06/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday the European Commission confirmed that economic growth in the euro zone could be between -0.1% of GDP or +3% in the first quarter 2003. It is thus sticking to it earlier forecasts for the fourth quarter 2002 - growth of between +0.1% and +0.4% compared to the previous quarter - stressing that these forecasts correspond to its analysis by which the economy in the euro zone is gradually gaining impetus. This sluggishness, predictable at the beginning of the year, does not for that put back into question the autumn forecasts (gradual recovery in growth to 1.8% for 2003 as a whole).