16.7.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 187)27 DECISIONS COUNCIL DECISION of 12 July 2011 abrogating Decision 2010/408/EU on the existence of an excessive deficit in Finland (2011/417/EV) 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: By Decision 2010/408/EU (%), following a proposal from the Commission in accordance with Article 126(6) of the Treaty, the Council decided that an excessive deficit existed in Finland. In Decision 2010/408/EU, the Council noted that the general government deficit planned for 2010 was 4,1 % of GDP, above the 3 % of GDP Treaty reference value, while general government gross debt was planned to reach 49,9 % of GDP, below the 60 % of GDP Treaty reference value. On 13 July 2010, in accordance with Article 126(7) of the Treaty and Article 3(4) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1467/97 of 7 July 1997 on speeding up and clarifying the implementation of the excessive deficit procedure (3), the Council adopted, on a recommendation from the Commission, a recommendation addressed to Finland with a view to bringing the excessive deficit situation to an end by 2011 at the latest. The recommendation was made public. In accordance with Article 126(12) of the Treaty, a Council Decision on the existence of an excessive deficit is to be abrogated when the excessive deficit in the Member State concerned has, in the view of the Council, been corrected. In accordance with Article 4 of the Protocol (No 12) on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaties, L 189, 22.7.2010, p. 17. L 209, 2.8.1997, p. 6. the Commission provides the data for the implemen- tation of this procedure. As part of the application of this 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 of 25 May 2009 on the application of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure annexed to the Treaty estab- lishing the European Community (°). Based on data provided by the Commission (Eurostat) in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 479/2009 following the notification by Finland before 1 April 2011 and on the Commission services spring 2011 forecast, the following conclusions are warranted: — while the EDP notification of April 2010 planned for a deficit of 4,1% of GDP in 2010, the actual outcome was considerably better at a deficit of 2,5 % of GDP, — the better-than-planned deficit outturn is primarily explained by  stronger-than-expected  economic growth and an improved labour market situation boosting tax revenues (notably VAT and income tax), while expenditure growth remained overall contained, — the Commission services' spring 2011 forecast projects the deficit to fall further to 1% of GDP in 2011. Similarly, the 2011 update of the stability programme projects a deficit of 0,9 % of GDP in 2011. The improvement of the fiscal balance from the previous year is driven by cyclical factors, reflecting the expected continuation of relatively robust economic activity, and some discretionary tax increases (mostly energy and product taxes) worth about ¥ % of GDP. The deficit is forecast by both the Commission services and the 2011 update of the stability programme to marginally improve further to 0,7 % of GDP in 2012, () O] L 145, 10.6.2009, p. 1.