Budget more or less on target, but a foreign debt problem is growing

After seven months of 2003, state budget revenues amounted to zł. 84.48 bil lion, which is about 54.3% of annual projected income, while expenditures r eached zł. 112.17 billion or 57.5%. This means that the deficit amounted to zł. 27.69 billion or 71.5% of the zł. 38.7 billion scheduled for 2003. Acco rding to the Finance Ministry, this does not mean the budget is threatened. In related news, between 2003-2008 Poland will have to pay back $21 billion of its foreign debt, which is about 70% of the total amount, and the only c hance to bear such a burden is to roll it. By the end of May, the debt amou nted to $32.23 billion according to the latest data of the Finance Ministry. In 2004, Poland will have to pay a $3.15 billion installment, but the figure will further grow and reach $4.25 billion in 2008. (Parkiet, p. 6) M.M.