EU27 external current account deficit rises

The EU27 external current account recorded a deficit of €21

The EU27 external current account recorded a deficit of €21.0 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008, compared with a deficit of €14.2 bn in the fourth quarter of 2007 and a deficit of €60.8 bn in the third quarter of 2008, according to new figures from Eurostat.

In the fouth quarter of 2008 the EU27 external balance of trade in services recorded a surplus of €23.0 bn.

This compares with a surplus of €19.7 bn for the same quarter in 2007 and a surplus of €19.3 bn in the third quarter of 2008.

The EU27 includes Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.