May 21, 2009 - 20:23 AMT
Over the last 3 quarters only Cyprus escaped downturn among EU countries
The world financial and economic crisis continues negatively affecting the economies of all countries of the world. According to official data of the EU Statistical Service, over the last three quarters economic downturn was observed in all EU countries except Cyprus.

Reportedly, over the first quarter of this year the greatest decline in GDP was recorded in Baltic countries: 18.6 per cent in Latvia, 15.6 per cent in Estonia, 12.6 per cent in Lithuania. Germany, Romania and Italy follow them, Germany's economy declined by 6.9 per cent, the economic decline of Romania and Italy was 6.4 and 5.9 per cent respectively. Then Slovakia (5.4 per cent), Hungary (4.7 per cent), The Netherlands (4.5%) and the Great Britain (4.1 per cent) are successive in the list.

Comparatively small decline during the first quarter of this year was registered in France (3.2 per cent), Belgium (3 per cent), Spain (2.9 per cent) and Austria (2.9 per cent), which completes the list.