European Union economy

European Union
World economic rank	2. (nominal) (2016)
currency
Conversion rate	1.194 USD / EUR 126.47 JPY / EUR 1.0774 CHF / EUR 0.89605 GBP / EUR
Trade organizations	WTO , G20
Key figures
Gross domestic product (GDP)	▲ $ 18,750 billion (nominal) (2018) ▲ $ 22,023 billion ( PPP ) (2018)
GDP per capita	▲ $ 33,300 (2016)
GDP by economic sector	Agriculture : 1.5% Industry : 24.1% Services : 74.4%
growth	▲ 2.5% (2017)
inflation rate	▲ 1.7% (2017)
Gini index	30.6 (2012)
Employed	▲ 218.3 million (2016)
Activity rate	▲ 72.9% (2016)
Unemployed	▼ 18.8 million (2017)
Unemployment rate	▼ 7.6% (2017)
Foreign trade
export	€ 3,887 billion (2013)
import	€ 3,963 billion (2013)
Foreign trade balance	-76 billion € (2013)
public finances
Public debt	12,393 billion € total member states (2016) 83.6% of GDP ∅ member states (2016)
Budget balance	−1.7% of GDP ∅ member states (2016)

The European Union (EU), with a nominal GDP of 16,518 billion US dollars (2016, International Monetary Fund ), the second largest economy in the world and represents 22.8% of global economic output. For some time the EU was the world's largest economy, but in the mid- 2010s it had to cede this rank to the United States of America (USA) (nominal) and the People's Republic of China (PPP). Within the EU itself, Germany is the economically strongest member state and responsible for 20% of the EU's economic output (as of 2015). In second place followed with 17% Great Britain , which, however , has left the EU and today's second place France with 14%. With regard to per capita income, there are marked differences between the EU member states. In northern and western Europe it is usually significantly higher than in the south and east . In 2015 it was highest in Luxembourg with 101,994 US dollars, and lowest in Bulgaria with 6,843 US dollars per year.

The main economic sectors are industry and services , while agriculture makes up only a small part of the European economy. The economic growth in the EU was 2.2% on average between 2000 and 2008. Due to the global financial and economic crisis , the EU experienced a recession of 4.1% in 2009 . In the following two years the gross domestic product (GDP) rose again (2010 by 2.1%, 2011 by 1.6%), in 2012 it fell again slightly by 0.2%. The average annual inflation rate between 2003 and 2013 was 2.25%. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 9.5% in July 2011, the energy intensity of the European economy (energy consumption in kilograms of oil equivalents per € 1,000 GDP) was 151.6 in 2008 (for comparison: USA 180.7; Japan 90.1). After the current account deficit had peaked in 2008 at 2.3% of GDP and in absolute terms EUR 256.877 million, it gradually declined and turned into a surplus of 0.7% of GDP in 2012; In 2013 the surplus was 1.2% of GDP and in 2014 0.9%.

currency

The euro symbol

Euro notes and coins

Map of European countries related to the euro

EU countries with euros

EU countries in ERM II

EU countries outside ERM II

Non-EU members with euros

→ Main article : Euro

The euro is the official currency of the EU and is used in all documents and guidelines. The euro is also the most widely used currency in the EU; 19 of its member states had it as their currency within the euro zone in 2015 .

The European Central Bank is responsible and responsible for the monetary policy of the euro zone . Together with the national central banks of the countries in the euro zone, it forms the Eurosystem . As part of the Euro Group, the countries in the Eurozone coordinate their tax and economic policies with one another.

Currencies in the member states of the EU

Member state	currency	Euro accession	Exchange rate	ISO code
Belgium	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Bulgaria	Bulgarian lev	-	1.9558	BGN
Denmark	Danish crown	opt out	7.4439	DKK
Germany	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Estonia	Euro	2011	-	EUR
Finland	Euro	1999	-	EUR
France	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Greece	Euro	2001	-	EUR
Ireland	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Italy	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Croatia	Croatian kuna	-	7.528	HRK
Latvia	Euro	2014	-	EUR
Lithuania	Euro	2015	-	EUR
Luxembourg	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Malta	Euro	2008	-	EUR
Netherlands	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Austria	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Poland	Polish zloty	-	4.3971	PLN
Portugal	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Romania	Romanian leu	-	4.8398	RON
Sweden	Swedish crown	-	10.2888	SEK
Slovakia	Euro	2009	-	EUR
Slovenia	Euro	2007	-	EUR
Spain	Euro	1999	-	EUR
Czech Republic	Czech crown	-	26.208	CZK
Hungary	Hungarian forint	-	354.54	HOOF
Cyprus	Euro	2008	-	EUR

All other member states, with the exception of Denmark and the United Kingdom with exit clauses and Sweden, which is free to choose to join Exchange Rate Mechanism II , have committed to introducing the euro in their accession treaties.

The exchange rate between currencies participating in Exchange Rate Mechanism II and the euro is subject to a standard fluctuation range of ± 15 percent. This results in upper and lower limit exchange rates for each currency of the participant in Exchange Rate Mechanism II, which are fundamentally to be defended. The European Central Bank is only contractually obliged to intervene if there is a threat of exceeding the ± 15 percent deviation. However, it can also do this at any earlier point in time. Exchange rate stabilization should be achieved through a convergent economic policy of the non-euro countries.

As of 2016, only Denmark participates in Exchange Rate Mechanism II.

gross domestic product

Map of the gross domestic product per capita in the EU in 2014

> $ 40,000

> $ 35,000

> $ 30,000

> $ 25,000

> $ 20,000

> $ 15,000

> $ 10,000

Map of the EU's HDI prosperity indicator in 2014

> 0.900

> 0.875

> 0.850

> 0.825

> 0.800

> 0.775

> 0.750

EU and the member states

Gross domestic product 2019 in euros

Member states	GDP millions	GDP (nominal) per capita	GDP ( PPP ) per capita	GDP (PPP) per capita EU28 = 100
European Union	13,928,753	31,100	31,100	100
Germany	3,435,210	41,350	37,600	121
France	2,425,708	35,960	33,000	106
Italy	1,787,664	29,610	29,600	95
Spain	1,245,331	26,440	28,300	91
Netherlands	812.051	46,820	39,900	128
Poland	529.029	13,780	22,700	73
Sweden	474.148	46,130	37,400	120
Belgium	473.085	41,200	36,500	117
Austria	398,682	44,920	39,600	127
Ireland	347.215	70,470	59,300	191
Denmark	310.937	53,430	40,100	129
Finland	240,078	43,480	34,400	111
Romania	223,337	11,500	21,600	69
Czech Republic	220,200	20,640	28,500	92
Portugal	212.319	20,660	24,400	79
Greece	187.456	17,500	21,000	68
Hungary	143,826	14,720	22,800	73
Slovakia	94.171	17,270	22,900	74
Luxembourg	63,516	102,200	81,000	261
Bulgaria	60,675	8,680	16,400	53
Croatia	53,936	13,330	20,200	65
Slovenia	48.006	22,980	27,200	88
Lithuania	48,432	17,340	25,500	82
Latvia	30,476	15,930	21,600	69
Estonia	28,037	21,160	26,000	84
Cyprus	21,943	24,920	27,700	89
Malta	13,277	26,490	30,800	99

Development within the EU

GDP in millions of euros of the EU member states

Member state	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Belgium	275.065	282,637	298.711	311,481	326,662	344.713	354.066	348,781	365.101	379.106	387.419	392,699	400,643	409,768	422,678	437.204	450.506
Bulgaria	17,433	18,736	21,042	24.002	27,350	32,708	37,373	37,245	37,724	40,955	41,693	41,912	42,762	45.287	48.129	50,430	55.182
Denmark	189,795	193.353	202317	212.907	225,592	233,440	241.087	230.213	241,517	246.075	254,578	258.743	265,757	271.778	277,489	288,981	297,634
Germany	2,209,290	2,220,080	2,270,620	2,300,860	2,393,250	2,513,230	2,561,740	2,460,280	2,580,060	2,703,120	2,754,860	2,826,240	2,932,470	3,043,650	3,144,050	3,263,350	3,386,000
Estonia	7,774	8,709	9,708	11,262	13,522	16,246	16,517	14,146	14,719	16,668	18.006	19,015	19,963	20,348	21,098	23.002	25,657
Finland	148.289	151,569	158,477	164,387	172.614	186,584	193.711	181.029	187.100	196,869	199,793	203,338	205,474	209,604	215.773	223,522	233,555
France	1,594,259	1,637,438	1,710,760	1,771,978	1,853,267	1,945,670	1,995,850	1,939,017	1,998,481	2,059,284	2,086,929	2,117,189	2,149,765	2,198,432	2,228,568	2,291,705	2,348,991
Greece	163,461	178.905	193.716	199,242	217,862	232,695	241,990	237,534	226.031	207.029	191.204	180.389	178,656	176.312	174.199	177.735	184.714
Ireland	135.946	145.779	156.177	169.978	184,923	197.054	187,547	169,432	166.158	173.940	174,844	180.298	194,537	262.037	275,567	296.152	318,460
Italy	1,345,794	1,390,710	1,448,363	1,489,726	1,548,473	1,609,551	1,632,151	1,572,878	1,604,515	1,637,463	1,613,265	1,604,478	1,621,827	1,652,622	1,680,948	1,716,935	1,756,982
Croatia	28,542	30,703	33,465	36,508	40.198	43,926	48,130	45.091	45.004	44,709	43,934	43,487	43,020	43,897	46,640	48,990	51,468
Latvia	10.148	10,467	11,662	13,711	17,235	22,640	24,318	18,731	17,772	20,144	21,983	22.805	23,581	24,378	24,926	26,857	29,524
Lithuania	15.173	16,669	18,237	21.002	24,079	29,041	32,696	26,935	28,028	31,263	33,335	34,962	36,444	37,190	38,668	41,857	45.114
Luxembourg	24,768	25,877	27,661	29,734	33,409	36,766	37,647	36,268	39,526	42,227	43,574	46,541	48,898	52.102	53.005	55,378	58,869
Malta	4,737	4,795	4,867	5,142	5,386	5,758	6.129	6.139	6,600	6,879	7,218	7,650	8,467	9,535	10.196	11,126	12,320
Netherlands	494.501	506.671	506.67	545,609	579.212	613.280	639.163	617,540	631.512	642.929	645.164	660.463	671,560	690.008	708.337	737.048	773.373
Austria	226.303	230,999	241.505	253.009	266.478	282,347	291.930	286.188	294,628	308.630	317.056	322,878	333.063	344.493	353.297	369,686	386.094
Poland	210.146	192.274	204,848	244,822	273,418	313,654	363,692	314,689	361,744	380,177	389.273	394,602	410.845	427.836	425.942	465.605	496,462
Portugal	142,631	146.158	152.372	158,653	166,249	175,468	178,873	175,448	179.930	176.167	168,398	170.269	173,446	179,379	185.494	193,072	201.606
Romania	48,810	52,931	61,404	80.226	98,419	125.403	142,396	120,409	126,746	133,306	133,511	144.254	150,458	160.298	170,893	187.940	202,884
Sweden	280,521	293,445	307,433	313,218	334,877	356.434	352.317	309,679	369.077	404.946	423,341	435.752	430,642	444.235	465.186	477.383	467.012
Slovakia	26,306	30,065	34,702	39,220	45,396	56.091	65,840	63,819	67,387	70,444	72,420	73,835	75,561	78.070	81,154	84,985	90.202
Slovenia	25.051	26,303	27,737	29,235	31,561	35,153	37,951	36,166	36,252	36,896	35,988	35,908	37,303	38,543	40,418	43,278	45,948
Spain	749.288	803.472	861.420	930.566	1,007,974	1,080,807	1,116,207	1,079,034	1,080,913	1,070,413	1,042,872	1,031,272	1,041,160	1,081,190	1,118,522	1,163,662	1,208,248
Czech Republic	86,828	87,960	95,879	109,394	123.743	138.004	160,962	148.357	156,370	163,583	160,707	156.933	154,739	163,948	176,370	191,643	206,823
Hungary	71,658	75.174	83,497	90,543	91,345	101.606	107.503	93,671	98.198	100,705	98,973	101.273	105,574	110.7223	113,731	123,495	131.935
United Kingdom	1,782,782	1,719,827	1,849,390	1,945,625	2,063,310	2,168,912	1,908,370	1,667,595	1,813,331	1,866,018	2,053,613	2,042,895	2,254,297	2,568,941	2,403,383	2,327,730	2,393,693
Cyprus	12,011	12,788	13,848	14,946	16,141	17,454	18,822	18,482	19,118	19,547	19,469	18,065	17,394	17,421	18,219	19,213	20,731
European Union	10,327,309	10,494,493	11,023,755	11,516,984	12,181,944	12,914,631	12,994,980	12,254,797	12,793,540	13,179,498	13,431,768	13,548,143	13,957,764	14,625,373	14,908,412	15.330.011	15,877,040
Eurozone	7,610,795	7,830,090	8,164,481	8,459,741	8,903,693	9,400,545	9,633,149	9,287,848	9,543,829	9,799,025	9,833,808	9,931,800	10.106.420	10,400,160	10,789,417	11,171,870	11,573,949
United States	11,609,031	10.175.654	9,868,076	10,524,636	11,035,282	10,563,736	10,007,207	10,337,468	11,287,923	11,147,917	12,580,324	12,625,631	13,069,510	16,182,587	15,936,097	16.910.107	17,353,811
Japan	4,227,910	3,808,924	3,746,841	3,682,156	3,469,984	3,181,242	3,287,696	3,614,690	4,149,900	4,247,574	4,622,738	3,687,147	3,467,282	3,717,806	4,238,369	4,248,880	4,210,096

