Brussels, 28/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - Just as not long ago the European Commission did (EUROPE 9368), the European employers' organisation, Businesseurope, has revised its forecast for growth in the European economy upwards. The favourable economic situation is continuing, but this “should not lead political decision-makers to be complacent”, warned Ernest-Antoine Seillière, its president, speaking to the press. Businesseurope is forecasting growth of 2.2% for the eurozone and 2.6% for the EU of 27 in 2007, due in large part to the upturn in Germany. Growth should stabilise at its potential level in 2008, at 2% and 2.4% respectively, a performance which is disappointing compared to the objective of 3% targeted in Lisbon in 2000, and illustrated by developments in productivity. The most encouraging sign in this bright spell therefore remains strong job creation in Europe. From three million in 2006, the number of jobs created should be similar this year, and next year should reach a total for the three years of 8.6 million, the organisation was pleased to note, underlining the contrast to the USA, where growth is not accompanied by this phenomenon. This job creation should not bring with it inflationist pressures, they said, although they called on the social partners to act responsibly, avoiding excessive salary adjustments which would discourage the demand for labour and increase price levels. The inflation rate should settle at around 2% for the two years to come in both the eurozone and the EU of 27. The disparities in terms of competitiveness among the eurozone countries (Germany, Austria, Finland on one hand, and Spain, Italy and Portugal on the other), which were also pointed out by the Eurogroup (EUROPE 9375), nonetheless necessitate particular efforts on the part of those which have seen salary development which is out of kilter with that of productivity, Businesseurope observed. (ab)