BRUSSELS (MNI) - The European Commission is anxiously awaiting an ambitious 2010 budget from the Greek government, a spokesperson for the European Union's executive arm said on Thursday.

Greece currently has the widest deficit in the eurozone. The Commission is predicting the country's shortfall will run to 12.7% of its gross domestic product this year. That's more than four times the Commission's stipulated limit of 3% of GDP.

The budget shortfall has prompted Greek government bond spreads to widen. European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Joaquin Almunia, told reporters earlier this month that Greece's public finances are a "concern for the whole euro area," thus hinting that he saw a risk of contagion.

On Thursday, Almunia's spokesperson told reporters here that the Commission is "anxiously awaiting" a 2010 budget from Greece and that a "secure and convincing" budget plan was needed.

She also said the Greek deficit would be a topic at next week's meeting of finance ministers here on December 1 and 2.

On November 11, Almunia said Greece would need to implement institutional reforms in order to bring its budget back in line.

He presented Commission forecasts showing that Greece's budget deficit would be 12.2% of GDP next year and 12.8% in 2011. The Greek government has rejected these forecasts, saying it is set to bring the deficit down to around 9%.

Greece has been under the European Commission's Excessive Deficit Procedure since April and has been given a deadline of 2010 to correct its budget. It is likely to face further warnings and recommendations in February, after it submits its 2010 budget.