Herbert Hax (2nd L), the chairman of Germany's panel of independent Economic Advisors handsover the annual report of the independent Council of Economics Advisors to German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (R) in Berlin November 16 while Horst Siebert (L) and Juergen Donges (C) look on. Herbert Hax, the chairman of Germanys panel of independent economic advisors, confirmed on Tuesday that the group - known as the Five Wise Men - had forecast economic growth at 2.7 percent next year.

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