Rome, 09/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The G7 Finance Ministers adopted, after their meeting in Rome, a working document acknowledging that the world economy has slowed down more than predicted over the past year. They stressed, however, that the "sound economic fundamental and strong international cooperation should provide a solid foundation for renewed expansion". American national Paul O'Neill said that, in the United States, "corrections are taking place … that will take us to higher growth fairly soon". Laurent Fabius, from France, reacted to appeals to the EU in recent days that the EU should become the "locomotive" for world growth, stating that, according to his Ministry, the euro-zone has created around 7.2 million jobs since 1998, and the United States only 5.1 million. Mr O'Neill replied that his remarks had been misinterpreted. He said "we all agreed that growth in each of our economies is crucial to prosperity around the world". Japanese Masajuro Shiokawa felt that the economic situation of his country could improve in two or three years' time, while European Commissioner Pedro Solbes recalled that, in the EU, growth could be less than 2.5% this year. Bruno Tremonti, chairing the meeting, spoke of "potentially positive signs" in the Union's economy, while British Gordon Brown felt that the situation could grow worse before it gets better.