EU Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Pedro Solbes said he expects this year's EU GDP growth to ease to "close to" 2 pct as a result of this week's terrorist attacks in the US.
He did not offer a more specific figure.
Speaking at a press briefing with Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martonyi, Solbes said: "Following the attacks in the US, EU economic growth will be lower... close to 2 pct".
"The tragic events in the US will probably have a bigger effect overseas than in Europe, and we expect higher growth in 2002," Solbes said.
Belgian Finance Minister Didier Reynders said shortly after the attack on Tuesday that he maintained a 2 pct GDP growth forecast in the euro zone.