11/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The European Union's Banking Federation (FBE) declared on Wednesday that it was tabling on growth of 1.7% in the euro zone in 2004. It also considers as "exaggerated" the fears expressed that the euro would appreciate thus penalising the economy. Only a spectacular weakening of the dollar compared to the euro would justify concern for international competitiveness of the euro zone industry, the European banking association states.