Greece’s economic team is aiming to reduce public debt both as a share of GDP and in absolute terms for a third consecutive year in 2026, while also delivering a primary budget surplus above the government’s revised target.According to figures published by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), together with budget execution data for the first five months of the year, both objectives seem to be within reach.General government debt stood at 360 billion euros at the end of the first quarter, down from 366.3 billion euros a year earlier.With more than 7 billion euros of early debt repayments completed in April and additional repayments scheduled for the second half of the year, total public debt could fall to around 356 billion euros by year-end, compared with 365 billion euros at the end of 2025.On the fiscal front, the general government recorded a primary surplus of 5 billion euros in the January-May period, matching the level recorded in the same period of 2025. However, while last year ended with a primary surplus of nearly 5% of GDP, the government’s target for 2026 is set at 3.2% of GDP, suggesting there is scope to outperform the official projection if current trends continue.Maintaining primary surpluses and continuing to reduce public debt, alongside reforms that support economic growth, are essential to keeping the Greek state’s borrowing costs low and limiting the impact of global economic shocks, according to a new report by the Parliamentary Budget Office.