The European Union is a supranational organization founded in 1957 (under the name European Economic Community) currently comprised of 27 European states, which aims to facilitate economic and political cooperation on the European continent. The current member states of the EU, in alphabetical order, are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. Additionally, the United Kingdom was a member of the EU from 1973 until 2020, with the country voting to leave the European Union in 2016. There are currently also nine candidate countries (countries in the process of joining the EU): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Georgia, and Ukraine; as well as a potential candidate, Kosovo. The Founding Six: 1957 The European Economic Community was founded through the 1957 Treaty of Rome by Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The six countries were united by the aim of integrating their economies together in such a way which would provide economic prosperity on the European continent and to prevent future conflicts from arising between the countries. This was particularly informed by the French and German politicians, who wished to prevent their countries going to war, as they had done three times over the preceding century (1870-71, 1914-18, and 1939-45). The treaty is considered fundamental to the functioning of the European Union, with the famous statement at its beginning that the countries were seeking to pursue "ever closer union". The First Enlargement: 1973 In 1973, additional countries joined the European Community for the first time. Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined the community on the 1st of January 1973, with Ireland and Denmark having held referendums during 1972, with 83 percent voting in favor in Ireland and 63 percent voting in favor in Denmark. Norway had planned to join along with the three other countries, however, their citizens rejected the proposal in a referendum with 54 percent voting against it. The United Kingdom held a referendum in 1975, two years after joining, in which its citizens confirmed the government's decision to join, with 67 percent voting in favor. The UK had been an applicant to join the community since 1963, but had been blocked by French President Charles de Gaulle numerous times, due to his suspicions that the British were too influenced by the United States. The Southern Enlargement: 1981-1986 In 1981 Greece became the first of three southern European countries who had recently transitioned from military dictatorship to democracy to join the European Community. Greek democracy had been restored in 1975, following seven years of rule by a military junta. Portugal and Spain later joined in 1986, as the Carnation Revolution of 1974 had moved Portugal towards free, multi-party elections, while the death of Spain's long-serving dictator General Francisco Franco in 1975 opened up the space for democracy to re-emerge. Some European politicians were hesitant to admit countries with such short histories of democracy and lower living standards than the rest of the bloc, however, there was also a desire to integrate these countries and to prevent a slide back towards authoritarianism. The Third Enlargement: 1995 In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden became the next three countries to join the European Union (the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 had renamed the EEC to the EU). These three countries had a long history of cooperation with EU countries, being closely tied historically and culturally to certain member states (Sweden and Finland to Denmark, and Austria to Germany), as well as having been long-standing members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), an organization which facilitates the economic integration of non-EU countries with the EU. Norway had once again planned to join along with these three states, however, its citizens rejected the proposal with 52 percent voting against in a 1994 referendum. The same occurred in Switzerland, whose voters rejected joining the EU by a razor-thin margin, with 50.3 percent voting against. The Eastern Enlargement: 2004-present Since 2004, 13 countries have joined the European Union, almost doubling the size of the bloc. The 2004 enlargement is often referred to as the 'eastern enlargement' as eight post-communist states in central and eastern Europe (Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) joined. Alongside these countries, the Mediterranean island states of Cyprus and Malta also joined the EU in 2004. Later, in 2007 Bulgaria and Romania became the next post-communist countries to join, while Croatia became the second country from the former Yugoslavia (a communis...

