Brussels, 04/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission published its second annual report on the economic situation in the Mediterranean, which details the recent macro-economic and financial changes and structural reforms in the various partner countries which are all linked- or soon will be, in the case of Syria- to the EU by association agreements. The report, designed as internal analysis by the services -DG economic and financial- is a weighty compilation of analyses on the general state of the economy, and a country-by-country look notably at the joint conclusions of the exercise -which is new- of "economic dialogue" sessions with each of the countries.
The Commission has noted a return to growth generally, which was very clear in the two best-performing countries, Morocco and Tunisia, but less so in others, notably those countries affected by the fallout of the war in Iraq (Syria, Jordan) or the impact of the Middle East crisis (Israel and Palestine). These strong disparities can be seen in almost all fields, from macro-economic indicators, export sales, ability to attract investment and the re-establishment of broad economic and financial balance (budgetary deficits notably, inflation, etc) or in production structures and the employment market.
Progress in structural reform is also mixed (EUROPE will come back in more detail on the contents of the report).