Chart GDP of the EU Member States 2014

Growth rates

Real GDP growth in the EU compared to last year

Long-term interest rates in the euro area since 1993

GDP growth rates of the EU member states

Member state	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019 1	2020 1
Belgium	2.1	2.5	3.4	0.7	−2.3	2.7	1.8	0.2	0.2	1.3	1.4	1.5	2.0	1.5	1.2	1.2
Bulgaria	7.2	6.8	7.7	5.6	−4.2	0.1	1.9	0.2	0.9	1.3	3.6	3.8	3.5	3.1	3.3	3.4
Denmark	2.4	3.8	0.8	−0.7	−5.1	1.6	1.2	0.2	0.9	1.6	1.6	3.2	2.0	2.4	1.7	1.6
Germany	0.7	3.7	3.3	1.1	−5.6	4.1	3.7	0.5	0.5	1.9	1.7	2.2	2.5	1.5	0.5	1.5
Estonia	9.4	10.3	7.7	−5.4	−14.7	2.5	7.6	5.2	1.6	2.9	1.8	2.6	5.7	4.8	2.8	2.4
Finland	2.8	4.1	5.2	0.7	−8.3	3.0	2.6	−1.4	−0.9	−0.4	0.6	2.6	3.1	1.7	1.6	1.2
France	1.6	2.4	2.4	0.2	−2.9	2.0	2.1	0.3	0.6	1.0	1.1	1.1	2.3	1.7	1.3	1.5
Greece	0.6	5.7	3.3	−0.3	−4.3	−5.5	−9.1	−7.3	−3.2	0.7	−0.4	−0.2	1.5	1.9	2.2	2.2
Ireland	6.3	6.3	5.5	−3.9	−4.6	1.8	3.0	0.0	1.6	8.3	25.2	3.7	8.1	8.2	3.8	3.4
Italy	0.9	2.0	1.5	−1.1	−5.5	1.7	0.6	−2.8	−1.8	0.0	0.8	1.3	1.7	0.8	0.1	0.7
Croatia	4.2	4.8	5.2	2.1	−7.4	−1.7	−0.3	−2.3	−1.1	−0.1	2.4	3.5	3.1	2.7	2.6	2.5
Latvia	10.7	11.9	10.0	−3.6	−14.4	−3.8	6.2	4.0	3.0	1.9	3.3	1.8	3.8	4.6	3.1	2.8
Lithuania	7.7	7.4	11.1	2.6	−14.8	1.6	6.0	3.8	3.5	3.0	2.0	2.6	4.2	3.6	2.7	2.4
Luxembourg	3.2	5.1	8.4	−1.3	−4.4	4.9	2.5	−0.4	3.7	4.3	4.3	4.6	1.8	3.1	2.5	2.6
Malta	3.8	1.8	4.0	3.3	−2.5	3.5	1.9	2.8	4.8	8.8	10.9	5.8	6.7	7.0	5.5	4.8
Netherlands	2.2	3.5	3.7	1.7	−3.8	1.4	1.6	−1.0	−0.1	1.4	2.0	2.2	2.9	2.6	1.6	1.6
Austria	2.1	3.4	3.6	1.5	−3.8	1.9	2.8	0.7	0.0	0.7	1.0	2.1	2.5	2.4	1.5	1.6
Poland	3.5	6.2	7.2	3.9	2.6	3.7	5.0	1.6	1.4	3.1	3.8	3.1	4.9	5.1	4.2	3.6
Portugal	0.8	1.6	2.5	0.2	−3.1	1.7	−1.7	−4.1	−0.9	0.8	1.8	2.0	3.5	2.4	1.7	1.7
Romania	4.2	8.1	6.9	8.5	−7.1	−0.8	1.1	0.6	3.5	3.4	3.9	4.8	7.1	4.7	3.3	3.1
Sweden	2.8	4.7	3.4	−0.6	−4.2	6.2	3.1	−0.6	1.1	2.7	4.4	2.4	2.4	2.2	1.4	1.6
Slovakia	6.4	8.5	10.8	5.7	−5.5	5.7	2.9	1.9	0.7	2.8	4.8	2.1	3.0	4.0	3.8	3.4
Slovenia	4.0	5.7	6.9	3.3	−7.5	1.3	0.9	−2.6	−1.0	2.8	2.2	3.1	4.8	4.1	3.1	2.8
Spain	3.7	4.2	3.8	0.9	−3.8	0.2	−0.8	−3.0	−1.4	1.4	3.8	3.0	2.9	2.4	2.1	1.9
Czech Republic	6.4	6.9	5.5	2.7	−4.8	2.3	1.8	−0.8	−0.5	2.7	5.3	2.5	4.4	3.0	2.6	2.4
Hungary	4.4	3.8	0.2	1.1	−6.7	0.7	1.8	−1.5	2.0	4.2	3.8	2.2	4.3	5.1	3.7	2.8
United Kingdom	3.0	2.7	2.4	−0.3	−4.2	1.9	1.5	1.5	2.1	2.6	2.4	1.9	1.9	1.3	1.3	1.3
Cyprus	3.9	5.1	4.9	3.6	−2.0	2.0	0.4	−3.4	−6.6	−1.9	3.4	6.7	4.4	4.1	3.1	2.7
European Union	2.1	3.3	3.0	0.5	−4.3	2.2	1.8	−0.4	0.3	1.7	2.3	2.0	2.6	2.0	1.3	1.5
Eurozone	1.7	3.2	3.0	0.4	−4.5	2.1	1.7	−0.9	-0.2	1.4	2.1	1.9	2.5	1.9	1.1	1.5

¹ Eurostat / European Commission forecast

Development compared to countries outside the EU

GDP (PPP) comparison (IMF, 2018, top 10, unordered)

Exchange rate of the euro to the US dollar

The development of the gross domestic product of the European Union in comparison to countries outside the EU with a value of over 1 trillion US $ in the period from 2006 to 2017 based on nominal, non- inflation-adjusted values ​​with the respective exchange rate to the US dollar .

GDP in million US $

	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
European Union	15,292,569	17,695,054	19,087,596	17.056.247	16,968,411	18,336,588	17,266,167	17,992,915	18,540,014	16.220.370	17,371,618	17,578,724	18,750,052
United States	13,855,900	14,477,625	14,718,575	14,418,725	14,964,400	15,517,925	16.155.250	16,663,150	17,348,075	17,947,000	18,569,100	19,390,600	20,494,050
People's Republic of China	2,751,924	3,542,560	4,564,951	5,071,456	6.005.249	7,442,032	8,471,357	9,518,582	10,430,712	10,982,829	11,218,281	11,951,562	13,407,398
Japan	4,356,845	4,356,347	4,849,185	5,035,141	5,498,719	5,908,988	5,957,249	4,908,863	4,596,157	4,123,258	4,938,644	4,872,135	4,971,929
India	949.118	1,238,700	1,224,096	1,365,373	1,708,460	1,822,992	1,828,984	1,863,207	2,042,560	2,090,706	2,256,397	2,611,012	2,716,746
Brazil	1,107,628	1,397,114	1,695,855	1,669,205	2,208,705	2,612,400	2,459,525	2,464,688	2,417,158	1,772,589	1,798,622	2,054,969	1,868,184
Canada	1,315,515	1,464,978	1,549,073	1,371,152	1,613,463	1,788,647	1,824,289	1,837,443	1,783,776	1,552,386	1,529,224	1,652,412	1,711,387
South Korea	1,012,044	1,122,679	1.002.219	901.935	1,094,499	1,202,464	1,222,807	1,305,605	1,410,383	1,376,868	1,411,246	1,538,030	1,619,424
Russia	1,055,923	1,386,344	1,771,561	1,304,149	1,626,570	2,031,768	2,171,740	2,231,840	2,029,618	1,324,734	1,280,731	1,527,469	1,630,659
Australia	780.824	946.377	1,036,047	982.382	1,245,976	1,502,590	1,558,675	1,501,093	1,441,951	1,223,887	1,258,978	1,379,548	1,418,275
Mexico	966.867	1,043,472	1,101,274	894.950	1,051,128	1,171,185	1,186,602	1,261,834	1,297,850	1,144,334	1,046,002	1,149,236	1,223,359
Indonesia	396.293	470.144	558,582	577,539	755.256	892,590	919.002	916,646	891.051	860.741	932.445	1,015,411	1,022,454

For the same period on the basis of purchasing power parity , values ​​not adjusted for inflation, a slightly different picture emerges, which better reflects the respective local level of prosperity.

GDP in million PPP -US- $

	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
European Union	15,557,476	16,502,103	16,935,925	16,323,553	16,851,911	17,505,664	17,751,305	18,087,168	18,647,193	19.205.364	20.008.129	20.852.702	22.023.140
United States	13,855,900	14,477,625	14,718,575	14,418,725	14,964,400	15,517,925	16.155.250	16,663,150	17,348,075	17,947,000	18,569,100	19,390,600	20,494,050
People's Republic of China	7,607,941	8,919,459	9,967,491	10,967,158	12,278,553	13,717,181	15,045,546	16,468,201	17,960,665	19,392,357	21,291,766	23.159.107	25.270.070
Japan	4,044,460	4,243,101	4,281,271	4,075,361	4,319,504	4,388,645	4,547,355	4,684,185	4,759,639	4,830,065	5,237,790	5,428,813	5,594,450
India	3,646,913	4,110,915	4,354,646	4,759,787	5,312,261	5,781,844	6.219.193	6,740,182	7,347,154	7,965,162	8,662,350	9.459.002	10,505,280
Brazil	2,193,414	2,388,514	2,559,420	2,575,603	2,803,353	2,973,104	3,085,869	3,230,733	3,287,201	3,192,405	3,141,335	3,240,319	3,365,340
Canada	1,228,964	1,287,691	1,326,085	1,296,744	1,353,061	1,424,372	1,475,931	1,533,261	1,596,988	1,631,943	1,682,364	1,769,270	1,852,514
South Korea	1,186,797	1,284,941	1,347,214	1,367,049	1,473,651	1,559,447	1,624,581	1,698,882	1,783,950	1,848,518	1,934,033	2,029,032	2,138,240
Russia	2,753,043	3,067,531	3,291,844	3,057,427	3,234,166	3,441,691	3,628,008	3,734,307	3,823,996	3,717,617	3,799,696	4,007,831	4,213,400
Australia	771.915	828.018	866.436	888.394	919.905	964.035	1,016,596	1,054,194	1,099,538	1,138,085	1,187,321	1,246,475	1,312,530
Mexico	1,596,486	1,690,566	1,747,866	1,678,360	1,785,682	1,896,258	2,008,788	2,069,000	2,150,313	2,227,176	2,315,654	2,458,357	2,569,810
Indonesia	1,475,002	1,610,330	1,764,107	1,861,078	2,003,959	2,171,519	2,344,876	2,515,160	2,688,487	2,850,159	3,031,810	3,242,771	3,494,730

labour market

employment

The labor market in the different member states of the European Union shows a heterogeneous picture not only in terms of the general unemployment rate , especially striking differences can be found among the under 25-year-olds, but also in the different employment rates of women and men.

This is one of the reasons why the European Institute for Gender Equality , founded in 2006, has the political goal of supporting the institutions and member states of the European Union in realizing gender equality and combating gender-based discrimination. The Scandinavian and Baltic member states are particularly exemplary in this regard.

When it comes to reducing unemployment among under-25s, Germany's dual training system seems to be delivering very good results, but in all southern member states, with the exception of Malta, this figure is at a worryingly high level.

Unemployment in the European Union as of March 2019

Member state	Employment rate % 2015	Gender employment gap % 2015	Unemployment Total % 2015	Unemployment rate under 25 % 2015	Long-term unemployed % 2015
European Union	70.1	11.6	9.4	20.3	4.5
Belgium	67.2	8.3	8.3	22.1	4.4
Bulgaria	67.1	6.6	9.4	21.6	5.6
Denmark	76.5	7.5	6.2	10.8	1.7
Germany	78.0	8.7	4.6	7.2	2.0
Estonia	76.5	7.8	6.2	13.1	2.4
Finland	72.9	2.1	9.4	22.4	2.3
France	69.5	7.3	10.4	24.7	4.3
Greece	54.9	18.0	24.9	49.7	18.2
Ireland	68.8	12.5	9.4	20.9	5.3
Italy	60.5	20.0	11.9	40.3	6.9
Croatia	60.5	9.5	16.6	43.0	10.3
Latvia	72.5	4.0	9.9	16.3	4.5
Lithuania	73.4	2.4	9.1	16.3	3.9
Luxembourg	70.9	11.7	6.1	16.3	1.9
Malta	67.8	27.8	5.3	11.8	2.4
Netherlands	76.4	11.1	6.9	11.3	3.0
Austria	74.3	8.2	5.7	10.6	1.7
Poland	67.8	13.8	7.5	20.8	3.0
Portugal	69.1	6.7	12.6	32.0	7.2
Romania	66.0	17.5	6.8	21.7	3.0
Sweden	80.5	4.2	7.4	20.4	1.5
Slovakia	67.7	14.7	11.5	26.4	7.6
Slovenia	69.1	8.6	9.1	16.3	4.7
Spain	62.0	11.2	22.1	48.3	11.4
Czech Republic	74.8	16.6	5.1	12.6	2.4
Hungary	68.9	13.6	6.8	17.3	3.1
United Kingdom	76.9	11.2	5.3	14.6	1.6
Cyprus	68.0	8.1	15.6	32.8	6.8

The development of unemployment in the European Union compared to the United States and Japan between 2005 and 2018 shows the following picture, according to the statistical survey by Eurostat . The effects of the financial crisis from 2007 onwards are clearly visible .

