 was 5,4 % of GDP, thus above the 3 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value. The general government gross debt was expected to reach 45,1 % of GDP in 2010, well below the 60 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value. The general government deficit and debt for 2010 were subsequently revised to 2,5 % of GDP and 42,8 % of GDP, respectively. (2)  On 13 July 2010, in accordance with Article 126(7) of the Treaty and Article 3(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 (3, the Council, based on a recommendation from the Commission, addressed a recommendation to Denmark with a view to bringing the excessive deficit situation to an end by 2013 at the latest. That Council recommendation was made public. (3)  In accordance with Article 4 of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaties, the Commission provides the data for the implementation of the procedure. As part of the application of that Protocol, Member States are to notify data on government deficits and debt and other associated variables twice a year, namely before 1 April and before 1 October, in accordance with Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 (). (4)  When considering whether a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit ought to be abrogated, the Council is to take a decision on the basis of notified data. Moreover, a decision on the existence of an excessive deficit should be abrogated only if the Commission forecasts indicate that the deficit will not exceed the 3 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value over the forecast horizon (*). (5)  Based on data provided by the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 479/2009, following the notification by Denmark before 1 April 2014, and on the Commission services 2014 spring forecast, the following conclusions are justified: — The general government deficit stayed within the 3 %-of-GDP Treaty reference value in the period 2010-2013, except in 2012 when the balance was negatively affected by a one-off reimbursement related to pension reform in 2011. The one-off reimbursement is estimated to have weakened the fiscal balance by 1,6 % of GDP in 2012. The general government deficit amounted to 2,5 % of GDP in 2010, 1,9 % of GDP in 2011, 3,8 % of GDP in 2012 and 0,8 % of GDP in 2013. The improvement of the fiscal balance was driven by consolidation measures both on the revenue and expenditure side, in particular through restricted growth in public consumption. — Denmark’s 2014 convergence programme projects a general government deficit of 1,3 % of GDP in 2014 and 2,9 % of GDP in 2015. In the period 2013-2014, public finances have been affected by one-off revenues coming from the restructuring of existing capital pensions, giving the opportunity to pay off tax liability of future capital pensions at a favourable rate. This measure is estimated to boost the fiscal balance by close to (*) Council Decision 2010/407[EU of 13 July 2010 on the existence of an excessive deficit in Denmark (O] L 189, 22.7.2010, p. 15). (%) Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 of 7 July 1997 on speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive def}i)cit procedure (OJL 209, 2.8.1997, p. 6). (*) Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 of 25 May 2009 on the application of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty establishing the European Community (O] L 145, 10.6.2009, p. 1). (*) Inline with the ‘Specifications on the implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact and Guidelines on the format and content of stabi- lity and convergence programmes’, of 3 September 2012. See: http://ec.europa.eufeconomy_finance/economic_governance/sgp/pdf] coc/code_of_conduct_en.pdf