Eurozone ministers agree current situation not satisfactory

Xinhua

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It was clear that all finance ministers from the eurozone agreed that the current situation is not satisfactory, on Thursday.

"Ministers broadly conquered with the Commission's assessment. Economic recovery in the eurozone has lost the momentum after a relatively good start with positive growth in the first quarter," Dijsselbloem told a press briefing after the Eurogroup finance ministers meeting.

Dijsselbloem noted that weak economic growth was expected for the rest of this year and both in the EU and the euro area.

"Nevertheless, we should not be overly pessimistic," he said, noting that the recovery will gradually pickup next year and further in 2016.

"The latest economic data underscores the need for decisive policy action from governments, notably a credible mix of fiscal policy, structural reforms and investments by Member States," he said.

Also at the press briefing, Pierre Moscovici, European Commissioner in charge of economic and financial affairs, taxation and customs, said it was clear that "the current growth levels are not going to be enough to sustainably reduce unemployment."

"But if we got to identify the challenge, I would say that the risk in front of us could be a long period of low inflation, low growth, high unemployment which would be a threat to the European project and to the life of the Europeans," said Moscovici, adding that therefore "we need a robust and ambitious policy response."

Klaus Regling, Chief Executive Officer of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) and Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), said that the countries that borrowed during the last few years will have very good economic performances, particularly the three countries that have exited their programs, according to the EU forecast which was unveiled this week.

"Even Greece can expect growth far above the euro area average, like the other countries," he said, adding that the forecast showed that structural reforms do pay off, maybe not as fast as sometimes expected.

The finance ministers of the Eurogroup gathered Thursday afternoon in Brussels. The ministers exchanged views on the current economic situation in the euro area, reflecting on the European Commission's recent 2014 autumn forecast.