Unemployment rate in%

Member state	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Belgium	8.4	8.7	7.8	6.9	7.9	8.3	7.0	7.3	8.3	8.5	8.5	7.8	7.2	6.0
Bulgaria	10.6	9.1	7.3	5.9	6.0	9.8	11.1	12.0	12.9	13.0	9.2	7.6	6.3	5.2
Denmark	5.2	4.2	3.7	3.2	5.3	7.6	7.4	7.7	7.1	6.6	6.2	6.2	5.7	5.0
Germany	11.4	10.5	9.0	7.8	7.7	7.4	6.2	5.5	5.4	5.2	4.6	4.1	3.8	3.4
Estonia	8.6	6.3	5.1	4.3	11.4	18.5	13.1	10.6	8.8	7.7	6.2	6.8	5.8	5.4
Finland	8.5	7.9	7.0	6.2	7.6	8.6	7.9	7.5	8.1	8.4	9.4	8.8	8.6	7.4
France	8.7	9.1	8.4	7.1	8.9	9.3	9.1	9.6	10.3	10.4	10.4	10.1	9.4	9.1
Greece	10.1	9.3	8.9	8.2	9.2	11.7	16.1	22.6	27.2	26.8	25.0	23.6	21.5	19.3
Ireland	4.3	4.5	4.7	5.2	11.2	13.3	14.3	15.0	13.7	12.0	9.5	7.9	6.7	5.8
Italy	7.8	7.1	5.9	6.4	7.6	8.4	7.9	10.4	12.0	12.6	11.9	11.7	11.2	10.6
Croatia	13.1	12.2	10.4	9.0	8.8	11.0	13.8	15.6	16.9	17.4	16.1	13.3	11.1	8.5
Luxembourg	4.6	4.7	4.3	4.4	5.4	4.6	4.7	5.0	5.7	6.1	6.5	6.3	5.6	5.4
Netherlands	5.5	4.6	3.8	3.0	3.2	4.5	4.2	5.0	6.4	7.2	6.9	6.0	4.9	3.8
Austria	5.0	5.2	4.4	3.7	4.6	4.6	4.2	4.2	4.9	4.9	5.7	6.0	5.5	4.9
Portugal	8.3	8.3	9.1	8.2	10.0	11.7	12.3	14.9	17.3	14.8	12.7	11.2	9.0	7.1
Sweden	7.3	7.4	6.5	5.8	7.8	8.8	7.9	7.5	8.3	8.0	7.4	7.0	6.7	6.3
Spain	9.7	8.6	8.0	9.3	17.2	19.4	20.6	23.9	26.3	25.2	22.1	19.7	17.2	15.3
Czech Republic	8.0	7.7	5.7	4.3	5.9	7.8	6.9	7.0	7.3	6.6	5.1	4.0	2.9	2.3
Latvia	11.1	8.1	6.5	6.2	13.7	20.8	17.2	15.7	12.7	11.5	9.9	9.6	8.7	7.4
Lithuania	9.7	6.2	4.1	4.1	11.6	17.7	16.5	13.8	12.4	11.9	9.1	7.9	7.1	6.2
Malta	7.2	7.1	6.9	5.9	6.5	7.0	6.4	6.4	6.2	6.9	5.4	4.7	4.0	3.7
Poland	18.4	15.3	10.3	7.2	7.6	9.9	9.5	9.9	10.6	9.8	7.5	6.2	4.9	3.9
Romania	7.8	7.1	6.6	5.8	6.5	7.6	7.1	7.2	7.2	7.2	6.8	5.9	4.9	4.2
Slovakia	17.0	14.3	11.2	10.1	10.7	14.9	13.6	13.8	14.2	14.0	11.5	9.7	8.1	6.5
Slovenia	6.4	6.2	5.1	4.6	5.3	7.0	8.0	7.9	10.7	9.6	9.0	8.0	6.8	5.1
Hungary	6.9	7.3	7.3	7.5	9.5	11.4	11.0	11.2	10.6	7.8	6.8	5.1	4.2	3.7
United Kingdom	4.6	5.3	5.5	5.2	7.3	7.9	7.7	8.1	7.7	6.6	5.3	4.8	4.4	4.0
Cyprus	5.4	5.0	3.9	3.9	4.6	6.8	7.0	10.7	14.7	16.9	14.9	13.1	11.1	8.4
European Union	9.2	8.5	7.4	6.7	8.6	9.7	9.4	10.2	10.9	10.5	9.4	8.6	7.6	6.8
United States	5.2	4.7	4.4	5.1	8.7	9.9	9.0	8.2	7.5	6.7	5.3	4.9	4.4	3.9
Japan	4.5	4.1	4.0	3.8	4.8	5.1	4.7	4.5	4.1	3.6	3.4	3.1	2.9	2.4

Here is a comparison of the European Union and the Eurozone with countries outside the European Union with figures from Statista's surveys from 2004 to 2018.

Unemployment rate in%

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
European Union	9.3	9.0	8.2	7.2	7.0	9.0	9.6	9.6	10.4	10.9	10.2	9.4	8.5	7.7	7.0	6.4
Eurozone	9.2	9.1	8.4	7.5	7.6	9.6	10.1	10.1	11.3	12.0	11.6	10.9	10.0	9.1	8.2	7.6
United States	5.5	5.1	4.6	4.6	5.8	9.3	9.6	8.9	8.1	7.4	6.2	5.3	4.9	4.4	3.9	3.7
Japan	4.7	4.4	4.1	3.8	4.0	5.1	5.1	4.6	4.4	4.1	3.6	3.3	3.1	2.9	2.4	2.4
Brazil	11.5	9.8	10.0	9.3	7.9	8.1	6.7	6.0	5.5	5.4	4.8	7.2	11.3	12.8	12.3	11.8
Russia	8.2	7.6	7.2	6.1	6.3	8.4	7.3	6.5	5.5	5.5	5.2	5.6	5.5	5.5	4.8	4.6
Canada	7.2	6.8	6.3	6.1	6.2	8.3	8.0	7.5	7.3	7.3	6.9	6.9	7.0	6.3	5.8	5.7
Australia	5.4	5.1	4.8	4.4	4.3	5.6	5.2	5.1	5.2	5.3	6.1	6.1	5.7	5.6	5.3	5.2
Mexico	3.9	3.6	3.6	3.7	4.0	5.5	5.4	5.3	4.8	4.8	4.8	4.3	3.9	3.4	3.3	3.3
South Korea	3.7	3.7	3.5	3.3	3.2	3.7	3.7	3.4	3.3	3.3	3.5	3.6	3.7	3.7	3.8	3.8

income

Map of minimum wages by purchasing power of the EU in 2016

> € 1,400

> € 1,000

> € 800

> 600 €

> 500 €

<500 €

Industry collective agreement

The average gross monthly earnings of the member states of the European Union also show a heterogeneous picture, with a strong gap between the members who joined in 2004. Even if long-term approximation of living conditions is necessary for a prosperous community of the European Union based on common values, it is also the goal of an ever closer union .

Among the EU Member States, Denmark had the highest average gross hourly earnings in October 2010 at € 25.00, followed by Ireland at € 18.30 and Luxembourg at € 17.80. The lowest values ​​were reported by Bulgaria with € 1.50, Romania with € 2.00, Lithuania with € 2.70 and Latvia with € 2.90. The mean gross hourly earnings of the EU Member State with the highest value was 16 times as high as the hourly earnings of the Member State with the lowest value - measured in euros . Measured in terms of purchasing power standards , the ratio was still 5 to 1.

In 2016, 22 of the 28 member states of the European Union had a statutory minimum wage that ranges from € 1.24 in Bulgaria to € 11.12 in Luxembourg per hour. In Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Italy and Austria, there are no set by the government minimum wage, but by sectoral collective agreements for each sector minimum wages, among other reasons, because basically more emphasis on the collective bargaining is placed and a nearly nationwide collective bargaining coverage is . In Cyprus, the government sets minimum wages for certain professions .

Average gross monthly earnings in the European Union in 2008

Member state	Average euro nominal	Average euros according to purchasing power	Gini index by income in%	Median euros according to purchasing power	Statutory minimum wage nominal c	Statutory minimum wage according to purchasing power c
Belgium	3,058	2,867	26.5	2,107	1,501.82	1,407
Bulgaria	306	644	31.9	439	214.75	452
Denmark	4,217	3.125	28.1	2,247	-	-
Germany	3,106	3,106	28.3	2,227	1,473.00	1,473
Estonia	846	1,126	37.2	707	430.00	572
Finland	2,870	2,449	26.9	1,790	-	-
France	2,758	2,550	32.7	1,716	1,466.62	1,356
Greece	1.929	2,193	35.4	1,417	683.76	776
Ireland	3,058	2,452	35.9	1,572	1,546.35	1,240
Italy	2,475	2,490	36.0	1,594	-	-
Croatia a	1,048	1,581	29.0	1,123	408.39	616
Latvia	699	968	33.6	643	370.00	512
Lithuania	612	960	31.9	654	350.00	549
Luxembourg	3,980	3,507	34.8	2,287	1,922.96	1,694
Malta	1,583	2.120	27.9	1,529	728.04	975
Netherlands	3,232	3,192	30.9	2,206	1,507.80	1,489
Austria	2,962	2,908	26.0	2.152	-	-
Poland	902	1,351	34.1	890	431.24	646
Portugal	1,414	1,663	38.5	1,023	618.33	727
Romania	498	820	30.3	572	233.16	384
Sweden	2,970	2,715	24.8	2,042	-	-
Slovakia	783	1,164	25.8	864	405.00	602
Slovenia	1,655	2,081	28.4	1,490	795.18	1,000
Spain	2,074	2,256	32.5	1,523	764.40	831
Czech Republic	969	1,389	25.4	1,036	366.30	525
Hungary	821	1,226	26.9	896	353.05	527
Cyprus	2.012	2,346	34.3	1,541	-	-
European Union b	2,414	2,463	31.9	1,677	1,120	1,155

^a Data from 2011
^b Weighted mean from individual data
^c Data from 2016

trade

The port of Rotterdam (Waalhaven in the picture) was the eighth largest seaport in the world in 2014 and by far the largest deep-sea port in Europe. In 2012, the port handled 441 million tons of goods

The Hanover Exhibition Center is equipped with a covered area of 496,000 m² and 26 exhibition halls, the largest exhibition center in the world.

The London Stock Exchange in Paternoster Square , based in the British capital, London, is one of the largest and oldest stock exchanges in Europe.

London Heathrow is the largest passenger airport in the EU and the third largest in the world		Frankfurt am Main Airport is the largest cargo airport in the EU and the sixth largest in the world

In terms of exports and imports, in 2010 the EU carried out almost two thirds of its entire trade in goods within its own borders. For individual member states, the importance of the internal market is even greater.

Domestic trade

Internal trade of the European Union (2015)

country	Imports (in million euros)	Domestic imports (in%)	Domestic imports (in million euros)	Exports (in million euros)	Domestic exports (in%)	Domestic exports (in million euros)	Total domestic trade volume (in million euros)	Total domestic trade (in%)
Belgium	338.200	62.7	212.100	358,900	71.9	258.100	470.200	8.67
Bulgaria	26,400	64.4	17,000	23,200	64.2	14,900	31,900	0.41
Denmark	77,100	69.4	53,500	85,900	61.2	52,600	106,100	1.88
Germany	946,400	65.7	612,600	1,198,300	57.9	693,900	1,306,500	21.82
Estonia	13,100	81.7	10,700	11,600	75.0	8,700	19,400	0.27
Finland	54,200	72.9	39,500	53,600	58.8	31,500	71,000	1.24
France	516.100	68.3	352,700	456,000	58.8	268.200	620,900	11.02
Greece	43,600	52.8	23,000	25,800	53.9	13,900	36,900	0.69
Ireland	64,300	67.8	43,600	108,600	53.9	58,500	102,100	1.63
Italy	368,600	58.5	215,600	413,800	54.9	227.200	442,800	7.87
Croatia	18,400	77.7	14,300	11,600	65.5	7,600	21,900	0.23
Latvia	12,900	79.8	10,300	10,900	68.8	7,500	17,800	0.23
Lithuania	25,500	66.7	17,000	23,000	61.7	14,200	31,200	0.39
Luxembourg	21,100	72.5	15,300	15,600	84.0	13,100	28,400	0.54
Malta	5,200	65.4	1,800	2,300	43.5	1,000	2,800	0.06
Netherlands	455,900	45.6	208,100	511.200	75.5	386.100	594.200	10.30
Austria	139,900	76.7	107,300	137,300	70.0	96,100	203,400	3.49
Poland	173,600	70.1	121,700	178,700	79.2	141,600	263,300	3.68
Portugal	60,100	76.5	46,000	49,800	72.7	36,200	82,200	1.42
Romania	63,000	77.1	48,600	54,600	73.6	40,200	88,800	1.22
Sweden	124,000	69.8	86,600	126,100	58.4	73,700	160,300	2.87
Slovakia	66,300	78.6	52,100	68,100	85.5	58,200	110,300	1.56
Slovenia	26,800	69.8	18,700	28,800	76.0	21,900	40,600	0.62
Spain	278,800	60.2	167,900	254,000	65.0	165,100	333,000	5.24
Czech Republic	126,600	77.1	97,600	142,600	83.4	118,900	216,500	3.11
Hungary	83,500	76.2	63,600	88,800	81.4	72,300	135,900	2.01
United Kingdom	564,000	53.6	302,300	415,000	44.5	184,500	486,800	7.64
Cyprus	5,000	74.0	3,700	1,600	56.3	900	4,600	0.10
European Union	4,698,600	63.1	2,963,200	4,855,700	61.0	2,963,200	---	100

The development of internal trade in the European Union of the member states from 2006 to 2017

Transport performance of goods traffic in Germany by type of transport: road (red), rail (green), inland waterway transport (blue).

