Europe business expresses cautious optimism

Some of the results of the 14th edition of the annual UPS Europe Business Monitor in which 1 449 top European executives were surveyed on a variety of issues affecting European business provide some interesting comparative statistics: ¡ 51% of Europefs top executives say their companies fared better in 2004 than the previous year ¡ Business leaders are making cautious predictions when it comes to staffing levels; only 23% foresee an increase in jobs ¡ High expectations for the new EU member states; Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary anticipated to show strongest economic growth in the next few years ¡ The UK is admired across Europe, followed by Spain; according to half of Europefs managers the UK manages its economy best, followed by Spain with more than a quarter of the votes