Vice-President Olli Rehn's comments on Eurostat's GDP flash estimates for the second quarter of 2013

EU News 368/2013

Brussels, 14 August 2013
MEMO/13/745

The GDP flash estimates for the second quarter of 2013 for the euro area and the EU27 have just been released by Eurostat (STAT/13/122). Euro area and EU27 GDP are both up by 0.3% this quarter.

In light of these and other recent indicators, Vice-President Rehn has made the following comments:

"Today's figures, when combined with other recent positive survey data are encouraging and suggest the European economy is gradually gaining momentum. They support the European Commission’s 2013 spring forecast and its projections for a subdued, mild recovery in the second half of 2013.

The data also supports, in my view, the fundamentals of our crisis response: a policy mix where building a stability culture and pursuing structural reforms supportive of growth and jobs go hand in hand.

This slightly more positive data is welcome - but there is no room for any complacency. Self-congratulatory statements suggesting "the crisis is over" are not for today.

There are still substantial obstacles to overcome: the growth figures remain low and the tentative signs of growth are still fragile; the averages hide important differences between Member States, a number of Member States still have unacceptably high unemployment rates; the implementation of essential but difficult reforms across the EU is still in its early stages … So there is still a very long way to go.

Source and additional information:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-745_en.htm?locale=en

File Photo: Olli Rehn, Date: 19/06/2013 Reference: P-023483/00-09 Location: Brussels - EC/Charlemagne (C)EU, 2013 URL

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