Development in exports in domestic trade in million euros

country	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
European Union	2,515,949	2,680,939	2,739,580	2,213,986	2,556,466	2,822,389	2,836,738	2,838,658	2,932,271	3,068,950	3,114,416	3,347,263
Germany	563,919	626.599	625,584	502,968	572,949	629.995	619,578	618.630	648,594	692,808	705.768	749.828
Netherlands	292,618	314.168	342,919	276,748	334.943	369,526	386,390	382,559	384.230	389,645	392.234	433.673
France	259.156	268.039	268.042	217.730	240.934	261,409	260.909	259,827	262,623	268,541	269,540	278,586
Belgium	223,387	239.486	246,844	201.279	224,596	246.042	243.051	247,572	251,444	256.494	258.776	274.464
Italy	205,785	224.981	220,338	170.323	195,523	212.934	211,867	209,829	218.824	225,975	233,413	249.129
United Kingdom	225,146	186,658	178,528	140.321	165,678	182,673	185.031	177.224	182.059	184,246	175,564	188,554
Spain	121,380	131,076	133,435	113.992	131.996	146.929	146.324	150,517	155.794	165,644	175.043	188.017
Poland	69,945	81.008	90,539	78,200	95,580	106.014	109,962	115,755	128,290	142,450	145,565	162,854
Czech Republic	65,171	76,669	85.216	68,960	84,604	97,590	99,380	99.119	108,377	118,560	123.017	133,512
Austria	79,758	88.163	90,590	71,526	83.149	90,944	90,844	92,433	93,774	96,519	97.073	105,873
Sweden	70,948	75,496	75,021	54,833	68,382	75,358	76,397	72,777	72,448	73,826	74,557	80.172
Hungary	48,369	55,998	58,836	47,718	56,469	62,458	62,398	63.004	66,612	72,240	74,950	81,564
Ireland	54,860	56,318	53,739	50,894	51,073	52.189	53,577	50,338	50,491	58,970	59,303	62,138
Slovakia	29,106	37,233	41,505	34,698	41,329	48,810	52,790	53,557	54,909	57,986	59,877	64,047
Denmark	52.506	52,879	55,608	45,612	47,793	52,549	52.161	52,569	53,020	52,791	53,108	56,145
Romania	18,286	21,384	23,856	21,672	27.111	32,284	31,705	34.506	37,311	40,255	43,080	47,475
Portugal	27,863	29,540	28,925	23,905	28.117	31,888	32,126	33,275	34,099	36,071	37,571	40,808
Finland	35,263	37,380	36,728	25.105	28,537	31,738	30,539	30,979	32,081	31,792	30,675	35,768
Slovenia	14,269	16,991	17,720	14,387	17,089	19,254	18,776	19,170	20,379	21,869	22,408	25,706
Bulgaria	7,332	8,346	9,245	7,664	9,551	12,689	12,237	13,351	13,765	14,853	15,931	17,650
Lithuania	7.175	8,111	9,703	7,592	9,554	12,371	13,925	13,612	13,358	14,049	13,721	15,394
Greece	11,499	12,408	12,963	10,278	11,640	12,618	12,228	12,837	13.097	14,042	14,334	15,484
Luxembourg	16,380	14,694	15,457	13,361	11,777	12,025	11,576	11,254	11,961	12,994	11,784	11,664
Estonia	5,066	5,645	5,938	4,511	5,998	7,958	8,267	8,720	8,730	8,690	8,805	9.219
Croatia	5,307	5,430	5,842	4,548	5,439	5,736	5,602	5,899	6,618	7,687	8,183	9,057
Latvia	3,555	4,397	4,731	3,737	4,839	6.227	6,983	7,236	7,505	7,567	7,649	8,188
Malta	1,156	1,111	955	821	1,114	1,296	1,293	1,229	1.104	1,079	1,184	1,193
Cyprus	747	731	771	604	701	889	822	881	1,237	1,309	1,303	1.103

The development of the trade balance in domestic trade in the European Union and its member states between 2006 and 2017

Development in the trade balance of domestic trade in million euros

country	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
European Union	82,757	68,401	74,743	66,067	72.193	67,963	67,755	68,779	78.256	74,991	68,929	69,955
Netherlands	130,973	137,473	152,806	120,833	153,407	170.254	178,765	176.945	180,874	177,952	177,305	198.196
Germany	103.046	128,591	112.063	73,457	69,348	57,474	48,354	43,550	53,780	71.187	73,424	67,591
Belgium	23,238	27,543	25.205	22,312	20,637	19,030	12,107	21,664	28,957	43,925	40,267	42,920
Czech Republic	5,359	7,525	10,880	10,104	12,976	16.004	16,387	15,662	18,438	20.051	20,572	21,345
Poland	−3,969	−7,681	−11,571	344	442	79	5,036	7,933	11,024	17,125	17,029	17,482
Ireland	14,965	13,514	13,826	21,433	20,443	18,930	20,896	13,781	10.132	13,069	11,322	11,635
Italy	1,356	8,130	10.172	−1,912	−7,348	−4,310	9,062	9,661	14,934	8,585	10,076	8,278
Hungary	4,457	7,344	8,061	9,286	11,218	11,124	10,026	8,943	7,236	8,719	9,054	9,330
Slovakia	2,103	4,170	4,736	4,770	5,966	6,743	8,377	7,830	7,989	5,930	5,201	5,225
Slovenia	−1,562	−1.066	−1,265	43	611	832	817	1,566	2,723	3,057	2,841	3,634
Denmark	3,294	768	2,320	3,920	4,008	4,107	1,534	1,638	1.101	−829	−1,997	−1,490
Estonia	−2,911	−3,349	−2,759	−1,333	−1,398	−1,627	−2,687	−2,684	−2,528	−2.014	−2.243	−2.717
Luxembourg	1,130	−376	−872	389	−3.236	−4,886	−4,973	−4,792	−4,124	−2,188	−3,408	−4,918
Bulgaria	−2,140	−4,514	−5.047	−2,490	−1,741	−1,238	−2,723	−2.073	−2,347	−2,100	−1,448	−1,675
Malta	−1,269	−1,481	−1,799	−1,588	−1,565	−2.041	−2,665	−2.056	−2,114	−2,554	−2.052	−2,009
Latvia	−3,485	−4,270	−3,561	−1,574	−1,875	−2,860	−3.501	−3,526	−3.195	−2,799	−2,716	−3,517
Cyprus	−3.047	−3,615	−4.153	−3,470	−3,853	−3,427	−3,108	−2,469	−2,863	−2.718	−3,381	−3,686
Lithuania	−2,513	−4.069	−2,471	−165	−440	−584	−416	−2,196	−3,624	−3,150	−3,819	−4,797
Spain	−40,390	−47,972	−36.211	−17,109	−13,626	−7.092	3,947	8,821	956	−5.193	1,163	3,382
Croatia	−6,182	−6,769	−7.507	−4,995	−3,670	−4,330	−4,532	−5.191	−6,453	−6,741	−7.042	−7,944
Finland	−91	−822	−1,997	−3.303	−4,781	−5,510	−6,854	−7.725	−7.275	−7,966	−9,495	−8,748
Romania	−7,588	−15.260	−16.032	−6,845	−6,917	−7,735	−8,535	−7,408	−6,816	−8,341	−8,871	−9,797
Greece	−19.716	−22,587	−23.234	−19,847	−15,081	−12,377	−10,458	−9.289	−10.184	−9.027	−9,874	−10,663
Portugal	−15,492	−16.351	−19.086	−16,479	−16,687	−11,791	−8.168	−7.791	−10.004	−10.115	−10.064	−11,779
Austria	−7,974	−6,890	−7,978	−8,912	−10.357	−15,423	−15,429	−13,290	−11,472	−11,490	−14.123	−14,413
Sweden	101	−4.017	−4.239	−3,595	−6,975	−11,365	−9,755	−10,487	−11,539	−13,531	−16.033	−16,580
France	−39,599	−52.063	−64.373	−63.130	−74,655	−87.161	−91.097	−87.912	−82.010	−85.266	−87.765	−106.977
United Kingdom	−49,336	−63.505	−51.170	−44.078	−52,659	−52,858	−72,652	−80.327	−93.340	−118,587	−114.995	−107.355

Foreign trade

EU (2015)

Top 10 trading partners (2015)

Top 11-20 trading partners (2015)

Top 25 main trading partners of the European Union (2015)

rank	Main trading partner	Imports (in million euros)	Imports (in%)	Exports (in million euros)	Exports (in%)	Total trading volume (in million euros)	Total trade (in%)
-	Total EU trade volume	1,724,867	100	1,789,063	100	3,513,929	100
1	United States	246.211	14.3	369,549	20.7	615.760	17.5
2	People's Republic of China 1	350.257	20.3	170.399	9.5	520.657	14.8
3	Switzerland	102,299	5.9	150,833	8.4	253.132	7.2
4th	Russia	135,876	7.9	73.905	4.1	209.781	6.0
5	Turkey	61,574	3.6	78,959	4.4	140,533	4.0
6th	Norway	74,313	4.3	48,867	2.7	123.180	3.5
7th	Japan	59,726	3.5	56,572	3.2	116,298	3.3
8th	South Korea	42,327	2.5	47,882	2.7	90.209	2.6
9	India	39,449	2.3	37,919	2.1	77,368	2.2
10	Brazil	30,879	1.8	34,588	1.9	65,468	1.9
11	Canada	28,223	1.6	35.210	2.0	63,433	1.8
12	Saudi Arabia	21,506	1.2	40,248	2.2	61,754	1.8
13	United Arab Emirates	9,364	0.5	48,480	2.7	57,844	1.6
14th	Mexico	19,675	1.1	33,657	1.9	53,333	1.5
15th	Hong Kong	14,221	0.8	35,382	2.0	49,603	1.4
16	Singapore	18,898	1.0	29,690	1.7	48,588	1.4
17th	South Africa	19,345	1.1	25,454	1.4	44,798	1.3
18th	Taiwan	25,487	1.5	18,456	1.0	43,943	1.3
19th	Algeria	20,868	1.2	22,289	1.2	43,157	1.2
20th	Australia	9,555	0.6	31,634	1.8	41,190	1.2
21st	Vietnam	29,958	1.7	8,438	0.5	38,396	1.1
22nd	Malaysia	22,721	1.3	13,354	0.7	36,074	1.0
23	Thailand	19,537	1.1	13,369	0.7	32,906	0.9
24	Israel	13,259	0.8	18,979	1.1	32,238	0.9
25th	Morocco	12,525	0.7	18,186	1.0	30,710	0.9

¹ excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan

The development of foreign trade in the European Union in billion euros

European Union	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
export	1,049	1,152	1,234	1,309	1,094	1,353	1,554	1,684	1,737	1,703	1,789	1,746	1,879	1,955	2.132
import	1,184	1,365	1,447	1,585	1,236	1,532	1,728	1,796	1,685	1,685	1,725	1,706	1,854	1,978	1.932
balance	−135	−213	−213	−276	−142	−179	−174	−112	52	18th	64	40	25th	−23	200

Ports in the EU

Aerial view of the port of Antwerp		Port of Hamburg in the early morning fog, view from the Himmelsleiter in Övelgönne

Container ship at the container terminal in Bremerhaven

With the widespread use of standard containers as transport containers since the 1960s, ships and ports were increasingly equipped for container handling and transport. The transshipment takes place mainly with huge container gantries , which vary in size depending on the port and the width of the ship.

The port throughput of the eleven largest ports in the European Union in millions of tons per year developed as follows:

port	country	2006	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Rotterdam	Netherlands	0378.4	0429.9	0434.5	0441.5	0440.5	0444.7	0466.4	0461.2	0467.3	0469.0
Antwerp	Belgium	0167.4	0178.2	0187.1	0184.1	0190.8	0199.0	0208.4	0214.2	0223.7	0235.3
Hamburg	Germany	0134.9	0121.2	0132.2	0130.9	0139.1	0145.7	0137.8	0138.2	0136.5	0135.1
Amsterdam	Netherlands	061.0	072.7	092.8	094.2	095.7	097.8	096.5	096.0	0100.8	0101.8
Algeciras	Spain	066.4	065.6	076.9	083.0	085.6	095.0	098.5	096.9	096.4	0102.6
Marseille	France	0100.0	086.0	088.1	085.6	080.0	078.5	081.7	080.6	080.4	080.5
Bremen / Bremerhaven	Germany	064.6	068.7	080.6	084.0	078.8	078.3	073.4	075.2	074.2	074.4
Le Havre / Haropa	France	074.0	070.2	067.6	063.5	067.2	067.0	069.0	065.4	066.1	094.7
Valencia	Spain	047.3	053.1	065.5	065.6	064.6	066.9	070.1	071.0	073.6	076.6
Trieste	Italy	048.0	047.4	048.2	049.2	056.6	057.1	057.1	059.2	062.0	062.7
Constanța	Romania	0 -	047.6	045.9	050.6	055.1	055.6	056.3	059.4	058.4	061.3

energy

EU energy efficiency label

→ Main article : European Union energy policy

Energy demand

Energy demand by region (kWh per capita) and increase 1990–2008 (%)
	kWh / head			Population (million)			Demand (1,000 TWh)
	1990	2008	increase	1990	2008	increase	1990	2008	increase
United States	89.021	87,216	−2%	250	305	22%	22.3	26.6	20%
EU-27	40,240	40,821	1 %	473	499	5%	19.0	20.4	7%
Middle East	19,422	34,774	79%	132	199	51%	2.6	6.9	170%
People's Republic of China	8,839	18.608	111%	1,141	1,333	17%	10.1	24.8	146%
Latin America	11,281	14,421	28%	355	462	30%	4.0	6.7	66%
Africa	7.094	7,792	10%	634	984	55%	4.5	7.7	70%
India	4,419	6,280	42%	850	1,140	34%	3.8	7.2	91%
Other 1	25,217	23,871	k. A.	1,430	1,766	23%	36.1	42.2	17%
world	19,422	21,283	10%	5,265	6,688	27%	102.3	142.3	39%
Source: IEA / OECD, population OECD / World Bank 1Others: summarized, u. a. Canada, Japan, Australia, rest of Asia

Energy imports and exports were also included.

