ECONOMIC GROWTH

As for trade outside the EU; notably, the volume of import from China has greatly increased.

In May of this year, 10 countries arc joining (joined) the EU. These countries represent a significant interest for the Netherlands: the amount of business with eastern European countries has doubled over the last couple of years - whereby Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic represent 80% of the trade between the Netherlands and the new EU countries - though trade with Russia is also greatly on the increase. The Netherlands is furthermore among the top-3 investors in this region, particularly, again, in above three countries.