A round-up of public finance news stories from Europe you might have missed.

Finance minister says Greece can avoid third bailout

Greek finance minister Yannis Stournaras insists that Greece will do its best to avoid a third bailout, despite an estimated €11bn financial gap in its current rescue programme, as Greece formally assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. (Irish Times)

Hungary's budget deficit below EU limit, says minister

Hungary's budget deficit remained safely below the European Union's threshold in 2013, Economy Minister Mihaly Varga said. Even under a worst-case scenario, Hungary's budget deficit didn't exceed 2.7% of gross domestic product last year as against the EU's 3% of GDP tolerance threshold. (Marketwatch)

Slovakia to receive €13.5bn from EU in 2014-20

Slovakia should receive up to €20.3bn from the European Union budget in 2014-20, with Slovak levies feeding back into EU coffers expected to equal €6.8bn, according to the report drafted by the Finance Ministry and acknowledged by the government at its session on January 8. (The Slovak Spectator)

Krugman urges Scandinavia to protect welfare US dreams of

Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman questioned efforts to rein in welfare in Scandinavia after Denmark abandoned its universal benefits model and Sweden started prioritising tax cuts over spending. (Blooomberg)

Swedish premier drops stimulus predicting stronger growth

Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said Sweden’s economy won’t need more government help and predicted the recovery has become self-sustaining as he seeks to win a third term in office this year. (Businessweek)

Italy nine-month budget deficit widens year on year to 3.7% of GDP

Italy’s public budget deficit widened in the first nine months of the year to 3.7% of gross domestic product, compared with 3.4% in the same period of 2012, official statistics agency ISTAT said. (Euronews)