World Bank said that within the region, the macro impacts of the crisis were most severe for those with large current account deficits and vulnerable external debt dynamics at the onset, including Bulgaria, Latvia and Lithuania while in case of countries with vulnerable private or public budgets the slow motion pace of economic growth will be hindered by the low possibilities of adapting public policies.

Romania and Latvia are expected to experience their second and third years, respectively, of economic contraction in 2010, although the rates of decline have decelerated sharply. For example, Latvia posted an estimated 18% contraction in 2009 and is projected to contract by a further 3.5% in 2010.

The World Bank also pointed out that remittances inflows to Romania and Poland also fell sharply in 2009, but this primarily reflects economic weakness and higher unemployment in the European Union.

Growth in Russia is expected to reach 4.5%, following a 7.9% contraction in 2009, while Poland and Turkey are forecast to grow by 3% and 6.3%, respectively. GDP growth in Europe and Central Asia is projected to expand 4.1% in 2010 and firm further by 4.2% and 4.5% in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

The contraction in industrial production was more pronounced in smaller countries, particularly those that entered the recession with large current account deficits that were supported by rapid credit expansion financed through debt creating flows (Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Moldova, Romania and Ukraine).

The World Bank warned that in particular, one issue to follow in coming months is the case of Greek banks that hold large shares of outstanding loans in Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia. It said that "Should Greek banks in an effort to restore their own balance sheets choose (or are forced) not to renew loans, this could have significant implications for investment and economic activity in this group of countries."

The institution predicts an economic contraction of 0.5% in 2010, after 7.1% contraction in 2009. The economic growth could return in the positive territory in 2011, with 3.6% increase and 4.4% in 2012. Romania's current account deficit is expected to deepen further from 4.5% of GDP in 2009 to 5% of GDP in 2010, and could remain in this range in 2011 and 2012

(Sourced from www.actmedia.eu)