Picture a small open economy in the North Atlantic Ocean, highly dependent on trade with the EU and NAFTA. How important are these trading blocs to the country’s exports? How important is the country’s location and size, and how do these affect the export sectors? A unique version of the gravity model is applied here using an inverse hyperbolic sine function. Typically, the export volume is significantly impacted by the economic size of the exporting country, but in this case it is not. This suggests that the exports from small remote economies are driven by different factors than exports from large economies.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, the BRICS countries have been considered the five foremost developing economies in the world. Originally, the term BRIC was used by economists when talking about the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, however these countries have held annual summits since 2009, and the group has expanded to include South Africa since 2010. China has the largest GDP of the BRICS country, at 16.86 trillion U.S. dollars in 2021, while the others are all below three trillion. Combined, the BRICS bloc has a GDP over 25.85 trillion U.S. dollars in 2022, which is slightly more than the United States. BRICS economic development China has consistently been the largest economy of this bloc, and its rapid growth has seen it become the second largest economy in the world, behind the U.S.. China's growth has also been much faster than the other BRICS countries; for example, when compared with the second largest BRICS economy, its GDP was less than double the size of Brazil's in 2000, but is almost six times larger than India's in 2021. Since 2000, the country with the second largest GDP has fluctuated between Brazil, Russia, and India, due to a variety of factors, although India has held this position since 2015 (when the other two experienced recession), and it's growth rate is on track to surpass China's in the coming decade. South Africa has consistently had the smallest economy of the BRICS bloc, and it has just the third largest economy in Africa; its inclusion in this group is due to the fact that it is the most advanced and stable major economy in Africa, and it holds strategic importance due to the financial potential of the continent in the coming decades. Future developments It is predicted that China's GDP will overtake that of the U.S. by the end of the 2020s, to become the largest economy in the world, while some also estimate that India will also overtake the U.S. around the middle of the century. Additionally, the BRICS group is more than just an economic or trading bloc, and its New Development Bank was established in 2014 to invest in sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy across the globe. While relations between its members were often strained or of less significance in the 20th century, their current initiatives have given them a much greater international influence. The traditional great powers represented in the Group of Seven (G7) have seen their international power wane in recent decades, while BRICS countries have seen theirs grow, especially on a regional level. Today, the original BRIC countries combine with the Group of Seven (G7), to make up 11 of the world's 12 largest economies, but it is predicted that they will move further up on this list in the coming decades.

EUROSTAT prepared meals and dishes data are available in: --> Structural business statistics - historical dataset (sbs_h) Which data description is: Structural business statistics (SBS) describes the structure, conduct and performance of economic activities, down to the most detailed activity level (several hundred economic sectors). SBS are transmitted annually by the EU Member States on the basis of a legal obligation from 1995 onwards. SBS covers all activities of the business economy with the exception of agricultural activities and personal services and the data are provided by all EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, some candidate and potential candidate countries. The data are collected by domain of activity (annex) : Annex I - Services, Annex II - Industry, Annex III - Trade and Annex IV- Constructions and by datasets. Each annex contains several datasets as indicated in the SBS Regulation. The majority of the data is collected by National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) by means of statistical surveys, business registers or from various administrative sources. Regulatory or controlling national offices for financial institutions or central banks often provide the information required for the financial sector (NACE Rev 2 Section K / NACE Rev 1.1 Section J). Member States apply various statistical methods, according to the data source, such as grossing up, model based estimation or different forms of imputation, to ensure the quality of SBSs produced. Main characteristics (variables) of the SBS data category: Business Demographic variables (e.g. Number of enterprises) "Output related" variables (e.g. Turnover, Value added) "Input related" variables: labour input (e.g. Employment, Hours worked); goods and services input (e.g. Total of purchases); capital input (e.g. Material investments) All SBS characteristics are published on Eurostat’s website by tables and an example of the existent tables is presented below: Annual enterprise statistics: Characteristics collected are published by country and detailed on NACE Rev 2 and NACE Rev 1.1 class level (4-digits). Some classes or groups in 'services' section have been aggregated. Annual enterprise statistics broken down by size classes: Characteristics are published by country and detailed down to NACE Rev 2 and NACE Rev 1.1 group level (3-digits) and employment size class. For trade (NACE Rev 2 and NACE Rev 1.1 Section G) a supplementary breakdown by turnover size class is available. Annual regional statistics: Four characteristics are published by NUTS-2 country region and detailed on NACE Rev 2 and NACE Rev 1.1 division level (2-digits) (but to group level (3-digits) for the trade section). More information on the contents of different tables: the detail level and breakdowns required starting with the reference year 2008 is defined in Commission Regulation N° 251/2009. For previous reference years it is included in Commission Regulations (EC) N° 2701/98 and amended by Commission Regulation N°1614/2002 and Commission Regulation N°1669/2003. Several important derived indicators are generated in the form of ratios of certain monetary characteristics or per head values. A list with the available derived indicators is available below in the Annex. --> and in the statistics on the production of manufactured goods (prom) dataset Which data description is: Prodcom contains Prodcom statistics on production of manufactured goods together with related external trade data. The data characteristics described in this documentation refer to the Prodcom production data. For external trade data characteristics, please see documentation for Comext. From reference year 2021 onwards, the Prodcom data includes: -- the physical volume of production sold during the survey period -- the physical volume of production under sub-contracted operations during the survey period -- the value of production sold during the survey period -- the value of production under sub-contracted operations during the survey period -- for some products, the volume of actual production during the survey period The Prodcom data is obtained by the National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) who conduct a survey of enterprises. Eurostat calculates EU totals at EU-15, EU-25, EU-27_2007 and EU-27_2020 level (depending on the year) from the national data. For more details please see here below: "INDICATORS metadata.xlsx" dimension metadata used online (COMEXT, Data Browser) is available in EN, FR, DE. The explanatory note "Quick guide to accessing PRODCOM data in the Eurostat's Data Browser DS-056120" provides detailed description to annual sold production.

