Eurostat data on the 21st showed euro area government debt-to-GDP rose to 88.8% at end-Q2 2026 from 88.4% at end-Q1; EU-wide debt increased to 82.9% from 82.5%, signalling a continued rise in the public debt burden. Among member states, Greece had the highest debt ratio at 140.8%, followed by Italy 139.9% and France 119.1%; Belgium exceeded 110% and Spain exceeded 100%. Euro area fiscal deficit widened to 3.3% of GDP in Q2 from 3.2% in Q1, while the EU deficit rose to 3.5% from 3.1%.