Brussels, 17/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 13 November, the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE) published it economic forecasts for autumn 2006. This six-monthly survey of big EU business federations reveals that growth should reach 2.9% in 2006 and 2.3% in 2007 in the EU25 and 2.5% and 2% respectively in the eurozone. These figures are similar to the European Commission's forecasts, of growth of 2.8% in 2006 and 2.4% in 2007 in the EU25 and 2.6% and 2.1% in the eurozone (see EUROPE 9300). UNICE forecasts 2.3% inflation in the EU25 in both 2006 and 2007 and 2.3% and 2.2% in the eurozone. The current pickup in the economy provides a unique opportunity to make progress and build consensus surrounding the reforms needed to ensure self-replicating, balanced growth in the years to come, argues UNICE. It makes several recommendations to the EU's political decision-makers, namely that Member States should improve their long-term budget positions and reform social security systems; the European Central Bank should take better account of downside risks to growth of its monetary policy and, above all, the potential impact of its policies on future changes to exchange rates; trade unions and employers should ensure pay rises match productivity rises and meet the objective of restoring competitiveness in areas where it has deteriorated in recent years; and Member States and European institutions should take firm action to reform the labour market, products and capital. The report can be accessed at: http: //212.3.246.117/Common/GetFileURL.asp?FileURL=F_1. (ab)