The Freight Air Transport industry has suffered in recent years in the face of economic and trade disruption. The region's beneficial geographical location and well-established infrastructure support strong demand. Despite increased demand for rapid and reliable cross-border logistics, driven by rising global trade and e-commerce, many countries have opted for ship cargo or road freight transport over air freight. During COVID-19, revenue tanked, with companies battling with sub-par freight volumes. Despite higher freight rates, Russia and Germany have driven the drop in industry revenue since the pandemic, with air freight succumbing to intense competition from other modes of transport. Revenue is expected to drop at a compound annual rate of 9.2% over the five years through 2024 to €10.1 billion, including a forecast drop of 6.4% in 2024. In terms of technology, integrating digital solutions, including real-time tracking and data analytics, has enhanced efficiency, driving up demand. Automation and modernised cargo handling processes have further streamlined operations, reducing turnaround times and costs. These advancements have positioned freight air transport companies as key companies in the global supply chain. Revenue is anticipated to dwindle at a compound annual rate of 0.2% over the five years through 2029 to €10 billion. The rise of e-commerce, coupled with continuous growth in global trade, is expected to fuel growth opportunities. However, there will be some challenges to overcome. Investments in sustainable practices and adopting greener technologies are becoming increasingly vital. Stricter environmental regulations and a growing emphasis on corporate social responsibility will likely drive the industry toward more eco-friendly freight transport operations, like rail.

The main survey focus of this Eurobarometer are:

1. Political attitudes and satisfaction,

2. Attitude to the European program to combat cancer,

3. Attitude to democracy and rights to freedom,

4. Attitude to the EC, the European domestic market and EC relations to the USA,

5. Attitude to foreigners and European policies towards foreigners,

6. Attitude to Turks in the FRG or the major foreign group in the respective country.

Topics: 1. Eligibility to vote at place of residence; future prospects for the next year; expected increase of strikes or international conflicts; fear of war (scale); judgement on change of personal financial and general economic situation in the last year; comparison of personal economic situation with that of other fellow-citizens; current contentment with life as well as expected satisfaction in five years (scale); satisfaction with democracy (scale); personal opinion leadership and frequency of political discussions; most important political events; feeling of political effectiveness or lack of power; perceived conflict between poor and rich; postmaterialism; national pride.

1. Knowledge about the European program to combat cancer; preference for national or European responsibility for the fight against cancer; fear of personally getting cancer; knowledge about the ´European Code against Cancer´; sources of information about this code; assessment of the effectiveness of the code to prevent cancer; significance of selected cancer prevention measures and of personal cancer prevention behavior; smoking habits; intended changes of one´s own smoking habits; personal activity or activity of family members in the health area or the educational system.

2. Importance of selected political problems; the significance of freedom and justice; attitude to democracy; the significance of selected fundamental rights and freedoms of humanity (scale); feeling of foreign infiltration of the country from people of other nationality, race, religion, culture and social levels; perceived disturbances of daily life from the presence of these people; social closeness to these groups (Bogardus scale); contacts in the neighborhood, in one´s circle of friends or at work with members of this group.

3. Associations with the term ´European domestic market´; assessment of the advantages and disadvantages from realization of the European domestic market (scale); advantages for workers from the domestic market; attitude to support of economically weak regions and creation of large economic areas in Europe (scale); attitude to the European domestic market and to further integration of Europe; judgement on the general results of the European agricultural policy as well as the advantageousness of this policy for farmers, consumers and taxpayers of the country; political interest; interest in matters of the European Community; significance of the EC for future development of the country; knowledge and judgement on the EC Commission (semantic differential); attitude to Western European unification; attitude to EC membership of the country; assessment of the advantages for the country from EC membership; regret of a failure of the EC; feeling as a European; perceived conflict between European and national identity; judgement on trade and financial relations of the country with the USA; preference for free trade or protectionism; attitude to walling off the European domestic market against the outside; judgement on the price guarantee for farmers through the agricultural policy; food price increase from EC agricultural policy; attitude to a common foreign policy and the necessity of the NATO; necessity of the US military presence for maintanance of peace in Europe; attitude to an increased military contribution of the EC to the USA for the common defense of Western Europe; knowledge and judgement on the role of the European Parliament; intent to participate in the next European Election; preferred party; knowledge about the powers of European institutions; attitude to a European defense community, a common social policy and currency union of the European nations; attitude to a European Government; attitude to a constitution draft by the European Parliament and a referendum on a European Union; attitude to an expansion of the EC and preferred countries for new membership; importance of local, regional and national political institutions; assessment of the attitudes of the national parties to Europe.

