The largest deficit had been recorded in 2000, surging largely on the back of costs incurred in restructuring the banking sector, with after-effects of the restructuring campaign still affecting the deficit through interest expenses.
Based on the draft assumptions of the state budget of following years, the Slovak government is bent on slashing the deficit down to 5.0% of GDP in 2003 and 3.9% of GDP in 2004, In 2005, the deficit is supposed to reach 3.4 percent. In 2006, the criterion regarding the general government deficit should be met with a small margin to spare (0.1%).