In 2005 the world economy still developed strongly, but, with GDP growth of 41/2 percent, at a somewhat slower pace than in 2004. Developments still differed substantially among major regions. Whereas output continued to increase in a robust and strong manner in the US and it showed a clear...

Growth performance among the EU-15 countries has been mixed. While it has been sluggish in France, Germany and Italy, several other EU countries have done well. Some successful countries, such as Finland, Ireland, Sweden and the UK, have relied strongly on the introduction of new technologies,...

Authors of the Report on the European Economy 2006

Merger activity is gathering pace in Europe. The policy challenge lies in how to achieve cost-cutting increases in firm size from restructuring in the face of globalisation, while simultaneously maintaining sufficient competition. This requires that obstacles to hostile and cross-border mergers...

The economic recovery in Europe is expected to continue. GDP in the euro area is forecasted to grow by 2.0 per cent in 2006, remaining lower than in most other parts of the world. Inflation in the euro area is expected to reach 1.9 per cent this year. The labour market situation will only...