Primary energy consumption

• 

  Modern gas and steam combined cycle power plant in Uentrop

• 

  The Bełchatów power plant in Poland is the largest thermal power plant in the EU and the world's largest lignite - coal power plant

• 

  Civaux nuclear power plant with the currently most powerful reactor units in the world

Primary energy consumption of the EU member states in P J

Member state	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Belgium	2,193.9	2,181.3	2,202.3	2,172.9	2,085.0	2,189.7	2,189.7	2,156.2	2,126.9	2,085.0	2,139.5	2,047.3	2,210.6	2,093.4	1,934.3	1,984.5
Bulgaria	803.9	728.5	732.7	766.2	757.8	774.6	762.0	791.3	820.6	803.9	791.3	707.6	724.3	778.7	745.3	682.4
Denmark	870.9	837.4	812.2	837.4	824.8	858.3	833.2	808.1	866.7	845.7	812.2	782.9	829.0	766.2	741.1	745.3
Germany	13,523.4	13,226.1	13,284.7	13,703.4	13,385.2	13,326.6	13,401.9	13,280.5	13,716.0	12,995.8	13,196.8	12,392.9	12,995.8	12,325.9	12,426.4	12,665.1
Estonia	217.7	201.0	201.0	209.3	205.2	226.1	230.3	226.1	221.9	247.0	238.6	217.7	255.4	255.4	251.2	272.1
Finland	1,339.8	1,335.6	1,318.8	1,356.5	1,427.7	1,511.4	1,519.8	1,398.4	1,524.0	1,511.4	1,452.8	1,369.1	1,503.1	1,452.8	1,411.0	1,373.3
France	10,035.8	10,039.9	10,106.9	10,508.9	10,492.1	10,668.0	10,843.8	10,885.7	10,701.5	10,550.7	10,688.9	10,274.4	10,605.2	10,203.2	10,215.8	10,291.2
Greece	1,096.9	1,105.3	1,155.6	1,189.1	1,205.8	1,235.1	1,256.0	1,281.2	1,285.3	1,285.3	1,293.7	1,239.3	1,155.6	1,126.2	1,126.2	992.3
Ireland	523.4	556.8	582.0	602.9	611.3	607.1	623.8	628.0	640.6	661.5	644.8	615.5	623.8	569.4	565.2	561.0
Italy	6,657.0	6,799.4	6,941.7	6,929.2	6,958.5	7,297.6	7,402.3	7,490.2	7,381.3	7,306.0	7,188.7	6,715.6	6,916.6	6,816.1	6,631.9	6,435.1
Croatia	309.8	305.6	297.3	309.8	322.4	339.1	339.1	343.3	347.5	360.1	351.7	339.1	334.9	330.8	318.2	305.6
Latvia	180.0	163.3	159.1	171.7	167.5	180.0	184.2	188.4	196.8	201.0	192.6	184.2	192.6	180.0	184.2	184.2
Lithuania	355.9	297.3	268.0	309.8	330.8	347.5	355.9	330.8	322.4	334.9	339.1	322.4	255.4	242.8	247.0	238.6
Luxembourg	134.0	142.4	150.7	159.1	167.5	175.8	196.8	201.0	196.8	192.6	192.6	180.0	192.6	188.4	184.2	180.0
Malta	29.3	33.5	33.5	37.7	33.5	37.7	37.7	41.9	37.7	41.9	37.7	37.7	37.7	37.7	41.9	33.5
Netherlands	2,742.4	2,692.1	2,725.6	2,805.2	2,826.1	2,872.1	2,922.4	2,868.0	2,847.0	2,801.0	2,893.1	2,792.6	2,976.8	2,775.8	2,809.3	2,759.1
Austria	1,151.4	1,138.8	1,143.0	1,201.6	1,218.4	1,289.5	1,314.7	1,364.9	1,360.7	1,348.1	1,360.7	1,285.3	1,369.1	1,335.6	1,335.6	1,335.6
Poland	3,822.5	3,734.6	3,529.5	3,583.9	3,542.0	3,646.7	3,638.3	3,671.8	3,839.3	3,835.1	3,885.4	3,763.9	4,011.0	4,019.3	3,889.5	3,902.1
Portugal	875.0	950.4	958.8	975.5	1,021.6	988.1	1,013.2	1,042.5	1,009.0	996.5	979.7	983.9	946.2	916.9	883.4	891.8
Romania	1,666.3	1,461.2	1,457.0	1,473.8	1,536.6	1,611.9	1,570.1	1,536.6	1,603.5	1,591.0	1,591.0	1,419.3	1,436.1	1,457.0	1,406.8	1,293.7
Sweden	2,106.0	2,085.0	1,976.2	2,055.7	2,043.2	2,001.3	2,080.8	2,039.0	1,976.2	1,972.0	1,967.8	1,829.6	2,039.0	2,001.3	2,009.7	1,972.0
Slovakia	699.2	703.4	707.6	732.7	732.7	732.7	720.1	745.3	736.9	690.8	711.8	653.1	703.4	678.3	657.3	678.3
Slovenia	263.8	259.6	259.6	272.1	280.5	280.5	288.9	293.1	293.1	293.1	314.0	284.7	293.1	301.4	288.9	280.5
Spain	4,308.2	4,563.6	4,781.3	4,906.9	5,066.0	5,267.0	5,547.5	5,689.9	5,710.8	5,790.3	5,614.5	5,158.1	5,141.4	5,082.8	5,095.3	4,756.2
Czech Republic	1,662.2	1,540.7	1,632.9	1,674.7	1,687.3	1,766.8	1,787.8	1,766.8	1,812.9	1,825.4	1,771.0	1,670.5	1,754.3	1,691.5	1,678.9	1,658.0
Hungary	1,025.8	1,030.0	992.3	1,025.8	1,017.4	1,046.7	1,034.1	1,063.4	1,055.1	1,030.0	1,030.0	975.5	996.5	967.2	908.5	879.2
United Kingdom	9,089.5	9,081.2	9,177.5	9,286.3	9,064.4	9,227.7	9,244.5	9,328.2	9,198.4	8,934.6	8,821.6	8,327.5	8,570.4	7,988.4	8,222.9	8,147.5
Cyprus	92.1	92.1	96.3	100.5	100.5	108.9	100.5	104.7	108.9	113.0	117.2	113.0	113.0	108.9	104.7	92.1
European Union	67,767.5	67,286.1	67,683.8	69,358.5	69,107.3	70,618.8	71,426.8	71,552.4	71,937.6	70,643.9	70,614.6	66,699.9	69,182.7	66,695.7	66,314.7	65,586.2
Eurozone	46,414.9	46,486.0	47,072.2	48,345.0	48,315.7	49,337.3	50,141.1	50,208.1	50,413.3	49,441.9	49,596.8	46,883.8	48,487.3	46,691.2	46,398.1	46,004.6

Renewable energy

Share of renewable energies in primary energy consumption in the EU in 2016:

 n / A

 <5%

 5-10%

 10-20%

 20-30%

 30-40%

 40-50%

 50-60%

 > 60%

Combination of solar and wind farm in Pölzig , Thuringia

View into the building of the Mont Cenis Academy , with the largest building-integrated photovoltaic system at the time of construction

Malta power plants in Carinthia

According to a comparison by the BMU, the average share of renewable energies in the final energy consumption of all EU-27 countries was 8.5% in 2005. The front runners were Sweden (39.8%), Latvia (32.6%) and Finland (28.5%). Austria took fourth place with 23.3% (2010: 30.8%), while Germany was below the average with 5.8% (2009: 10.3%).

On March 9, 2007, the European Union made a binding commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a fifth compared to 1990 levels by 2020 and to increase the share of renewable energies to an average of 20% by 2020. In January 2008 the European Commission passed binding requirements for the individual member states. The Directive 2009/28 / EC (the successor of the Directive 2001/77 / EC ) requires Member States to set national indicative targets for the share of renewable energies in electricity consumption, with the countries of the conveyor systems individually expressly free hand is left with respect. The national target value by 2020 according to EU Directive 2009/28 / EC is therefore 18% for Germany and 34% for Austria of the final energy consumption through renewable energies. In January 2014, the EU Commission set a target of 27 percent for the share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption in the EU in 2030. Environmental groups, on the other hand, called for a target of 45 percent.

In the period 1999 to 2009, the share of renewable energies in gross inland energy consumption in the EU-27 countries rose from 5.4% to 9.0%. The share of renewable energies was expanded in all 27 EU countries. Renewable energies had the highest share of gross inland energy consumption in Latvia (36.2%), followed by Sweden (34.4%), Austria (27.3%) and Finland (23.2%). Denmark recorded the largest increase with 8.6%, followed by Sweden (+ 7.3%), Germany (+ 6.1%) and Portugal (+ 5.6%).

In the political guidelines of the new Commission President , Jean-Claude Juncker , July 15, 2014 it is planned to reform the European energy policy and restructure and a new European energy Union to create: " We also need the share of renewable energy in the energy mix in our Increase continent. This is not only a question of responsible climate protection policy, it is also indispensable in terms of industrial policy if energy is to be affordable in the medium term. I firmly believe in the potential of ecological growth. That's why I want Europe's Energy Union to be number one in the world for renewable energies . "

Share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption of the EU member states in percent

Member state	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	Goal 2020
Belgium	1.9	2.3	2.7	3.4	3.8	5.2	5.7	6.1	7.4	7.9	8.0	7.9	8.6	9.1	9.1	13
Bulgaria	9.5	9.4	9.6	9.2	10.5	12.2	14.1	14.3	16.0	19.0	18.0	18.2	18.8	18.7	20.5	16
Denmark	14.5	15.6	15.9	17.8	18.6	20.0	22.0	23.4	25.6	27.2	29.2	30.8	32.6	35.8	36.1	30th
Germany	5.8	6.7	7.7	9.0	8.5	9.9	10.4	11.4	12.1	12.4	13.8	14.6	14.9	15.5	16.5	18th
Estonia	18.4	17.5	16.1	17.1	18.9	23.0	24.6	25.5	25.8	25.6	26.5	28.6	28.6	29.2	30.0	25th
Finland	29.2	28.8	30.0	29.6	31.4	31.5	32.5	32.9	34.5	36.8	38.7	39.3	39.0	41.0	41.2	38
France	9.4	9.6	9.5	10.3	11.2	12.3	12.8	11.2	13.6	14.0	14.3	15.2	15.9	16.3	16.6	23
Greece	6.9	7.0	7.2	8.2	8.0	8.5	9.8	10.9	13.4	15.0	15.3	15.4	15.1	16.3	18.0	18th
Ireland	2.4	2.9	3.1	3.6	4.1	5.1	5.6	6.6	7.1	7.7	8.6	9.2	9.3	10.7	11.1	16
Italy	5.6	5.8	6.4	6.4	7.3	9.1	10.5	12.1	15.4	16.7	17.1	17.5	17.4	18.3	17.8	17th
Croatia	23.5	23.8	22.7	22.2	22.0	23.6	25.1	25.4	26.8	28.1	27.9	29.0	28.3	27.3	28.0	20th
Latvia	32.8	32.3	31.1	29.6	29.8	34.3	30.4	33.5	35.8	37.1	38.7	37.6	37.1	39.0	40.3	40
Lithuania	17.2	17.0	17.0	16.7	18.0	20.0	19.8	20.2	21.7	23.0	23.9	25.8	25.6	25.8	24.5	23
Luxembourg	0.9	1.4	1.5	2.7	2.8	2.9	2.9	2.9	3.1	3.6	4.5	5.0	5.4	6.4	9.1	11
Malta	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	1.0	1.4	2.7	3.7	4.7	5.0	6.2	7.2	8.0	10
Netherlands	2.1	2.5	2.8	3.3	3.6	4.3	3.9	4.5	4.7	4.8	5.5	5.8	5.9	6.6	7.4	14th
Austria	23.3	23.8	25.3	27.3	28.2	30.2	30.6	30.8	31.6	32.3	32.8	33.0	33.0	32.6	33.4	34
Poland	6.9	6.9	6.9	6.9	7.7	8.7	9.2	10.3	10.9	11.3	11.5	11.8	11.3	10.9	11.3	15th
Portugal	19.2	19.5	20.8	21.9	23.0	24.4	24.2	24.7	25.0	25.7	27.0	28.0	28.4	28.1	30.3	31
Romania	17.0	17.6	17.1	18.3	20.5	22.7	23.4	21.4	22.8	23.9	24.8	24.8	25.0	24.5	23.9	24
Sweden	38.7	40.6	42.7	44.2	45.3	48.2	47.2	49.0	51.1	52.0	52.6	53.8	53.8	54.5	54.6	49
Slovakia	6.4	6.4	6.6	7.8	7.7	9.4	9.1	10.3	10.4	10.1	11.6	12.9	12.0	11.5	11.9	14th
Slovenia	16.1	16.0	15.6	15.6	15.0	20.0	20.5	20.2	20.9	22.4	21.5	22.0	21.3	21.5	21.1	25th
Spain	8.3	8.4	9.2	9.7	10.8	13.0	13.8	13.2	14.3	15.3	16.1	16.2	17.4	17.5	17.4	20th
Czech Republic	5.9	6.0	6.4	7.4	7.6	8.5	9.5	9.5	11.4	13.8	15.1	15.1	14.9	14.8	15.2	13
Hungary	4.4	4.5	5.1	5.9	6.5	8.0	12.8	14.0	15.5	16.2	14.6	14.4	14.3	13.3	12.5	13
United Kingdom	1.2	1.4	1.6	1.8	2.7	3.3	3.7	4.2	4.6	5.6	7.0	8.4	9.3	10.2	11.0	15th
Cyprus	3.1	3.1	3.3	4.0	5.1	5.6	6.0	6.0	6.8	8.1	9.0	9.4	9.3	9.9	13.9	13
European Union	8.3	8.7	9.2	10.0	10.5	11.9	12.5	12.9	14.3	15.0	16.1	16.7	17.0	17.5	18.0	20th

In green, first year of target achievement.
In red, lowest current value.
In blue, highest current value

So far, the EU Commission has proposed a share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption of 27 percent by 2030. If this target remains, this would be a less ambitious target, as it reduces the future growth rates to a quarter of the previous annual percentage growth rates. If the percentage growth rates of the last 10 years were adhered to, a share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption of around 45 percent would be achieved. The European Parliament wants to achieve a 35 percent share in the European Union by 2030. The International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ) commissioned by the Commission comes in its study from February 2018 to a technically feasible as well as economically feasible and beneficial percentage of 34 by 2030 and thus comes very close to the goal of the European Parliament.

Photovoltaics

Ground-mounted photovoltaic system in Serpa , Portugal

Building-integrated photovoltaics in Terrassa , Catalonia ( Spain )

The English Westmill Solar Cooperative is the largest photovoltaic open space system owned by a municipality in the world.

Solar radiation potential in the EU

The following table gives an overview of the development of the installed nominal output of photovoltaic systems in the European Union from 2005 to 2015.

