希腊承诺处理巨额政府公债

Greece has said it will have its budget deficit¹ back within European Union rules within two years - one year earlier than previously² planned.

希腊政府宣布，将在两年之内将预算赤字控制到欧盟规定的水平，这将比原计划早一年。

The Greek government and people are struggling to manage their finances

The country has been under severe严厉的，苛刻的 pressure from its fellow eurozone countries, as well as the financial markets it depends on to fund its debt.

On Wednesday, officials from the European Union and the European Central Bank are planning to visit the country.

Greece is one of the most heavily indebted负债 countries in Europe.

Its deficit is running at 12.7% of gross domestic product. The EU's limit is 3%.

It needs to raise more money to plug its spending gap, but its finances are not seen as well-run, a factor that makes borrowing money more expensive.

Greece's finance minister, George Papaconstantinou, told reporters that the prime minister had asked for efforts to cut the nation's debt to be speeded up.

"The prime minister asked that the adjustment be front-loaded and that the reduction of the deficit takes place in three years," he said.

Economic woes³

The socialist⁴ government is in something of a squeeze压榨，拥挤. It won control just three months ago by promising⁵ to boost wages and social spending.

There has been rioting暴乱，骚乱 within Greece, partly fuelled by economic woes.

But it simply does not have the money to meet its promises.

Agencies who grade the debt of countries and companies rated Greece's just one step above junk status, taking it out of step with its fellow eurozone members and making it more expensive for it to borrow money.

It is seen as crucial to the stability - and functioning - of the eurozone that Greece gets its finances in order.