The European Commission predicted this week that economic growth in the EU could outstrip the US and Japan over the next two years

Date: 25/11/1999

The Commission forecast that 'real' gross domestic product would increase from 2.1&percent; in 1999 to 3&percent; in 2000 across the EU as a whole. It also forecast that inflation would remain well below 2&percent; in both 2000 and 2001, “despite the adverse effects of higher oil prices”.