Installed nominal PV power in the EU in MW _p

No.	States	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
1	Germany	1.910	2,743	3,846	6,019	9,959	17,370	25.094	32,703	36,402	38,408	39,763	41,275	42,394	45,277
2	Italy	46.3	50	120	458	1,157	3,484	12,783	16,152	18,065	18,622	18,924	19,261	19,692	20,107
3	United Kingdom	10.9	14.3	18.1	22.5	29.6	76.9	978	1,708	2,782	5,380	8,912	11,562	12,760	13,054
4th	France	26.3	33.9	46.7	104	335	1,197	2,949	4,085	4,625	5,699	6,579	7.134	8,075	9,466
5	Spain	57.6	175	734	3,421	3,438	3,859	4,322	4,603	4,766	4,872	4,921	4,669	5,108	4,751
6th	Belgium	2.1	4.2	21.5	70.9	374	1,037	2,051	2,768	3,040	3,140	3,228	3,425	3,846	4,255
7th	Greece	5.4	6.7	9.2	18.5	55.0	205	631	1,543	2,586	2,603	2,613	2,603	2,606	2,652
8th	Czech Republic	0.5	0.8	4.0	54.7	463	1,959	1.913	2,022	2,064	2,068	2,083	2,047	2,040	2,049
9	Netherlands	50.8	52.7	53.3	57.2	67.5	88.0	146	365	739	1,048	1.405	2,040	2,749	4,300
10	Romania		0.2	0.3	0.5	0.6	1.9	3.5	49.3	1,022	1,293	1,325	1,371	1,374	1,377
11	Bulgaria		0.1	0.1	1.4	5.7	32.3	212	915	1,019	1,020	1,021	1,032	1,028	1,036
12	Austria	24	25.6	27.7	32.4	52.6	95.5	187	422	631	785	935	1,071	1,248	1,433
13	Denmark	2.7	2.9	3.1	3.3	4.7	7.1	16.7	376	572	602	783	855	910	1.002
14th	Slovakia	<0.1	<0.1	<0.1	<0.1	0.2	174	487	543	588	590	540	545	533	531
15th	Portugal	3	3.4	17.9	68.0	102	131	161	228	303	423	460	465	569	671
16	Slovenia	0.2	0.4	1.0	2.0	9.0	45.5	100	222	248	256	257	259	258	256
17th	Hungary	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.5	0.7	1.8	2.7	12.3	34.9	77.7	138	276	368	754
18th	Sweden	4.2	4.9	6.2	7.9	8.8	11.4	15.7	24.1	43.2	79.4	130	141	231	424
19th	Luxembourg	23.6	23.7	23.9	24.6	26.4	29.5	40.7	76.7	95	110	116	123	127	134
20th	Poland	0.3	0.4	0.6	1.0	1.4	1.8	2.2	3.6	4.2	29.9	86.9	193	271	487
21st	Malta	<0.1	0.1	0.1	0.2	1.5	3.8	6.6	18.7	28.2	54.8	73.2	82.0	109	131
22nd	Lithuania	<0.1	<0.1	<0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.1	6.2	68.1	68.1	73.1	80.0	82.1	74.0
23	Cyprus	0.5	1.0	1.3	2.2	3.3	6.2	10.1	17.2	34.8	64.8	69.5	53.8	105	113
24	Croatia									20.0	34.2	44.8	49.5	51.5	61.0
25th	Finland	4th	4.5	5.1	5.6	7.6	9.6	11.2	11.2	11.2	11.2	14.7	20.0	61.0	125
26th	Estonia		<0.1	<0.1	<0.1	<0.1	0.1	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	4.1	10.0	0.0	0.0
27	Ireland	0.3	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.9	1	1.1	2.1	4.2	9.0	29.0
28	Latvia		<0.1	<0.1	<0.1	<0.1	<0.1	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.3	1.0
European Union		2.172	3,148	4,940	10,376	16,103	29,828	52.126	68,882	79,794	87,342	94,568	100,650	106.606	114,549
Data for 2014 are based in part on estimates; actual values ​​may vary.

Installed nominal PV power of selected countries compared with the EU in MW _p

	2010		2011		2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		2017		2018
States	Installed	growth	Installed	growth	Installed	growth	Installed	growth	Installed	growth	Installed	growth	Installed	growth	Installed	growth	Installed	growth
European Union	29,828	13,725	52.126	22,298	68,882	16,756	78,798	9,922	86,673	6,883	94,568	7,895	100,650	6.101	106.606	5,956	114,549	7,943
People's Republic of China	893	520	3,300	2,500	8,300	5,000	19,720	12,920	28,050	10,640	43,530	15,480	78.070	34,540	131,000	53,000	176,100	45,100
Japan	3,618	991	4,913	1,295	7,777	3,346	13,599	6,968	23,300	9,700	34,410	11,110	42,750	8,600	49,500	7,000	56,000	6,500
United States	2,528	918	4,383	1,867	7,000	2,000	12,079	4,751	18,280	6,201	25,620	7,340	40,300	14,730	51,000	10,600	62,200	11,200
Australia	571	383	1,408	837	2,400	1,000	3.226	811	4.136	910	5,070	934	5,909	839	7,200	1,250	11,300	4,100
India	189	69	461	300	1,205	980	2,320	1,115	2,936	616	5,050	2.114	9,010	3,970	18,300	9,100	32,900	14,600
South Korea	656	131	812	157	1,064	252	1,475	445	2,384	909	3,430	1,046	4,350	850	5,600	1,200	7,900	2,300
Canada	281	197	563	364	765	268	1,210	445	1,710	500	2,500	790	2,715	200	2,900	212	3,040	140
Switzerland	111	26th	260	126	410	200	756	319	1,046	320	1,360	314	1,640	250	1,900	260	2.137	271

Wind power

Fântânele-Cogealac wind farm , Romania. One of the largest wind farms in the world

Wind farm with low wind turbines in Bavaria

The following table provides an overview of the development of the installed nominal output of wind turbines in the European Union compared to other selected countries and the global total capacity from 2006 to 2017.

Installed wind power capacity of selected countries compared with the EU in MW

Country	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
European Union	48.122	56,614	65,255	74,919	84.278	93,957	106,454	117,384	128,752	141,578	153,729	168.993
People's Republic of China	2,599	5,912	12,210	25,104	44,733	62,733	75,564	91,412	114,763	145.104	168,690	188,232
United States	11,603	16,819	25,170	35,159	40,200	46,919	60.007	61.110	65,879	74,471	82.184	89,077
India	6,270	7,850	9,587	10,925	13,064	16,084	18,421	20,150	22,465	25,088	28,700	32,848
Canada	1,460	1,846	2,369	3,319	4,008	5,265	6,200	7,823	9,694	11,200	11,900	12,239
Brazil	237	247	339	606	932	1,509	2,508	3,466	5,939	8,715	10,740	12,763
Turkey	65	207	433	801	1,329	1,799	2,312	2,958	3,763	4,694	6,081	6,857
Australia	651	824	1.306	1,712	1.991	2.176	2,584	3,239	3,806	4.187	4,327	4,520 1
Mexico	84	85	85	520	733	873	1,370	1,859	2,551	3,073	3,527	4,005
Japan	1,309	1,528	1,880	2,056	2,304	2,501	2,614	2,669	2,789	3,038	3.234	3,400
World total capacity (MW)	74,151	93,927	121,188	157.899	197,637	238.035	282,482	318,596	369,553	432.419	486.749	539.256

¹ estimated from Pacific growth

Economic sectors

Historical sectoral distribution of employees in the EC / EU in% of total employees

• Economic sectors
• 

  Agriculture

• 

  Industry

• 

  service

Share of EU farmland in EU member states

As of 2014, the service sector is the dominant economic sector in the European Union with a share of 74.43% of the gross domestic product (GDP) compared to the industrial sector, which accounts for 23.75% of GDP, and agriculture, which only accounts for 1, Reached 52% of GDP.

The share of the agricultural sector is falling despite the efficiency increases through large-scale technology, also due to biological limits. A good weighting of the industrial sector appears to prove to be a stabilizing factor even in developed economies, even if the importance of the largest economic sector, service, is and remains dominant and will even tend to increase.

Share of economic sectors in the GDP of the member states in 2014

Member state	Agriculture	Industry	Services
Belgium	0.74	22.51	76.75
Bulgaria	5.27	28.35	66.38
Denmark	1.27	22.51	76.22
Germany	0.75	30.69	68.56
Estonia	3.67	28.17	68.15
Finland	2.81	25.96	71.23
France	1.68	19.44	78.89
Greece	3.81	13.34	82.85
Ireland	1.56	24.10	74.34
Italy	2.17	23.39	74.44
Croatia	4.14	28.67	67.19
Latvia	3.45	16.37	80.19
Lithuania	3.64	16.95	79.42
Luxembourg	0.34	12.19	87.47
Malta	1.92	32.70	65.38
Netherlands	1.99	21.44	76.57
Austria	1.34	28.37	70.30
Poland	3.30	33.25	63.45
Portugal	2.29	21.19	76.51
Romania	5.36	27.27	67.37
Sweden	1.42	25.65	72.93
Slovakia	3.74	32.98	63.27
Slovenia	2.15	32.80	65.05
Spain	2.49	23.08	74.43
Czech Republic	2.62	37.92	59.46
Hungary	4.37	30.22	65.41
United Kingdom	0.61	19.76	79.63
Cyprus	2.35	10.55	87.1
European Union	1.52	23.75	74.43
Eurozone	1.68	24.64	73.69

State budgets

Taxes

The aim of tax harmonization within the EU is to eliminate tax competition between the EU member states in the long term and to enable uniform taxation within the EU.

With the accession of the Eastern European states, however, tax harmonization within the EU has become a long way off. The new accession countries are (t) trying to improve their position as business locations within the EU through low taxes and to achieve an economic upswing that should bring their country's level of prosperity towards the EU average as quickly as possible.

The EU is now striving for a fiscal union . In view of the euro crisis , this topic has been high on the political agenda since 2009/2010.

Percentage tax rates in the EU in 2015

Member state	corporation		income		consumption
	Minimal	Maximum	Minimal	Maximum	Minimal	Maximum
Belgium	33.99	33.99	25th	50	6th	21st
Bulgaria	5	10	10	10	9	20th
Denmark	23.5	23.5	8th	54.81	25th	25th
Germany	15th	15th	14th	45	7th	19th
Estonia	21st	21st	21st	21st	9	20th
Finland	20th	20th	6.5	31.75	10	24
France	33.33	33.33	14th	45	2.1	20th
Greece	26th	33	22nd	42	4th	23
Ireland	12.5	12.5	20th	40	4.8	23
Italy	27.5	27.5	23	43	4th	22nd
Croatia	20th	20th	12	40	5	25th
Latvia	15th	15th	23	23	12	21st
Lithuania	15th	15th	15th	15th	5	21st
Luxembourg	29.22	29.22	8th	40	3	17th
Malta	35	35	15th	35	0	18th
Netherlands	20th	25th	8.35	53	6th	21st
Austria	25th	25th	36.5	50	10	20th
Poland	19th	19th	18th	32	5	23
Portugal	21st	21st	14.5	48	4th	23
Romania	16	16	16	16	5	24
Sweden	22nd	22nd	29.19	59.7	6th	25th
Slovakia	22nd	22nd	19th	25th	10	20th
Slovenia	17th	17th	16	50	9.5	22nd
Spain	1	30th	24.75	47	4th	21st
Czech Republic	19th	19th	15th	15th	10	21st
Hungary	10	19th	16	16	5	27
United Kingdom	20th	20th	20th	45	0	20th
Cyprus	12.5	12.5	20th	35	5	19th

Convergence criteria

The EU Member States have in 1992 by the Treaty of Maastricht each other for the first time to the Maastricht criteria committed. These criteria consist of fiscal and monetary default values.

The primary goal of the criteria is to promote a harmonization of the capacities of the individual national economic areas in the EU, and in particular in the emerging euro zone , and thus also to achieve fundamental economic stability and solidity for the EU. Today the majority of the convergence criteria are found in Art. 126 and Art. 140 TFEU . As part of the Stability and Growth Pact , some of the criteria will continue to apply even after accession to monetary union. The regulations for this are set out in Art. 126 TFEU.

With regard to the financial situation, since then the annual budget deficit has only been allowed to exceed 3% of the gross domestic product in exceptional crisis situations . The state debt level, on the other hand, should not exceed 60% of the gross domestic product in the long term.

