Consensus forecasts point to slowing growth in the EU during 2012, with some at least indicating a return to recession. Sovereign debt issues in a growing number of Member States – the response to them and anxieties regarding their eventual resolution – are one important contributing factor....

According to the most recent European economic forecast from the European Commission’s DG-ECFIN, the recovery is broadening, as some measure of modest growth returns to the majority of Member States. DG-ECFIN also points to growing internal consumer demand as the driver of recent growth...