XPost: england.politics.europe, soc.culture.europe, uk.politics.misc   
   From: spamtrap@váilable.here.com   
      
   'DVH' wrote thus:   
      
   >The European Commission's spring forecast is out. They don't believe the   
   >euro will save the eurozone as we head into 2010. It won't deliver better   
   >growth, employment, or wages compared to EU countries outside the eurozone.   
   >   
   >Comparing eurozone figures over a seven year period with EU-27 figures shows   
   >the eurozone is dragging the whole continent down.   
   >   
   >So in good times and bad, the euro is providing no advantage.   
   >   
   >The Commission predicts that after underperforming non-euro countries for   
   >nearly a decade, eurozone GDP and unemployment will converge with the EU-27   
   >this year and the next.   
   >   
   >But then they would say that, wouldn't they?   
   >   
   >You can be sure Commissioners' jobs are safe though. Do you ever get the   
   >feeling they're taking the piss out of you?   
   >   
   >Eurozone and EU growth 2003 to 2010   
   >   
   >Column 1 - year   
   >Column 2 - Eurozone growth   
   >Column 3 - EU-27 growth   
   >   
   >2003        0.8%        1.3%   
   >2004        2.2%        2.5%   
   >2005        1.7%        2.0%   
   >2006        2.9%        3.1%   
   >2007        2.7%        2.9%   
   >2008        0.8%        0.9%   
   >2009        -4.0%       -4.0%   
   >2010        -0.1%       -0.1%   
   >   
   >Unemployment   
   >   
   >Column 1 - year   
   >Column 2 - Eurozone unemployment   
   >Column 3 - EU-27 unemployment   
   >   
   >2007        7.5%        7.1%   
   >2008        7.5%        7.0%   
   >2009        9.9%        9.4%   
   >2010        11.5%      10.9%   
   >   
   >Meanwhile "Low economic activity and further employment losses should imply   
   >a further decline in average wages in 2010."   
   >   
   >What a dreadful state of affairs. The euro is an article of faith, backed by   
   >no hard evidence of advantage. It provides jobs for thousands of clients   
   >employed in the European Central Bank, and a Directorate of the European   
   >Commission. But apart from that, it is dragging Europe down.   
   >   
   >http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/publication_su   
   mary15046_en.htm   
      
      
   The Eurocrats obviously haven't learnt anything from 12 years   
   of Blair/Brown socialist governments:   
      
     when the numbers look bad - why yes: change the numbers!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)