4. Most important foreig...

The European container terminal operations market, valued at €12.72 billion in 2025, is projected to experience steady growth, driven by increasing global trade, the expansion of e-commerce, and the rising demand for efficient logistics solutions. A compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.70% is anticipated from 2025 to 2033, indicating a substantial market expansion over the forecast period. Key market segments include stevedoring services, cargo handling and transportation, and various cargo types such as dry cargo, crude oil, and other liquid cargo. Growth is fueled by ongoing investments in port infrastructure modernization, the adoption of advanced technologies like automated container handling systems, and a focus on improving operational efficiency to reduce transit times and costs. Competitive pressures from established players like Ports America Inc., SSA Marine, and Rhenus Group, alongside emerging regional operators, are shaping the market landscape. While challenges like geopolitical uncertainties and potential fluctuations in global trade volumes exist, the overall outlook for the European container terminal operations market remains positive, driven by long-term growth prospects in global trade and the necessity for streamlined port operations. The market's geographical distribution across Europe shows variations in growth rates, reflecting the economic strengths and infrastructural capabilities of individual nations. Germany, the UK, France, and Spain are likely to be major contributors to market growth, owing to their strategic locations as major import-export hubs and robust port infrastructure. Russia's role in the European container terminal market may be influenced by geopolitical factors and sanctions affecting international trade. The "Rest of Europe" segment represents a collection of countries with varying degrees of port infrastructure development and trade volumes, contributing to a diverse and dynamic market environment. The ongoing focus on sustainability within the logistics sector, including the implementation of environmentally friendly technologies and practices, presents an opportunity for innovative companies within the container terminal operations market to gain competitive advantage. This comprehensive report provides an in-depth analysis of the Europe container terminal operations market, offering valuable insights into its current state, future trajectory, and key players. Covering the historical period (2019-2024), base year (2025), and forecast period (2025-2033), this report is essential for businesses operating in or seeking to enter this dynamic sector. The market is valued in the millions and segmented by service type, cargo type, and key geographic regions. This report will help you navigate the complexities of this market and make informed strategic decisions. Key drivers for this market are: Growing global trade activities, Infrastructure Development is on rise. Potential restraints include: Manufacturers' lack of control over logistics services and also increasing logistical costs. Notable trends are: Smart Port Infrastructure Drove the Market.

The European cheese market, a significant player in the global dairy industry, is experiencing robust growth driven by increasing consumer demand for diverse cheese types and convenient formats. The market, encompassing natural and processed cheese varieties distributed through diverse channels including supermarkets, online retailers, and specialty stores, as well as the on-trade sector (restaurants, hotels, etc.), is projected to maintain a steady Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) – let's conservatively estimate this at 3% based on typical dairy market growth and considering the established nature of the cheese market. This growth is fueled by several factors. Firstly, rising disposable incomes across several European nations are allowing consumers to indulge in premium cheese varieties and incorporate more cheese into their diets. Secondly, the burgeoning online retail sector provides convenient access to a wider range of cheese products, stimulating market expansion. Finally, innovative product launches, including healthier options like reduced-fat cheeses and plant-based alternatives, are further driving market dynamics. However, fluctuating milk prices and potential economic downturns represent potential restraints on market growth. The key players, including established global brands like Arla Foods, Bel Group, and Lactalis, are strategically focusing on expanding their product portfolios, enhancing distribution networks, and implementing effective marketing strategies to capitalize on the market's growth potential. The segmentation within the European cheese market highlights the dominance of supermarkets and hypermarkets in the off-trade channel, reflecting consumers' preference for convenient shopping experiences. However, the online retail segment is exhibiting rapid growth, driven by the increasing adoption of e-commerce platforms for grocery shopping. The on-trade sector's performance is closely linked to overall economic conditions and consumer spending habits in the hospitality industry. Regional variations exist within Europe, with countries like the UK, Germany, and France representing significant market shares due to high consumption levels and established cheese-making traditions. Continued growth across the forecast period (2025-2033) is anticipated, primarily driven by sustained consumer demand, innovative product offerings, and expansion of distribution networks. However, proactive adaptation to changing consumer preferences, particularly regarding health and sustainability, will be crucial for sustained success in this competitive market. Recent developments include: November 2021: Granarolo S.p.A. announced the acquisition of Mario Costa S.p.A., a landmark producer of PDO Gorgonzola cheese.October 2021: Sodiaal announced to invest EUR 170 million over the next five years to support the development of its Cheese branch.September 2021: Bel UK, a subsidiary of Bel Group, expanded its Boursin cheese brand by launching a range of flavored hot cheese bites.. Notable trends are: OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT.

