The European Union’s prospects of returning to economic growth next year are “highly uncertain”, according to a policy paper to be approved today by EU finance ministers.
In a frank assessment of the depth of Europe’s recession, the document obtained by the Financial Times states that unemployment will rise sharply this year and in 2010, and the 16-nation eurozone will have to tackle persistent gaps in business competitiveness among its member states.
The policy paper paints a darker picture of the EU’s outlook than forecasts published in January by the European Commission, which spoke of a gradual economic recovery in the course of next year.