The outlook for 2023 is currently characterised by extreme uncertainty, which requires flexible government action, and high risks of a further deterioration in the economic growth outlook, which could have important financial implications for the general government sector’s financial position. While taking urgent action to limit the impact of the energy price increases, the Government needs to preserve as much room for manoeuvre as possible for future action, in particular by limiting the growth of current spending. Measures to address the energy crisis must be timely, targeted and temporary and must not worsen the structural position of public finances. In the event of uncertain duration of price shocks, this is particularly true for the adjustment of different categories of public expenditure to the current high level of energy prices.