The Future of Europe Macro challenges and market opportunities in a more dangerous world The future of Europe series The Future of Europe Group Chief Economist Neil Shearing introduces the Future of Europe series. Is the current optimism about Europe justified? What's gone right for Europe - and what will continue to hold it back. Fiscal stimulus won’t fix Germany’s economy Germany’s fiscal easing has lifted sentiment toward Europe, but it won’t fix the country’s long-term outlook or Europe’s global competitiveness. Three key questions on European markets Is the repricing of European risk assets sustainable? This analysis grapples with one of the big themes in global markets this year. Euro-zone debt dynamics: no longer core vs periphery Here's why euro-zone governments are likely to continue running large budget deficits, and what that means for interest rates. The UK’s future in Europe From defence to trade to reversing Brexit, here's how far the UK's "EU reset" will – and won't – go. Is the euro's share of global FX reserves set to rise? How looser fiscal policy could set the stage for the euro to expand its role as a reserve currency over the coming years. A European defence revolution? We've seen the initial steps - but here's why a defence revolution won't transform Europe's prospects just yet. Three key questions on the outlook for Europe’s financial markets We think European equities have turned a corner, while euro-zone bond markets look more robust, and the euro will hold on to some of its recent gains. Expansion & integration: the future of EU enlargement The EU's expansion in the coming years won't be anywhere near as impactful – nor as beneficial for its new members – as its enlargement was in the 2000s. Is one policy rate appropriate for all of the euro-zone? At present, there seems to be no major differences between the appropriate interest rate in the four largest euro-zone economies. ECB strategy review not just a formality The ECB’s forthcoming assessment of its 2021 strategy review won’t lead to immediate policy changes but we think it will commit policymakers to acting differently in future. Europe In data Euro-zone Debt Sustainability Monitor Europe's Macro Imbalances Europe Macro Database Other key Europe analysis Europe Economics Focus Defence and growth in Germany: a closer look We think Germany is likely to raise defence spending by around 1.5% of GDP between 2024 and 2027. With the government unlikely to cut other spending much and the defence industry well placed to raise... 2nd April 2025 · 18 mins read Europe Economics Focus French public debt: trouble brewing Developments over the past year have put France’s public debt on a steeper upward path, with the debt ratio now likely to rise from 113% of GDP last year to around 126% by 2030. We see little chance... 21st January 2025 · 14 mins read Europe Economics Focus The slow agony of Germany’s auto industry One of the many problems that the next German government will have to contend with is the struggling car sector. Unfortunately, the sector’s challenges are only likely to intensify given the prospect... 27th November 2024 · 29 mins read Europe Economics Focus How far will the EU go on Capital Markets Union? EU policymakers have stepped up their calls for progress towards Capital Markets Union and there will be steps in that direction in the coming years. But we aren’t holding our breath for major change... 31st January 2025 · 14 mins read Latest Europe economic and market coverage See all our Europe coverage Emerging Europe Economics Weekly Emerging Europe Weekly: Israel-Iran: conflict scenarios and spillovers The continued Israel-Iran military strikes are likely to have a limited direct impact on Israel’s economy – so long as the conflict remains confined to a matter of weeks. But the risk of escalation is... 20th June 2025 · 8 mins read China Economics Weekly China Weekly: EU is choosing Trump over China, retailers doing well When President Trump returned to office, his aggressive treatment of traditional allies raised the possibility that the EU and China would come together in defence of free trade. But it was clear this... 20th June 2025 · 5 mins read UK Economics Weekly UK Weekly: Oil price risk to inflation, infrastructure spending hype With UK inflation still some way above the 2.0% target, it probably wouldn’t require the conflict in the Middle East to cause a leap in the oil price all the way to $130-150 per barrel to prompt the... 20th June 2025 · 6 mins read Europe Economics Weekly Europe Weekly: Middle-East conflict clouds ECB outlook Our base case remains that the Israel-Iran conflict eases, energy prices drop back and the ECB cuts rates one more time in this cycle. But if energy prices stay around their current levels further... 