The value of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries' exports from the European Union (EU-27) occupied nearly ** percent of the total in 2021. To compare, exports from countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States that were not EAEU members accounted for approximately *** percent.

The European Recovery Program, more commonly known as the Marshall Plan, was a U.S. initiative to promote Europe's economic recovery in the aftermath of the Second World War. Between 1948 and 1952, the U.S. distributed approximately 13.3 billion U.S. dollars between the non-communist states of Western Europe, including Greece and Turkey. Notable exceptions from this aid were Spain, due to Franco's unpopularity in the U.S. (although this changed with the Pact of Madrid in 1953), and Finland, who opted out as they did not want to strain relations with the Soviet Union. While money was roughly split between nations based on population size, larger, industrialized countries received a disproportionately higher share of the aid as it was believed their success would trickle down to smaller states. Economic insignificance? The term "Marshall Plan" has become something of a synonym for economic recovery plans in recent decades, yet the modern consensus is that the economic impact of the original was fairly overstated at the time. This investment of capital did help, but European recovery was well underway before the first installments were paid by the U.S, and it was European integration which laid the groundwork for recovery. Unlike the period following the First World War, the victorious powers had learned that cooperation between former adversaries, rather than punishment and reparations, would be the key to future success. It was the ideological influence of the Marshall Plan had the largest impact; Western European business structures became more Americanized, international trade barriers and tariffs were removed, and the transition to more capitalist economies eventually led to the most prosperous period ever recorded in European history, known as the "Golden Age" (1950-1973). The Molotov Plan The initial proposal, made by George C. Marshall, actually invited the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc states to take part in the offer, although this was a token gesture that U.S. knew would never be accepted. The Marshall Plan was announced in June 1947, just a few months after the Truman Doctrine; this was where the U.S. pledged to contain communist expansion across the globe, and is often regarded as the beginning of the Cold War. Not only did the Soviet Union reject the U.S. proposal, but Moscow also forbade any other Eastern Bloc country from taking part; instead the Soviets launched the Molotov Plan, which consolidated their economic power in the Eastern Bloc. While this plan initially rewarded Poland and Czechoslovakia for rejecting Americanization, the heavy reparations placed on the Axis powers meant that it was of little benefit to the likes of East Germany, Hungary, or Romania. Nonetheless, as the Marshall Plan changed the economic direction of Western Europe throughout the Cold War, the Molotov Plan helped shape communist economic development in the East. Eventually both plans developed into much larger endeavors, as the Mutual Security Act of 1951 saw American economic influence stretch beyond Europe, and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (COMECON) did the same for the Soviet Union.

In 2025, the United States had the largest economy in the world, with a gross domestic product of over 30 trillion U.S. dollars. China had the second largest economy, at around 19.23 trillion U.S. dollars. Recent adjustments in the list have seen Germany's economy overtake Japan's to become the third-largest in the world in 2023, while Brazil's economy moved ahead of Russia's in 2024. Global gross domestic product Global gross domestic product amounts to almost 110 trillion U.S. dollars, with the United States making up more than one-quarter of this figure alone. The 12 largest economies in the world include all Group of Seven (G7) economies, as well as the four largest BRICS economies. The U.S. has consistently had the world's largest economy since the interwar period, and while previous reports estimated it would be overtaken by China in the 2020s, more recent projections estimate the U.S. economy will remain the largest by a considerable margin going into the 2030s.The gross domestic product of a country is calculated by taking spending and trade into account, to show how much the country can produce in a certain amount of time, usually per year. It represents the value of all goods and services produced during that year. Those countries considered to have emerging or developing economies account for almost 60 percent of global gross domestic product, while advanced economies make up over 40 percent.

Nearly 47.5 percent of the total import value of countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) were from members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2021. To compare, EAEU imports from the EU-27 accounted for about 34 percent of the total in monetary terms.

The BRICS countries overtook the G7 countries share of the world's total gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) in 2018. By 2024, the difference had increased even further, the BRICS now holding a total 35 percent of the world's GDP compared to 30 percent held by the G7 countries.