Press Release: Commission presents economic forecasts for the candidate countries (2001-2002)

Economic growth in the candidate countries is likely to remain robust in 2001 and 2002, despite a somewhat weaker international environment, after strong growth in 2000. For the first time since the start of transition, all countries recorded positive growth in 2000. However, the outlook for Turkey has become highly uncertain after the two recent financial crises in November 2000 and February 2001. Sustained high growth should stabilise unemployment towards the end of the forecast period. Nevertheless, high unemployment will remain a major policy challenge in many candidate countries. Higher energy prices seem to have resulted in only a temporary rise in inflationary pressures.