REFILE-Slovak budget gap narrows thanks to strong economy

   (Refiles to remove typographical error in first paragraph) 
    BRATISLAVA, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The Slovak budget deficit 
narrowed to a fraction of the full-year target in January to 
November, data showed on Friday, and analysts expected record 
economic growth to help the country keep the shortfall in check. 
    The Slovak central state budget deficit narrowed to 6.98 
billion crowns ($259.4 million) in the January-November period, 
from a 7.55 billion crown deficit in the first eleven months of 
2005, the finance ministry data showed. 
    The full-year deficit ceiling is 57.5 billion crowns. 
    "Positive budget figures indicate that the economy is 
growing faster," said Citibank analyst Miroslav Plojhar. "It 
should help the government to maintain relatively small budget 
deficits," he added. 
    The central state budget is calculated by local methodology, 
compared with the key public finances data produced under the 
EU's standards. The overall gap is seen at 2.9 percent of GDP in 
2007, a touch below the 3 percent threshold. 
    Slovakia's economy jumped beyond forecast by a record 9.8 
percent in the third quarter, putting the EU-member among the 
ranks of world fastest growing nations and boosted the crown to 
record levels to the euro. 
    On Thursday, the government raised, thanks to a tax windfall 
from the robust economy, budget revenue projections for the next 
year by 2.7 billion crown, but plans to spend most of the extra 
income. 
    The central bank has said the government should use better- 
than-planned budget revenues to reduce the deficit as sharply as 
possible and create a comfortable position for meeting the 
fiscal euro adoption condition in early 2008. 
    The Parliament will open debate on the state budget draft at 
its regular session starting next Tuesday. 
    Slovakia plans to be the first to adopt the euro among the 
four largest new EU member states from central Europe, which 
includes Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary. 
 ((Writing by Martin Santa; Editing by Cheryl Juckes; RM: 
martin.santa.reuters.com@reuters.net; 
Email: martin.santa@reuters.com; +421-2-5341-8402)) 
    ($1=26.91 Slovak Crown) 
  Keywords: SLOVAKIA BUDGET/