Press Release: EU shows strong growth of productivity in 2006

The European Union in 2006 had its best economic performance since 2000 with a growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 3%. Productivity, measured by the increase of GDP per employee, grew strongly for the EU-27 with 1.5%, compared to an annual growth rate between 2000 and 2005 of 1.2%. Employment growth accelerated for the EU-27 by 1.6%, whilst the average annual rise for the period 2000 until 2005 was 0.5%. The European Competitiveness Report of the European Commission, presented on 5 November 2007 in Brussels, marks as well that in 2006 productivity grew stronger in the EU than in the US (1.4%), of which the Commission hopes this will be the start of a long term trend. The growth rates show a widespread improvement, across countries and economic sectors.

European Commission: DG Enterprise and Industry: Policy areas: Enterprise Policy: Analysis of competitiveness: European competitiveness reports http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/enterprise_policy/competitiveness/1_eucompetrep/eu_compet_reports.htm

European Commission: MEMO/07/445: EU competitiveness on a growth path http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/445&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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