Eurostat tells Slovaks to put radio, TV in deficit

...move likely to boost the key fiscal deficit.

Negotiations between Slovakia and Eurostat, the European Union's statistical service, on budget methodology were closely followed by the markest as some investors feared they could lead to a higher deficit and endanger the plan to adopt the euro in 2009.

The report published by the Slovak Statistics Office did not mention debts of the state highway company, which the market had expected Eurostat to recommend be included into public finances.

The report did not include a Eurostat estimate of the Slovak fiscal deficit for 2007, which is the key year for euro adoption.

[BRATISLAVA/Reuters/Finance.cz]