European Commission kept Eurozone GDP growth forecast unchanged at 1.2% in both 2020 and 2021. Eurozone inflation forecasts is raised by 0.1% in both 2020 and 201, to 1.3% and 1.4% respectively. For the EU as a whole, GDP forecast was also left unchanged at 1.4% in both 2020 and 2021. EU inflation forecast was also raised by 0.1% to 1.5% in 202, but 2021 projection remains unchanged at 1.6%.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President, said, “Despite a challenging environment, the European economy remains on a steady path, with continued job creation and wage growth. But we should be mindful of potential risks on the horizon: a more volatile geopolitical landscape coupled with trade uncertainties.”
Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for the Economy, said: “The outlook for Europe’s economy is for stable, albeit subdued growth over the coming two years. This will prolong the longest period of expansion since the launch of the euro in 1999, with corresponding good news on the jobs front… But we still face significant policy uncertainty, which casts a shadow over manufacturing. As for the coronavirus, it is too soon to evaluate the extent of its negative economic impact.”
