It's also very disruptive of developing countries, because when the Europeans dispose of their structural surpluses with the benefit of export subsidies, they dump them on the international market, which acts as a discouragement to production in developing countries that are basically trying to get their returns out of the marketplace.

PBO projects that the government's structural deficit will be eliminated by 2014-15, giving rise to structural surpluses of $8.4 billion, on average, over 2015-16 to 2017-18.

21. WELCOMES the publication of the Commission’s analysis of large sustained current account surpluses and of the main driving forces. In this context, STRESSES the important financial and trade inter-linkages between deficit and surpluses within the euro area, and the importance of appropriate financial supervision to overcome financial market fragmentation and ensuring an adequate allocation of savings, RECALLS that unlike current account deficits, large and sustained current account surpluses do not raise concerns about the sustainability of external debt or financing capacity that affect the smooth functioning of the euro area; the risks of negative spill-overs for current account surpluses are therefore less pressing than for current ...[+++]account deficits. While it is particularly urgent for deficit countries to continuing current efforts addressing their competitiveness challenges, UNDERLINES that addressing market failures and structural reform needs, and wages growing in line with productivity in surplus countries would contribute to rebalancing within the euro area. In particular, measures aimed at improving the functioning of specific sectors, such as services, financial intermediation and other non-tradables could be considered. Finally, EMPHASISES the need to preserve the competitiveness of the EU economies vis-à-vis the rest of the world.

As a result, PBO projects that the government's structural deficit will be eliminated by 2013-14, ultimately giving rise to a structural surplus of $14.3 billion in 2016-17.

The additional milk levy scheme, introduced in 1984, is designed to reduce the imbalance between supply and demand for milk and milk products and consequently the resulting structural surpluses.

Two groups of countries are identified. For most countries, a broadly balanced budget in structural terms would be required. This would cater for risks related to cyclical downturns as well as unexpected budgetary developments such as revenue shortfalls, expenditure shortfalls or interest rate increases. For a second group of countries (the Netherlands, Finland Denmark and Sweden), a small structural surplus of some 1% of GDP appears adequate given that their budget positions are more sensitive to the business cycle.