Politics
(Brussels) “In 2017, Europe will keep growing in a less favourable scenario than in spring. Job creation, supported by the recent reforms implemented by many countries, a decrease in the euro-zone’s public deficits, the recovery of investments, and the greater dynamism of intra-EU trade are encouraging factors”. This has been stated by Pierre Moscovici, commissioner for economic and financial affairs, as he presented the Economic forecasts in Brussels. Before moving on to the figures, he adds: “In this time of instability and uncertainty, we must strive as hard as we can to strengthen recovery and make all social classes benefit from it”. The results of the US election also help spread a climate of uncertainty; the Forecasts are illustrated with an eye on the stock-exchange markets. According to the EU Commission, “economic growth should go on at a moderate pace, because the progress made on the employment market and the rise in private consumption are set off by quite a few obstacles to growth and by the weakening of the driving factors”. The EU Commission’s forecasts show a GDP growing in the euro-zone by 1.7% in 2016, by 1.5% in 2017 and by 1,7% in 2018 (spring forecast: 1.6% in 2016 and 1.8% in 2017). Across the EU, the growth of the GDP should go on similar lines, at 1.8% this year, 1.6% in 2017 and 1.8% in 2018.
