For the budgetary notification to the European Commission (notification of government deficit/surplus and government debt in connection with the Maastricht convergence criteria), Statistics Austria calculates quarterly and annual data in accordance with the regulations of the European System of Accounts (ESA 2010).
Government debt is measured in nominal values and provides a short-term indicator for the evaluation of the financial situation of the general government sector. The debt is presented on a consolidated basis and includes liabilities from currencies and deposits, debt securities and loans. The Maastricht Treaty established the Maastricht criteria. According to these criteria, the ratio of government debt to gross domestic product (GDP) must not exceed 60 %.