EU warns of low growth with debt on the rise

THE EU slashed its already low growth forecast for the eurozone on Thursday, intensifying pressure on Germany and other rich countries to spend more to stimulate the economy in Europe.

The European Commission said the 19-country single currency bloc would expand by just 1.1 percent this year, down from the 1.2 percent forecast in July.

The commission, which closely monitors public spending by the EU’s 28-member states, said the eurozone economy would then rebound weakly to 1.2 percent in 2020 and 2021.

“The European economy has held up well despite a less favourable external environment,” said European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis.

“However, we may face difficulties in the future a period of great uncertainty related to trade con icts, heightened geopolitical tensions, persistent weakness in the manufacturing sector and Brexit,” he added.

The EU warned that the sluggish growth rate would directly impact strained budgets, with countries burdened by huge public date rates -- such as Italy, Greece and France -- likely to see those levels increase further.

The European Central Bank, backed by the IMF and leading economists, has led a campaign to persuade Germany, Netherlands and others to boost spending, but so far those countries have refused the call.

Export champion Germany is under the most pressure to loosen its purse strings as its economy irts with recession, with its crucial manufacturing sector especially knocked down by the US-China trade war.

The EU said that Germany would grow by just 0.4 percent in 2019 and reach 1.0 percent in 2020 and 2021 -- a low growth patch that will drag down other parts of Europe.

Despite the poor performance, Germany is slated to keep running public budget surpluses over the next three years, building up a cash pile that the commission believes could be better spent boosting the economy.

Italy will have the slowest growth across Europe this year, barely averting recession with 0.1 percent expansion.

The EU said this would swell Italy’s public debt pile to a staggering 13 .4 percent of annual output by 2021, the biggest debt level in Europe except for Greece after three bailouts.

Spain’s growth this year would hit 1.9 percent, the fastest pace for the EU’s big economies, but this was significantly lower than the 2.3 percent rate forecast just four months ago.