European Commission President Mr Romano Prodi said today he was not worried that recent euro zone data threatened the EU executive's growth forecasts, currently 3.2 per cent for this year.
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Mr Romano Prodi.
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"I still think the forecast is realistic. The most recent data we have varies across the countries. We are not seeing a general trend," Mr Prodi told a news conference when asked to comment on a drop in euro zone industrial production in January and a fall in Germany's Ifo index for February.
Mr Prodi's comment was more upbeat than recent remarks from European Economic Affairs Commissioner Mr Pedro Solbes, who has said the EU's current forecast for euro zone growth of 3.2 per cent this year is likely to be cut next month.
European Central Bank officials have also adjusted their forecast for euro zone growth to below three per cent for this year.