November 24 saw an analytic report by the EU Commission predicting a stable hike of EU economies 1999-2001 following a growth since last summer.

An estimate by the report is that 15 EU member countries' economic growth is to be at an average of 2.1%. Of these, Ireland, Luxembourg and Finland will represent the fastest. With perilous international environment excluded EU members' economies will rest assured to register an average 3% growth in the coming two years.

It goes without saying economic growth by the EU member countries has brought about a cut in their budgetary deficits. As are found in the 15 EU member countries this year, these have been placed by their totality at a 1% of GNP and the percentage will further drop to 0.3% by 2001. Unemployment has long been an outstanding issue plaguing the EU countries and it is to be somewhat alleviated. New job opportunities, totaling over 5.50 million, are to be added by 2001. The number of unemployed will be less than 15 million against 19 million in 1997, at an average of less than 9.2% by the end of this year, 8.6% the coming year, and 8% expected the year after. Though oil products are a somewhat rising price market sales will be kept as a whole at a low rising rate. This year, an average market price rise of 1.43% has got to stay in the 15 EU countries when a 1.5% and1.6% growth is estimated in the coming new year and the year after respectively. Meanwhile, a yearly cut percentage is expected of these. According to the Central Bank of Europe, an increased number of EU countries are going to reach this tape targeted. Of these, Spanish, Portugal, Greek, Ireland and the Netherlands are examples in case. By 2001, Portugal, Ireland and the Netherlands will carry on within EU to be the only three failing that target.

EU economies have been in the doldrums, showing a 2% or less growth since the 90s and even a negative growth in 1993. In 1997-98, EU economies somewhat picked up to show a recovery from its deepest downturn. But financial crises struck in countries as those of Southeast Asia, Latin America and Russia, these have affected, to some extent, the economic advances of EU. This is as shown by subsequent lingering inertia of economies found early this year in the whole region of EU. When adding in other happenings as sales of polluted chicken meat in Belgium the EU economies have squandered in complete laxity.

By now, EU economies seem on the way to develop from foul to fair. Many economic indices show that EU economies are going to stride into a period of speedy growth. Factors contributing to this are a rise of export trade, an expansion of domestic demand and a growing Euro market developed.

EU export trade "taking off" since July also does its work. This is attributed chiefly to a continuous growth of the US economy and a recovery of production and trade worldwide. Indispensable is also a gathering market force having been gained by Euro since its issuance irrespective of a downturn market once found against the onslaught of a powerful US dollar market.

Expanded market demand by EU on its own has also contributed to the rise of a prosperous market among the EU member countries. Typical is a rising household consumption demand, with a 2.75% rise to promise new advances of traditional, hi-tech and tertiary industries and a further growth of EU economies in the coming two years.

The EU member countries have in recent years made a great effort for macro economic control and adjustment. They see to it that positive policies are adopted, financial deficits cut and market inflation curbed for bringing about a growth of EU economies. To guarantee a stable exchange rate for all EU countries' currencies they take care that Euro be used as creditable currency for keeping accounts. In last April, a 0.5 percentage point of guiding interest was cut on Euro in support of EU economic reform. But by November the Central Bank of Europe got back to a 0.5 percentage point lift of its guiding interest in curbing market inflation. Measures like these have warranted the stability and further economic growth of the Euro countries. (By People's Daily Resident Staff Reporter from Belgium Wei Wei)