Development of budget surpluses as a percentage of GDP

country	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017 1	2018 1
Belgium	−3.0	−3.1	−2.5	−2.6	−1.9	−2.0
Bulgaria	−0.4	−5.4	−1.6	0.0	−0.4	−0.3
Denmark	−1.1	1.5	−1.7	−0.9	−1.3	−0.9
Germany	−0.1	0.3	0.7	0.8	0.5	0.3
Estonia	−0.2	0.7	0.1	0.3	−0.3	−0.5
Finland	−2.6	−3.2	−2.7	−1.9	−2.2	−1.8
France	−4.0	−4.0	−3.5	−3.4	−3.0	−3.2
Greece	−13.0	−3.7	−5.9	0.7	−1.2	+0.6
Ireland	−5.7	−3.7	−2.0	−0.6	−0.5	−0.3
Italy	−2.9	−3.0	−2.6	−2.4	−2.2	−2.3
Croatia	−5.3	−5.4	−3.4	−0.8	−1.1	−0.9
Latvia	−0.9	−1.6	−1.3	−0.0	−0.8	−1.8
Lithuania	−2.6	−0.7	−0.2	0.3	−0.4	−0.2
Luxembourg	0.8	1.4	1.4	1.6	0.2	0.3
Malta	−2.6	−2.0	−1.3	1.0	0.5	0.8
Netherlands	−2.4	−2.3	−2.1	0.4	0.5	0.8
Austria	−2.7	−2.7	−1.1	−1.6	−1.3	−1.0
Poland	−4.0	−3.5	−2.6	−2.4	−2.9	−2.9
Portugal	−4.8	−7.2	−4.4	−2.0	−1.8	−1.9
Romania	−2.1	−1.4	−0.8	−3.0	−3.5	−3.7
Sweden	−1.4	−1.5	0.3	0.9	0.4	0.7
Slovakia	−2.7	−2.7	−2.7	−1.7	−1.3	−0.6
Slovenia	−15.0	−5.4	−2.9	−1.8	−1.4	−1.2
Spain	−6.9	−6.0	−5.1	−4.5	−3.2	−2.6
Czech Republic	−1.3	−1.9	−0.6	0.6	0.3	0.1
Hungary	−2.6	−2.1	−1.6	−1.8	−2.3	−2.4
United Kingdom	−5.6	−5.7	−4.3	−3.4	−3.0	−2.3
Cyprus	−4.9	−8.8	−1.2	0.4	0.2	0.7

Development of public debt as a percentage of GDP

country	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017 1	2018 1
Belgium	105.2	106.5	105.9	106.4	105.6	105.1
Bulgaria	17.1	27.0	26.0	29.5	26.8	26.0
Denmark	44.7	44.0	39.6	37.8	36.7	36.0
Germany	77.2	74.9	71.2	68.3	65.8	63.3
Estonia	9.9	10.7	10.1	9.5	9.5	9.6
Finland	55.5	60.2	63.7	63.6	65.5	66.2
France	94.8	95.6	95.6	96.0	96.4	96.7
Greece	177.7	179.7	177.4	179.0	178.8	174.6
Ireland	120.0	105.3	78.7	75.4	73.5	72.7
Italy	129.0	131.8	132.1	132.6	133.1	132.5
Croatia	82.2	86.6	86.7	84.2	81.9	79.4
Latvia	39.1	40.9	36.5	40.1	38.5	36.0
Lithuania	38.8	40.5	42.7	40.2	42.4	38.9
Luxembourg	23.3	22.4	21.6	20.0	22.0	22.3
Malta	68.6	64.3	60.6	58.3	55.8	52.5
Netherlands	67.9	67.9	65.2	62.3	59.8	57.2
Austria	80.8	84.4	85.5	84.6	82.9	81.2
Poland	56.0	50.2	51.1	54.4	54.6	55.4
Portugal	129.0	130.6	129.0	130.4	128.5	126.2
Romania	38.0	39.4	38.0	37.6	39.3	40.9
Sweden	39.8	45.2	43.9	41.6	39.1	37.0
Slovakia	55.0	53.6	52.5	51.9	51.5	49.8
Slovenia	71.0	80.9	83.1	79.7	77.8	75.5
Spain	93.7	100.4	99.8	99.4	99.2	98.5
Czech Republic	45.1	42.2	40.3	37.2	36.2	35.6
Hungary	76.8	75.7	74.7	74.1	72.6	71.2
United Kingdom	86.2	88.1	89.0	89.3	88.6	87.9
Cyprus	102.5	107.1	107.5	107.8	103.4	99.8

¹ Eurostat / EU Commission forecast.
² IMF figures and forecasts

Companies

Nokia headquarters in Espoo . 164 Fortune Global 500 companies are based in the European Union.

Royal Dutch Shell headquarters in The Hague . Largest company in the European Union in terms of turnover, profit and market value

In 2014, the Dutch ING Groep was the largest bancassurance service provider in the EU in terms of turnover .		In terms of its balance sheet value , the UK's HSBC is the largest bank in the EU in 2014.

Volkswagen AG headquarters . Largest automobile manufacturer in the EU and number one in terms of sales in 2014, number two worldwide in terms of automobiles sold, just behind Toyota .

The Siemens Aktiengesellschaft is the largest conglomerate of EU

The pavilion of the Compagnie de Saint-Gobain, founded in 1665, for the 1937 World's Fair . For a number of its products of the construction industry it is today either world or European leader.

ArcelorMittal's historic headquarters in Luxembourg City . ArcelorMittal is the largest steel producer in the world , ahead of Thyssen-Krupp and the Spanish Acerinox .

The ranking of the annual Forbes Global 2000 list of the 2000 largest publicly traded companies in the world is calculated from a combination of sales , net income , assets and market value . The placements of the companies in the equally weighted categories were added together to form a rank. The table also shows the headquarters and the industry . The figures are in billion US dollars and relate to the 2017 financial year , for the market value to the stock exchange price in April 2018.

Surname	Headquarters	country	Revenue ($ billion)	Profit ($ billion)	Assets ($ billion)	Market Value ($ billion)	Branch
Royal Dutch Shell	The hague	Netherlands	321.8	15.2	410.7	306.5	oil and gas
Volkswagen AG	Wolfsburg	Germany	272.0	13.1	531.4	101.4	Automobiles
HSBC	London	Great Britain	63.2	10.8	2,652.1	200.3	Banks
BNP Paribas	Paris	France	117.8	8.5	2,353.9	93.6	Banks
Allianz SE	Munich	Germany	122.5	7.7	1,128.6	100.4	Insurance
Total	Courbevoie	France	155.8	8.4	257.0	168.0	oil and gas
Daimler AG	Stuttgart	Germany	193.2	11.8	323.2	85.7	Automobiles
Banco Santander	Madrid	Spain	56.1	8.0	1,769.1	106.3	Banks
AXA	Paris	France	149.9	6.7	1,029.1	64.1	Insurance
BP	London	Great Britain	251.9	4.3	275.3	152.6	oil and gas
BMW	Munich	Germany	114.4	10.2	241.3	72.3	Automobiles
Anheuser-Busch InBev	Brussels	Belgium	56.4	7.9	248.6	184.3	brewery
Siemens	Munich	Germany	94.5	7.1	163.4	112.5	technology
ING Group	Amsterdam	Netherlands	56.6	5.5	1,016.1	62.2	Financial service providers
Intesa Sanpaolo	Milan	Italy	42.5	8.3	956.9	63.1	Banks
Prudential	London	Great Britain	111.5	3.1	655.1	67.8	Insurance
Enel	Rome	Italy	86.7	4.6	193.6	61.6	Supplier
Deutsche Telekom	Bonn	Germany	84.5	3.9	179.1	80.8	telecommunications
BASF	Ludwigshafen	Germany	75.1	7.1	98.9	95.3	chemistry
British American Tobacco	London	Great Britain	26.1	4.8	190.8	120.0	tobacco
Lloyds Banking Group	London	Great Britain	33.6	4.0	1,098.6	65.4	Banks
Eni	Rome	Italy	75.5	3.9	143.1	70.7	oil and gas
Bayer AG	Leverkusen	Germany	44.4	8.4	92.7	104.6	chemistry
Airbus Group	Leiden , Toulouse	European Union	74.7	3.0	138.3	92.1	aviation
Unilever	Rotterdam , London	Netherlands Great Britain	60.6	6.8	72.4	155.8	food
Rio Tinto	London , Melbourne	Great Britain Australia	40.0	8.7	95.7	99.3	Mining
Unicredit	Milan	Italy	29.0	6.1	1,004.8	47.8	Banks
EDF	Paris	France	78.5	2.9	337.1	43.0	Supplier
BBVA	Madrid	Spain	29.2	4.3	843.0	54.5	Banks
Sanofi-Aventis	Paris	France	39.5	4.3	119.9	94.9	Pharma
Telefónica	Madrid	Spain	59.7	3.4	141.2	51.1	telecommunications
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles	Amsterdam	Great Britain	128.8	4.5	117.6	35.0	Automobiles
Renault	Boulogne-Billancourt	France	66.3	5.8	132.0	30.8	Automobiles
Generali Group	Trieste	Italy	93.1	2.4	647.2	30.8	Insurance
Iberdrola	Bilbao	Spain	37.8	3.3	138.0	49.4	Supplier
Crédit Agricole	Paris	France	21.1	3.6	1,861.6	43.9	Banks
Christian Dior	Paris	France	49.3	2.5	87.4	76.4	Luxury goods
ArcelorMittal	Luxembourg	Luxembourg	68.6	4.6	85.3	36.8	steel
Medtronic	Dublin	Ireland	29.7	2.8	95.8	116.0	Medical technology
Vinci	Rueil-Malmaison	France	46.1	3.1	83.8	56.8	Construction
Société Générale	Paris	France	27.8	2.6	1,531.2	38.3	Banks
Royal Bank of Scotland	Edinburgh	Great Britain	21.5	2.5	1,036.0	47.9	Banks
Aviva	London	Great Britain	63.7	1.9	580.6	29.5	Insurance
Engie	Paris	France	73.3	1.6	180.5	41.8	Supplier
SAP	Walldorf	Germany	27.4	4.9	51.0	138.9	software
Legal & General	London	Great Britain	52.1	2.4	676.6	22.6	Insurance
orange	Paris	France	46.4	1.8	115.7	48.3	telecommunications
Nordea	Stockholm	Sweden	15.2	3.5	713.5	43.0	Banks
Continental AG	Hanover	Germany	51.4	3.5	47.8	53.2	Automotive supplier
German Post AG	Bonn	Germany	68.2	3.1	46.7	50.8	Services
L'Oréal	Paris	France	29.4	4.3	42.4	134.2	Consumer goods
AstraZeneca	London	Great Britain	22.4	3.0	63.4	90.6	Pharma
Danske Bank	Copenhagen	Denmark	18.3	3.0	583.8	29.1	Banks
GlaxoSmithKline	London	Great Britain	39.8	1.4	78.8	98.6	Pharma
E.ON	eat	Germany	43.0	4.9	67.9	24.2	Supplier
Fresenius	bad Homburg	Germany	39.3	2.1	65.8	44.1	Medical technology
Repsol YPF	Madrid	Spain	49.7	2.3	71.6	30.2	oil and gas
Volvo	Gothenburg	Sweden	41.5	2.6	53.1	37.1	Automobiles
Danone	Paris	France	27.8	2.8	53.2	48.9	food
KBC Group	Antwerp	Belgium	13.8	2.8	351.0	36.0	Banks
Shire PLC	Dublin	Ireland	15.3	4.4	67.9	50.3	pharmacy
Exor	Amsterdam	Netherlands	161.8	1.6	196.7	18.3	Financial service providers
National Grid	London	Great Britain	18.4	3.4	77.3	38.5	Supplier
Schneider Electric	Paris	France	27.9	2.4	47.9	48.4	Electrical engineering
Air Liquide	Paris	France	23.0	2.5	49.3	55.1	chemistry
Peugeot	Rueil-Malmaison	France	73.6	2.2	69.8	21.4	Automobiles
Anglo American	London	Great Britain	26.2	3.2	54.6	32.0	Mining
Diageo	London	Great Britain	15.7	4.1	40.7	89.7	beverages
Tesco	Cheshunt	Great Britain	75.4	1.3	61.8	32.7	retail trade
AEGON	The hague	Netherlands	35.2	2.6	452.4	14.1	Insurance
Munich Re	Munich	Germany	63.4	0.8	323.5	34.8	Insurance
Ahold	Amsterdam	Netherlands	72.4	2.2	42.2	28.8	retail trade
BT Group	London	Great Britain	30.8	2.2	61.1	29.2	telecommunications
Reckitt Benckiser	Slough	Great Britain	14.8	4.0	50.1	55.0	Consumer goods
Safran SA	Paris	France	19.1	4.5	38.7	48.6	aviation
CNP Assurances	Paris	France	45.8	1.4	491.5	17.1	Insurance
Accenture	Dublin	Ireland	39.1	3.6	23.1	101.0	Consultant
Inditex	Arteixo	Spain	28.9	3.8	25.2	99.5	retail trade
Lyondellbasell	Rotterdam	Netherlands	35.8	5.3	26.9	44.1	chemistry
handle	Dusseldorf	Germany	23.1	2.9	36.2	54.1	Consumer goods
Johnson Controls	Cork	Ireland	30.7	2.1	50.0	33.6	Conglomerate
Saint-Gobain	Courbevoie	France	46.0	1.8	51.5	29.8	Construction
Caixabank	Valencia	Spain	11.7	2.3	472.8	30.7	Banks
Merck KGaA	Darmstadt	Germany	17.3	2.9	43.3	43.3	chemistry
Standard Chartered Bank	London	Great Britain	21.0	0.9	663.5	34.4	Banks
RWE	eat	Germany	47.9	2.1	89.6	14.7	Supplier
NN Group	The hague	Netherlands	19.9	2.3	271.6	15.3	Insurance

Regional differences

See also : List of European regions by gross domestic product

Economically strong regions in the European Union

Economically strong NUTS-2 regions

rank	NUTS-2 region	Member State	GDP per inhabitant
			in Euro	in% of the EU-28 average
1.	Inner London - West	United Kingdom	148,000	539%
2.	Luxembourg	Luxembourg	73,000	266%
3.	Bruxelles-Cap .. Brussels Hfdst.	Belgium	57,000	207%
4th	Hamburg	Germany	56,600	206%
5.	Inner London - East	United Kingdom	56,100	204%
6th	Bratislavský kraj	Slovakia	51,200	186%
7th	Upper Bavaria	Germany	49,100	179%
8th.	Île de France	France	49,000	178%
9.	Praha	Czech Republic	47,500	173%
10.	Stockholm	Sweden	47,200	172%

Economically strong NUTS 1 regions

rank	NUTS-1 region	Member State	GDP per inhabitant
			in Euro	in% of the EU-28 average
1.	Luxembourg	Luxembourg	73,000	266%
2.	Bruxelles-Cap .. Brussels Hfdst.	Belgium	57,000	207%
3.	Hamburg	Germany	56,600	206%
5.	London	United Kingdom	51,200	186%
4th	Île-de-France	France	49,000	178%
6th	Bremen	Germany	44,100	161%
7th	Bavaria	Germany	39,700	145%
7th	Hesse	Germany	39,700	145%
9.	Baden-Württemberg	Germany	39,500	144%
9.	Östra Sverige	Sweden	39,500	144%
9.	West Nederland	Netherlands	39,500	144%
12.	Åland	Finland	37,900	138%
13.	Western Austria	Austria	37,800	138%
14th	Ireland	Ireland	36,800	134%
15th	Eastern Austria	Austria	35,600	130%
16.	Zuid-Nederland	Netherlands	34,700	125%
17th	Comunidad de Madrid	Spain	34,300	125%
18th	Denmark	Denmark	34,200	125%
19th	North Rhine-Westphalia	Germany	34,200	124%
15th	Vlaams Gewest	Belgium	33,000	120%

