As of end-February 2007 gross external debt was EUR 18,948.8 million (70.9% of GDP) and decreased by EUR 721.1 million (3.7%) against the end of 2006 (EUR 19,669.9 million, 78.4% of GDP), reports BNB.

By end-February 2007 long-term liabilities amounted to EUR 13,371.8 million (70.6% of total debt), and short-term liabilities came to EUR 5,576.9 million (29.4% of total debt).

General Government foreign debt amounted to EUR 3,424.7 million (12.8% of GDP) as of end-February 2007 decreasing by EUR 240.6 million (6.6%) against the end of December 2006. The decrease is mainly due to repayment of global bonds, issued by the government and owned by nonresidents.

Banks’ foreign debt amounted to EUR 3,263.4 million (12.2% of GDP) decreasing by EUR 117.7 million (3.5%) against the end of 2006. Other Sectors’ debt was EUR 6,686.9 million, decreasing by EUR 339.2 million (4.8%) relative to the end of 2006.

As of end-February 2007 the stock of the Direct Investment liabilities was EUR 5,573.8 million, down by EUR 23.6 million (0.4%) against the end of 2006.

In January – February 2007 gross external debt service was EUR 1,217.3 million (4.6% of GDP) against EUR 991 million (3.9% of GDP) for the same period in 2006.

In January – February 2007 loans and deposits received from nonresidents came to EUR 766.4 million (2.9% of GDP) compared to EUR 931.1 million (3.7% of GDP) for the same period in 2006. General Government received EUR 1.6 million against EUR 62.9 million in January – February 2006.

Banks received loans and deposits amounting to EUR 586.2 million, an increase of EUR 408.8 million compared to January – February 2006. Other Sectors received loans of EUR 100 million, down by EUR 262.5 million compared to January – February 2006.

New Direct Investment liabilities amounted to EUR 78.7 million, down by EUR 249.7 million compared to January – February 2006 (EUR 328.4 million).

As of end-February 2007 net external debt was EUR 6,243 million (23.4% of GDP) and increased by EUR 272.6 million (4.6%) against the end of 2006 (EUR 5,970.5 million, 23.8% of GDP).