The European Commission still sees full-year GDP growth of around 3 per cent for the euro zone, said the EC economic and monetary affairs spokesman today.
Mr Gerassimos Thomas said a more precise figure will be released on April 25th when the EC's spring forecasts are released.
"Mr Pedro Solbes, the EU's economic affairs commissioner, will not reveal any details to EU finance ministers when meeting them at the informal Ecofin in Malmo, Sweden, over the weekend," said Thomas.
But Belgian finance minister and euro group president Mr Didier Reynders is more prudent in his growth estimates, forecasting the euro zone's 2001 GDP to fall between 2.5 per cent and 3 per cent.
"In the euro zone we have growth of 2.5-3.0 per cent. I am waiting for a new IMF report next week to see if it is near to 2 or 3 per cent," Mr Reynders said.
"There is a slowdown in Europe. The last information on employment was not very encouraging," he said.
AFP