20th June 2025 · 5 mins read Commodities Weekly Commodities Weekly: Israel-Iran conflict scenarios, looking beyond oil prices Oil prices continued to climb as the Israel-Iran conflict escalated, but the bigger picture is that the rise in gas prices has been just as significant, and agricultural prices will be next in line if... 20th June 2025 · 4 mins read UK Economics Rapid Response UK Public Finances (May 2025) Despite the overshoot in May, public borrowing was £2.9bn below the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast in the first two months of the fiscal year. That said, the OBR may still revise up its... 20th June 2025 · 3 mins read UK Economics Rapid Response UK Retail Sales (May 2025) The sharp 2.7% m/m drop back in retail sales volumes in May adds to other evidence that the burst of economic growth in Q1 is over. That said, consumer spending may still outperform other areas of the... 20th June 2025 · 3 mins read UK Commercial Property Update UK multifamily returns to be supported by easing costs A combination of factors, including surging energy and wage costs and an increased regulatory burden, have pushed multifamily operational costs to over 40% of rent, cutting income returns. But with... 19th June 2025 · 3 mins read Table of Contents The Future of Europe series Europe in data Other key Europe analysis Latest coverage
Europe Economics Focus Defence and growth in Germany: a closer look We think Germany is likely to raise defence spending by around 1.5% of GDP between 2024 and 2027. With the government unlikely to cut other spending much and the defence industry well placed to raise... 2nd April 2025 · 18 mins read
Europe Economics Focus French public debt: trouble brewing Developments over the past year have put France’s public debt on a steeper upward path, with the debt ratio now likely to rise from 113% of GDP last year to around 126% by 2030. We see little chance... 21st January 2025 · 14 mins read
Europe Economics Focus The slow agony of Germany’s auto industry One of the many problems that the next German government will have to contend with is the struggling car sector. Unfortunately, the sector’s challenges are only likely to intensify given the prospect... 27th November 2024 · 29 mins read
Europe Economics Focus How far will the EU go on Capital Markets Union? EU policymakers have stepped up their calls for progress towards Capital Markets Union and there will be steps in that direction in the coming years. But we aren’t holding our breath for major change... 31st January 2025 · 14 mins read
Emerging Europe Economics Weekly Emerging Europe Weekly: Israel-Iran: conflict scenarios and spillovers The continued Israel-Iran military strikes are likely to have a limited direct impact on Israel’s economy – so long as the conflict remains confined to a matter of weeks. But the risk of escalation is... 20th June 2025 · 8 mins read
China Economics Weekly China Weekly: EU is choosing Trump over China, retailers doing well When President Trump returned to office, his aggressive treatment of traditional allies raised the possibility that the EU and China would come together in defence of free trade. But it was clear this... 20th June 2025 · 5 mins read
UK Economics Weekly UK Weekly: Oil price risk to inflation, infrastructure spending hype With UK inflation still some way above the 2.0% target, it probably wouldn’t require the conflict in the Middle East to cause a leap in the oil price all the way to $130-150 per barrel to prompt the... 20th June 2025 · 6 mins read
Europe Economics Weekly Europe Weekly: Middle-East conflict clouds ECB outlook Our base case remains that the Israel-Iran conflict eases, energy prices drop back and the ECB cuts rates one more time in this cycle. But if energy prices stay around their current levels further... 20th June 2025 · 5 mins read
Commodities Weekly Commodities Weekly: Israel-Iran conflict scenarios, looking beyond oil prices Oil prices continued to climb as the Israel-Iran conflict escalated, but the bigger picture is that the rise in gas prices has been just as significant, and agricultural prices will be next in line if... 20th June 2025 · 4 mins read
UK Economics Rapid Response UK Public Finances (May 2025) Despite the overshoot in May, public borrowing was £2.9bn below the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast in the first two months of the fiscal year. That said, the OBR may still revise up its... 20th June 2025 · 3 mins read
UK Economics Rapid Response UK Retail Sales (May 2025) The sharp 2.7% m/m drop back in retail sales volumes in May adds to other evidence that the burst of economic growth in Q1 is over. That said, consumer spending may still outperform other areas of the... 20th June 2025 · 3 mins read
UK Commercial Property Update UK multifamily returns to be supported by easing costs A combination of factors, including surging energy and wage costs and an increased regulatory burden, have pushed multifamily operational costs to over 40% of rent, cutting income returns. But with... 19th June 2025 · 3 mins read
