Europe

Europe

The geographical region of Europe includes over 44 countries and 752m people. It had the third largest total GDP of the continents in 2018 at 21.9 trillion USD. Average GDP per capita was 34,485 USD, which is highest among the regions. It also had the highest level of exports in 2018 at 10tr USD. From the 15th century, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, French and British all developed colonial empires. The Spanish and Portuguese enjoyed the mineral wealth of the new world. While all these countries used African slaves to develop tobacco or sugarcane industries in the new world. In the late nineteenth century, Germany, Belgium, and Italy also began to develop colonial empires. The Netherlands was the forerunner in terms of finance and trade, with the world’s first stock exchange in 1602. Britain led the way with industrialisation in the 18th century, which made steam rather than slaves and gold the new wealth of nations. Trade was becoming global and Europe led the way. By the late 19th century, Germany had also industrialised. Its growing commercial and naval rivalry with Britain contributed to the start of WW1. WW1 saw the emergence of the USA as a superpower and the break-up of the imperial European powers; European colonial empires were to survive until after WW2. The devastation of WW2 brought a determination for a new common future. The European Coal and Steel Community was formed in 1951. This became the European Economic Community in 1957, the European Union in 1993, and monetary union in 2001. The end of the cold war in 1989, saw NATO expand into Eastern Europe followed by the European Union. Many former soviet- Bloc countries have grown strongly through the 1990s and 2000s, including Poland, Czechia, and Estonia. Yugoslavia disintegrated in 1991, but Slovenia and Croatia are now EU members and the Western Balkans aspire to membership. Throughout the 2000s, the relative importance of the German economy grew. In recent years, Europe has been tested by the Greek debt crisis (2009-10), the crisis in Ukraine (2013), the Syrian refugee crisis (2015-16), and Brexit (2016-2020). But despite these challenges, Europe will continue to grow as it enjoys the fruits of trade and further integration.

Milan Fintech Summit 2024 Underlines Italian Ambitions

When asked to name the fintech capitals of Europe, most people would opt for Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, or the Baltic cities of Vilnius and Tallinn. But another destination has ambitions

Pioneering Sustainability and Tech Integration in Europe

Europe’s got the pedal to the metal, and we can expect to see ground-breaking inventions coming our way… Europe, a continent rich in history and tradition, is also a definite

Which European Countries are the Most Active Online?

The Netherlands leads the field with a score of 9.01 – or 99.27 percent of residents – regularly using the Internet.  SEO agency Digital Climax analysed data from Eurostat to

Autism in Business: Help, or Hindrance?

What do you think the qualities of a successful business leader might be? If you were to ask this question to the general population, they are likely to come back
Read more

Literally Centuries of Experience and Expertise Behind This Bank

The oldest financial institution in Germany has been going strong since the 16th Century… Berenberg is Germany’s oldest private bank — founded in 1590. Over the centuries, it has embraced

Supporting African Businesses: A Focus on Sustainability and Close Customer Relationships

The Access Bank UK Ltd is making significant strides with its international expansion – and there are good reasons for that… The Access Bank UK Ltd provides trade finance, commercial

It’s All About Strategy — and Eurofer Has That Under Control

Italy-based Eurofer Pension Fund exploits the potential of diversification and risk-adjusted returns. In today’s dynamic financial environment, pension funds must optimise investment strategies to ensure sustainability and returns. A key

Generational Call-to-Arms in the Fight to Save Our World

An Irish group puts into words the unspoken fears of a global population, and turns buzzwords into direct action. Environmental services and technology business FLI Global is ready to take
Read more

‘Deep-Tech’ Founders-Turned-Investors Forge VC Powerhouse

‘We’re building the VC firm we wish we’d had as technical founders’. UK early-stage deep-tech VC firm SCVC focuses on tech start-ups coming from the UK’s world-leading academic institutions. Deep

Innovating Healthcare: The Journey of GKSD Investment Holding Under a Watchful Eye

Group president Kamel Ghribi’s passion for excellence and industriousness has transformed the sector. Kamel Ghribi, president of GKSD Investment Holding and vice-president of Gruppo San Donato, is a bridge builder.

Türkiye in the Economic Spotlight: Globalturk Capital Keeps the Focus on the Country’s Growing Status

A growing body of international luminaries, government ministers and experts are taking note of Türkiye’s rise in international economic affairs.  Globalturk Capital has been promoting Türkiye as an FDI destination since

Heike Arbter: Finding the Right Talent — and Retaining It

CFI.co in conversation with Heike Arbter, head of Raiffeisen Certificates. Raiffeisen Certificates is a leading Austrian certificates provider in the DACH region, as well as in Central and Eastern European
Read more
CFI

Published by
CFI

Recent Posts

Middle East

5 years ago

North America

5 years ago

Latin America

5 years ago

Asia Pacific

5 years ago

Africa

5 years ago