FRANKFURT (AFP) - The German government sees the economy, Europe's biggest, growing by 0.5 per cent in 2013, slightly faster than its previous forecast of 0.4 per cent, Economy Minister Philipp Roesler announced via Twitter on Thursday.

At the same time, Berlin is sticking to its forecast that growth will pick up to 1.6 per cent in 2014, the minister said, adding "we can look to the future with optimism".