The European Union economy is gradually recovering, while still facing headwinds.

Real GDP started to grow again in the third quarter of 2009, ending the longest and deepest recession in the EU's history, according to the European Commission.

The exceptional crisis measures put in place in the EU played a major role in turning the economy around. However, in line with the autumn 2009 forecast, growth eased in the fourth quarter, as the impact of some temporary factors started to fade.

According to the current update, the economic outlook for the EU remains broadly unchanged.

GDP is projected to grow at 0.7 per cent in both the EU and the euro area in 2010. The inflation projections also remain largely unchanged at 1.4 per cent and 1.1 per cent in the EU and the euro area, respectively.

Uncertainty surrounding these projections remains rife, as recent developments in financial markets illustrate well, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Olli Rehn said: "The recovery of the EU economy is materialising but it is still fragile.

"Putting the European economy back on a strong and sustainable path should be our overarching objective. For this we need to work on two fronts: the economic recovery and the consolidation of our public finances. The new Europe 2020 Strategy leading to the modernisation of our economies should go hand in hand with the consolidation of our public finances. This is necessary for sustainable growth and job creation." Rehn said.

Growth projections for the first half of this year have been revised slightly upward in the Commission’s forecast for both the EU and the euro area.

But because of marginal downward revisions for the second half of 2010, the projected rate of GDP growth in 2010 as a whole remains broadly unchanged at 0.7 per cent in both areas. This is calculated on the basis of updated projections for France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, which together account for about 80 per cent of the EU’s GDP.

Global economic activity proved more robust in the second half of 2009 than previously expected, especially in emerging Asia.

Real GDP (excluding the EU) escaped an outright fall last year and is now expected to grow by about 4.25 per cent in 2010. Regarding the near term, global indicators are encouraging, partly reflecting the inventory cycle in manufacturing.

Further out, world growth is set to hit a soft patch, due to the gradually fading effect of the stimulus measures and because of the inventory cycle.

Differences across countries remain sizeable, with a markedly more solid recovery for emerging economies, on the back of resuming capital inflows, and the return of investors' risk appetite. While the EU's external environment is recovering faster than expected, it remains to be seen to what extent this will help the EU this year.

Improved sentiment indicators for the EU point to an expansion of activity going forward, but hard data, especially industrial production and retail sales, have been less encouraging recently.

While a better-than-expected external environment could spur exports further, investment remains very weak, reflecting exceptionally low capacity utilisation rates.

Residential investment is also likely to be weak in 2010, given the required adjustment in housing sectors in several EU member states, the EC said.

Financial-market conditions have recovered since early 2009, but balance-sheet adjustment is not complete and uncertainty remains abundant.

A muted outlook for investment typically implies a weak labour market ahead, which in turn is likely to dampen private consumption. With many of the main driving forces being still temporary in the EU and globally, the robustness of the recovery is yet to be tested, according to the EC.

The strong disinflation process over most of 2009 was mainly explained by downward base effects from the energy and food components and by a growing slack in the economy. HICP inflation rose somewhat in the last months of 2009, and remained at a very moderate annual rate of one per cent in the EU and 0.3 per cent in the euro area, as expected in the autumn.

Looking forward, a sizeable slack in the economy is set to keep inflation in check, offsetting increases in energy and commodity prices. Price stability is expected to be maintained, with HICP inflation projections being only marginally revised upwards to 1.4 per cent in the EU and staying unchanged at 1.1 per cent in the euro area, the EC said.

The risks to the EU growth outlook for 2010 still appear broadly balanced, according to the EC.

On the downside, the situation of financial markets remains highly uncertain and subject to serious adverse risks. On the upside, the vigour of the global recovery, particularly in Asian emerging markets, and the imminent turning of the inventory cycle in the EU may have a greater impact on domestic demand than currently anticipated.

As regards the inflation outlook, risks also appear to remain broadly balanced for 2010, the EC said.