Luxembourg / Brussels, 30/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - According to new estimations published by Eurostat on Thursday, the GDP of the euro zone and that of the European Union (EU15) showed growth of 0.2% during the first quarter 2002 compared to the previous quarter. Results follow a fall of 0.3% in the euro zone and 0.2% in the EU15 during the fourth quarter 2001. For the first quarter 2002, the Statistical Office of the EC highlights the continued trend of falling investment (-0.7% in the euro zone and -0.8% in the EU15) and recovery in exports (+0.9% in the euro zone and +0.6% in the EU15). Eurostat also underlines the move towards industrial recovery and recovery in the construction sector. In a press release also published on Thursday, the European Commission predicts a rise in GDP of 0.3% to 0.6% in the euro zone for this quarter, followed by a very significant upturn in activity during the third quarter, with expected growth of 0.7% to 1%. It attributes these optimistic forecasts to a favourable international environment - American growth improved by 1.5% during the first quarter 2002 - as well as to falls in rates operated by the ECB last year, which are beginning to have an effect.