NEW MEMBER STATES WILL BE FASTEST EU ECONOMIES IN 2012

Projected GDP growth rate for 2012 in the New Member States shows the following leading economies: Romania (4.35%), Slovakia (4.15%), Latvia (4.039%), Lithuania (3.754%), Estonia (3.693%), Poland (3.611%) and Bulgaria (3.5%).

By comparison: Spain (1.613%), France (1.5%), Netherlands (1.5%), Italy (1.304%), Greece (1.079%) and Portugal (negative growth rate of -0.476%).

In terms of balance of trade (Exports minus Imports), the countries with significant trade deficits are France, Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Austria and Cyprus. Countries with significant trade surpluses are Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland and Belgium.