The economies of central Europe face difficult times in coming years owing to a slowdown in the pace of reforms and a labour shortage, a senior OECD official said on Monday
Published:
5 December 2004 y., Sunday
The economies of central Europe face difficult times in coming years owing to a slowdown in the pace of reforms and a labour shortage, a senior OECD official said on Monday.
Speaking at a meeting here of central European chief financial officers, OECD economic adviser Patrick Lenain said that although the region's growth rates had risen to about 4.0 percent and the short-term outlook for the region was good, the longer-term outlook was less positive.
"Even rising oil prices and the falling dollar should not prevent these countries growing by around 4.0 percent in 2004 and 2005. But catching up in the medium-term will not happen automatically. I hope central Europe will have a great future but this is not for certain and is not guaranteed," he said.
"The prospect of joining the EU was an important driver for reform and levelling the playing field in the region. But the pace of reform has since slowed down and we need another carrot for dynamic growth," he added.
A number of barriers and obstacles stood in the way of central Europe catching up with western Europe living standards, he said.
A critical problem faced by the central Europe countries of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia was their ageing populations, Lenain warned.
Šaltinis:
AFP
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė welcomed the decision taken by the U.S. Government to transport shipments for the international mission in Afghanistan by transit via the Klaipėda Seaport.
more »
EU Solidarity Fund aid to repair storm damage in France and Portugal was approved by the Budgets Committee on Thursday.
more »
The European Investment Bank and the Government of Samoa formally agreed to support the rehabilitation and upgrade of independent water schemes in the Pacific island state under a EUR 250,000 technical assistance programme.
more »
Steps to overhaul the European Union's flagship single market were discussed on Tuesday (9 November) by MEPs and interested parties.
more »
Strategy to secure a sustainable EU energy supply and support economic growth over the next decade.
more »
EU funding to help 850 former workers in the aircraft maintenance industry around Dublin find new jobs was approved by the European Parliament on Thursday.
more »
Saffron farmers in western Afghanistan hope to oust opium as a harvest crop.
more »
The European Commission has approved an application from Poland for assistance from the European Globalisation adjustment Fund (EGF).
more »
New plans for EU industry to create jobs while keeping manufacturing in Europe.
more »
The European Commission has approved two applications from Spain for assistance from the EU Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF).
more »