Economically weak regions of the European Union

Economically weak NUTS-2 regions

rank	NUTS-2 region	Member State	GDP per inhabitant
			in Euro	in% of the EU-28 average
1.	Severozapaden	Bulgaria	8,200	30%
2.	Mayotte	France	8,400	31%
3.	Yuzhen tsentralen	Bulgaria	8,700	32%
4th	Severen tsentralen	Bulgaria	9,300	34%
5.	North-Est	Romania	9,500	34%
6th	Severoiztochen	Bulgaria	10,800	39%
6th	Yugoiztochen	Bulgaria	10,800	39%
8th.	Sud-Vest Oltenia	Romania	11,200	41%
9.	Észak-Magyarország	Hungary	11,600	42%
10.	Észak-Alfold	Hungary	11,800	43%
10.	South Muntenia	Romania	11,800	43%

Economically weak NUTS-1 regions

rank	NUTS-1 region	Member State	GDP per inhabitant
			in Euro	in% of the EU-28 average
1.	Severna i Iztochna Bulgaria	Bulgaria	9,900	36%
2.	Macroregiunea Doi	Romania	11,300	41%
3.	Alföld és Észak	Hungary	12,200	44%
4th	Wschodni	Poland	13,200	48%
5.	Macroregiunea Patru	Romania	13,400	49%
6th	Macroregiunea Unu	Romania	13,600	50%
7th	Voreia Ellada	Greece	15,100	55%
8th.	Północny	Poland	15,700	57%
9.	Kentriki Ellada	Greece	15,800	57%
9.	Yugozapadna i Yuzhna Tsentralna Bulgaria	Bulgaria	15,800	57%
11.	Croatia	Croatia	16,100	59%
12.	Dunántúl	Hungary	14,400	60%
13.	Latvia	Latvia	17,500	64%
13.	South of Italy	Italy	17,500	64%
15th	Islands of Italy	Italy	17,700	64%
16.	Północno-Zachodni	Poland	18,000	66%
17th	Południowy	Poland	18,100	66%
18th	Départements d'Outre-Mer	France	18,200	66%
19th	Aegean Islands, Crete	Greece	18,400	67%
20th	Southern Spain	Spain	18,800	69%

Economically strongest metropolitan regions in the European Union

rank	Metropolitan area	country	Gross domestic product in billions of euros	year
1.	London	United Kingdom	778.337	2016
2.	Paris	France	667.641	2015
3.	Madrid	Spain	203,602	2015
4th	Milan	Italy	193.232	2015
5.	Munich	Germany	171.189	2015
6th	Berlin	Germany	166.494	2015
7th	Ruhr area	Germany	157,900	2015
8th.	Barcelona	Spain	151.145	2015
9.	Rome	Italy	150.315	2015
10.	Hamburg	Germany	148.190	2015
11.	Stockholm	Sweden	143,299	2015
12.	Stuttgart	Germany	141,355	2015
13.	Frankfurt am Main	Germany	139.176	2015
14th	Amsterdam	Netherlands	138,704	2015
15th	Brussels	Belgium	127,751	2016
16.	Vienna	Austria	118,839	2015
17th	Copenhagen	Denmark	118,826	2016
18th	Manchester	United Kingdom	100,594	2016
19th	Marseille	France	93,741	2015
20th	Cologne	Germany	92,559	2015
21st	Athens	Greece	84,374	2015
22nd	Dusseldorf	Germany	84.087	2015
23.	Helsinki	Finland	81,766	2015
24.	Lyon	France	79,486	2015
25th	Gothenburg	Sweden	76.038	2015
26th	Warsaw	Poland	75.119	2015
27.	Lille - Dunkerque	France	75,078	2015
28.	West Midlands	United Kingdom	72,420	2016
29	Turin	Italy	69,305	2015
30th	Lisbon	Portugal	64,823	2015

Web links

Commons : Economy of the European Union  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• European Commission - Economy and Finance
• Eurostat statistics

Individual evidence

1. ↑ CIA World Factbook, European Union data (cited from data on January 12, 2017) . Retrieved January 28, 2017.
2. ↑ CIA World Factbook, European Union data (cited from data on January 12, 2017) . Retrieved January 28, 2017.
3. ↑ CIA World Factbook, European Union data (cited from data on January 12, 2017) . Retrieved January 28, 2017.
4. ↑ CIA World Factbook, European Union data (cited from data on January 12, 2017) . Retrieved January 28, 2017.
5. ↑ European Union: inflation rate from September 2013 to September 2014 (compared to the same month of the previous year)
6. ↑ CIA The world factbook DISTRIBUTION OF FAMILY INCOME - GINI INDEX
7. ↑ European Union & Euro zone: number of employed persons from 2003 to 2013 (in millions)
8. ↑ Labor force in% of the working-age population (PDF)
9. ↑ European Union & Euro zone: number of unemployed from 2003 to 2013 (in millions)
10. ↑ Development of the national debt of the EU members (as a percentage of GDP)
11. ↑ Development of the deficits / surpluses of the EU members (as a percentage of GDP)
12. ^ Report for Selected Country Groups and Subjects . Retrieved January 28, 2017.
13. ↑ CIA World Factbook, Country Comparison PPP . Retrieved January 28, 2017.
14. ↑ Selected EU Member States 2015 (IMF) . Retrieved January 28, 2017.
15. ↑ EU data 2015 (IMF) . Retrieved January 28, 2017.
16. ↑ IMF list of countries by GDP per capita, 2015 . Retrieved January 28, 2017.
17. ↑ Statista , growth of the real gross domestic product (GDP) in the European Union and the euro zone from 2003 to 2013 (compared to the previous year) .
18. ↑ Eurostat , Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices: Annual rate of change (%) .
19. ↑ Eurostat, Harmonized Unemployment Rate .
20. ↑ Eurostat, Energy Intensity of the Economy .
21. ↑ Eurostat, balance of payments, current account, quarterly data
22. ↑ Eurostat, balance of payments statistics
23. ↑ Gross domestic product at market prices
24. ↑ Gross domestic product at market prices (Current prices, PPS per capita) . Eurostat . March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
25. ↑ GDP per capita in PPS . June 1, 2015. Accessed June 16, 2015.
26. ↑ Eurostat - Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table . Epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu. October 9, 2014. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
27. ↑ Eurostat - Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table . Epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu. March 11, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
28. ↑ ^{a b c} How are European countries doing? As of May 18, 2016
29. ↑ ^{a b} data from the International Monetary Fund
30. ↑ imf.org
31. ↑ Employment rate by gender, age group 20–64 . Eurostat. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
32. ↑ Gender differences in employment . Eurostat. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
33. ↑ Unemployment rate, overall . Eurostat. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
34. ↑ Unemployment rate, overall . Eurostat. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
35. ↑ Long-term unemployment rate, by gender . Eurostat. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
36. ↑ appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu
37. ↑ statista - the statistics portal
38. ↑ eurostat: wages and labor costs
39. ↑ ^{a b} statista: Statutory hourly minimum wages in countries of the European Union (as of January 2016 *)
40. ^ Statistics on minimum wages
41. ↑ Gross monthly earnings (in euros) per full-time unit * in the European Union in 2008
42. ↑ Germany Trade & Invest: WAGE AND INCIDENTAL COSTS CROATIA
43. ↑ eurostat: Monthly minimum wages
44. ↑ ^{a b} EU internal trade 27
45. ^ Federal Statistical Office: Overview of Transport , Series 8, Series 1.2, Wiesbaden
46. ↑ ^{a b} Intra and Extra-EU trade by Member State and by product group
47. ↑ trade.ec.europa.eu (PDF)
48. ↑ European Union & Euro Zone: Export of goods from 2005 to 2015 (in billion euros)
49. ↑ European Union & Euro Zone: Import of goods from 2005 to 2015 (in billion euros)
50. ^ Port Industry Statistics
51. ^ Port of Rotterdam: Cargo handling
52. ^ The port of Antwerp in 2012
53. ^ Port of Hamburg: Statistics
54. ↑ Port of Amsterdam: Statistics [1]
55. ↑ [2]
56. ↑ [3]
57. ^ Port group Bremen / Bremerhaven: Statistics
58. ↑ Haropa, the association of the Seine ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris founded in 2012, has not published any global figures that are broken down by individual ports since 2018.
59. ↑ [4]
60. ↑ [5]
61. ↑ [6]
62. ↑ Energy in Sweden 2010, Facts and figures ( Memento from October 16, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Table 55 Regional energy use, 1990 and 2008 (kWh per capita)
63. ↑ IEA Key energy statistics 2010 (PDF) Population page 48 forward
64. ↑ Eurostat - Tables, Graphs and Maps Interface (TGM) table . Epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu. February 2, 2015. Accessed August 1, 2015.
65. ^ Ministry of Life
66. ↑ Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety : Renewable energies in numbers - national and international development. ( Memento of March 22, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) As of June 2009, p. 49.
67. ↑ n-tv: Merkel creates a compromise dated March 9, 2007.
68. ↑ Der Tagesspiegel : Renewable Energies in the EU. January 24, 2008.
69. ↑ BMU database on renewable energies ( Memento from February 5, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
70. ↑ FAZ: EU Commission receives a lot of criticism for climate plans
71. ↑ Position paper: Energy transition for Europe: An ambitious EU climate and energy package for climate protection, investment security and cost efficiency ( Memento of February 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF)
72. ↑ The share of renewable energies in the EU-27 energy supply almost doubled between 1999 and 2009. (PDF) Eurostat. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
73. ^ Jean Claude Juncker, Political Guidelines, p. 6.
74. ↑ Eurostat - share of renewable energies in gross final energy consumption . Epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu. February 2, 2015. Accessed August 1, 2015.
75. ↑ Renewable energy in the EU: Share of renewable energy in the EU up to 17.5% in 2017 . Eurostat. February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
76. ^ Dossier 03: Renewable Energies in the European Union. Between aspiration and reality
77. ^ BMWi: The EU climate and energy policy framework up to 2030
78. ↑ euobserver.com: Bigger renewable energy targets feasible, says study
79. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer 2007 - EurObserv'ER Systèmes solaires - Le journal des énergies renouvelables nº 178, p. 52.
80. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer 2008 - EurObserv'ER  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Systèmes solaires - Le journal des énergies renouvelables nº 184, p. 52.  
81. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer 2009 - EurObserv'ER ( Memento of December 29, 2009 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 2.6 MB) Systèmes solaires Le journal de photovoltaïque nº 1 - 2009, p. 76.
82. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer 2010 - EurObserv'ER (PDF; 3.7 MB) Systèmes solaires Le journal de photovoltaïque nº 3 - 2010, p. 132.
83. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer 2011 - EurObserv'ER (PDF; 2.5 MB) Systèmes solaires Le journal de photovoltaïque nº 5 - 2011, p. 148.
84. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer 2012 - EurObserv'ER (PDF; 4.5 MB) Hors-Série Le journal de photovoltaïque nº 7 - 2012, p. 114.
85. ↑ ^{a b} Photovoltaic barometer 2012 - EurObserv'ER  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 4.3 MB) Hors-Série Le journal de photovoltaïque nº 9 - 2013, p. 59.  
86. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer - EurObserv'ER - April 2014 (PDF; 2.9 MB)
87. ↑ ^{a b} Photovoltaic barometer - EurObserv'ER - 2016
88. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer - EurObserv'ER - 2017
89. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer - EurObserv'ER - 2018
90. ↑ Photovoltaic barometer - EurObserv'ER - 2019
91. ↑ Snapshot of Global PV 1992-2014 . International Energy Agency - Photovoltaic Power Systems Program. March 30, 2015. Archived from the original on March 30, 2015.
92. ↑ Snapshot of Global PV 1992–2015 . International Energy Agency - Photovoltaic Power Systems Program. April 30, 2016.
93. ↑ SNAPSHOT OF GLOBAL PHOTOVOLTAIC MARKETS . International Energy Agency - Photovoltaic Power Systems Program. January 21, 2018.
94. ↑ SNAPSHOT OF GLOBAL PHOTOVOLTAIC MARKETS . International Energy Agency - Photovoltaic Power Systems Program. November 11, 2018.
95. ↑ Swissolar fact sheet: Electricity from the sun . Swissolar. 1st July 2019.
96. ↑ World Wind Energy Report 2009 (PDF) In: Report . World Winiation . February 2010. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved on March 13, 2010.
97. ↑ World Wind Energy Report 2008 (PDF) In: Report . World Wind Energy Association . February 2009. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved on March 19, 2009.
98. ↑ World Wind Energy Report 2010. ( Memento of July 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 3.1 MB) of the World Wind Energy Association, accessed March 13, 2011.
99. ↑ Brazil Wind Energy Report 2011 . In: Report . Global Wind Energy Council . September 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
100. ↑ Wind Energy Report 2011 . In: Report . Global Wind Energy Council. February 2012. Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved on February 7, 2012.
101. ↑ Wind Energy Report 2012 . In: Report . Global Wind Energy Council. February 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2013.
102. ↑ Wind Energy Report 2013 . In: Report . Global Wind Energy Council. February 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
103. ↑ GWEC Global Wind Statistics 2014 (PDF) GWEC. February 10, 2015.
104. ↑ Wind in numbers . Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved on February 13, 2015.
105. ↑ Global Wind Statistics 2016 (PDF) Global Wind Energy Council. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
106. ↑ statista: European Union: Share of economic sectors in gross domestic product (GDP) from 2003 to 2014
107. ↑ European Union: Share of economic sectors in the gross domestic product (GDP) of the member states in 2013 . statista. February 2, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2015.
108. ↑ Tax rates in EU countries . wko. April 1, 2015. Accessed December 26, 2015.
109. ↑ VAT rates in the EU . wko. October 1, 2015. Accessed December 26, 2015.
110. ↑ Income taxes abroad . eu. November 27, 2015. Accessed December 26, 2015.
111. ↑ World Economic Outlook Database, General government gross debt (Percent of GDP) , October 2014
112. ^ Forbes Global 2000
113. ↑ ^{a b c d} Eurostat: Twenty-one regions below half of the EU average… . Europe web portal. February 26, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
114. ↑ Eurostat. Retrieved July 8, 2018 .