No plans to revise EU growth forecast

THE European Commission said it had no grounds to revise its forecast for 2% gross domestic product growth in the euro zone in 2005, despite the emergence of a gloomier economic picture in recent weeks.

Commission spokeswoman Amelia Torres said, “Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Almunia said in the last few days that he was anticipating a growth rate of 2% for 2005, which is pretty much the same as in 2004.

At this stage we don’t have any plans for changing our forecast.”