Economic recovery is underway in the Emerging Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, but at a slow pace and is at risk from the troubled Eurozone, according to the World Bank at a press briefing during the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings 2011.

“Most countries in Emerging Europe and Central Asia have recovered from the global economic crisis, but growth has returned at lower rates than pre-crisis trends in most of the region. The region is expected to record a real growth rate of 4.3 percent in 2011, which is one of the lowest of any developing region,” said Philippe Le Houérou, World Bank Vice President for the Europe and Central Asia Region. “The slow recovery in the region may be establishing a ‘new normal’ of lower economic growth rates in many of the region’s countries.”

World Bank support reached $6.1 billion this fiscal year, including $5.5 billion from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and $650 million from the International Development Association (IDA). Turkey ($1.4 billion), Romania ($1.1 billion), and Poland ($1.1 billion) were the largest borrowers. The sectors receiving the most funding were energy and mining ($1.9 billion), public administration ($1.7 billion), and health and social services ($1.2 billion).