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BRUSSELS The European Union cut its already-low economic-growth forecasts further Tuesday, indicating the recovery will remain sluggish amid problems for the bigger countries, particularly France and Germany.

The official forecast for growth this year in the 18-country eurozone was cut to 0.8 percent from a prediction of 1.2 percent made in the spring.

Indicating little good was expected next year, too, it reduced the 2015 prediction from 1.7 percent to 1.1 percent.

"The situation in the euro area remains extremely fragile," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Unemployment in the currency union was forecast to decrease at a painfully slow rate. After 11.6 percent this year, it is expected to dip to 11.3 percent next year and 10.8 percent in 2016.

The broader 28-nation EU, which includes non-euro members such as Britain and Sweden, was expected to grow 1.3 percent this year from a previous 1.6 percent forecast.

To help speed up the recovery, EU Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said the bloc should focus on spending on special projects, for which the EU Commission has a $375 billion plan.

He said the plan would be presented to the EU parliament before the end of the year. "There is a real sense of urgency."

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European Union cuts growth forecasts as big economies falter

The 28-member European Union on Wednesday pledged to continue extending financial and technical assistance to the Philippine government in the latter's efforts to establish the Bangsamoro government that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

In a joint paper delivered at the Philippines Development Forum (PDF) currently being held in Davao City, the EU said it will allot more than 5 million for new programs in Mindanao set to start in 2015.

The EU said these new programs will focus on the development of a regional justice system and in promoting inclusive growth through job creation and access to sustainable energy.

While the support to the Peace process will receive continued dedicated funding...The new programmes to start in 2015 will already contain important components benefitting Mindanao and Bangsamoro, the EU paper said.

Specific interventions will be designed benefitting Mindanao and Bangsamoro in particular to support job creation accompanying the creation of the new political entity, the EU paper added.

The EU said 3.5 million will be alloted to institutional and operational support of the future Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission and to local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the exercise of their human rights monitoring and promotion/education functions.

The EU said flexible technical assistance will also be provided to the future Bangsamoro Government in terms of developing and institutionalizing its regional justice system.

On the other hand, 1.5 million will be allotted to the EU's Access to Sustainable Energy program. The EU said the program would include training of electric cooperatives in Bangsamoro to allow them to connect more people to the grid.

The EU said additional grants will also be given for rural electrification and development of innovative renewable technologies such as solar home systems, mini-grids, solar lanterns and solar pumps.

The statement said that in the last 20 years, the EU has extended more than P10 billion worth of development assistance to Mindanao. It is also the largest contributor to the World Bank-administered Mindanao Trust Fund, a multi-donor trust fund that promotes social and economic recovery in Southern Philippines.

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European Union pledges 5 million to Bangsamoro programs

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