dw.com
EU Economic Growth Stagnates as Germany, France, and Italy Underperform
The EU's 2024 economic growth of 0.8% (Eurozone: 0.7%) slowed significantly in Q4 2024, leading to near-stagnation at the start of 2025, primarily due to weak performances from Germany, France, and Italy, while Spain showed strong growth.
- How did Spain's economic performance contrast with that of Germany, France, and Italy in Q4 2024, and what factors contributed to Spain's growth?
- Germany's economic struggles, a major topic in the German election campaign, acted as a significant brake on EU growth. Spain now leads EU economic growth, while France and Italy underperformed. Data from Eurostat highlights the negative impact of these three largest economies on overall EU economic performance.
- What are the potential long-term consequences of Germany's continued economic decline for the EU's overall economic stability and competitiveness?
- Germany's GDP decreased by 0.2% in Q4 2024 compared to Q3, marking a continued decline after negative growth in 2023 and 2024. This contributed to a downward revision of Germany's 2025 GDP growth forecast to 0.3% from 1.1%. France and Italy also experienced weak growth in Q4 2024, while Spain and other countries showed stronger results. These trends suggest a need for structural reforms in major European economies.
- What is the immediate impact of the slowdown in major European economies (Germany, France, and Italy) on the overall EU economic outlook for 2025?
- The Eurozone's economy grew by 0.7% in 2024, while the EU grew by 0.8%. However, Q4 2024 showed a significant decline in business activity, leading to 0.1% and 0% growth in the EU and Eurozone, respectively, at the start of 2025. This signals economic stagnation.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The headline and opening sentences immediately highlight the stagnation of the European economy, setting a negative tone. The article's structure consistently emphasizes negative economic trends in Germany, France, and Italy, before introducing the positive performance of Spain. This sequencing affects the reader's perception, potentially leading to a more pessimistic outlook than the overall data might support.
Language Bias
The article uses relatively neutral language but occasionally employs words with slightly negative connotations, such as "stagnation," "proбуксовывает" (буксовать - to spin its wheels; to stall), "тормоз" (brake/hindrance), and "выдохлась" (ran out of steam/energy). While descriptive, these terms carry a slightly more negative tone than strictly neutral alternatives like "slowed growth," "minimal growth," or "reduced economic activity."
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, potentially omitting the economic performances of other EU countries. While acknowledging that data for some countries was pending, the overall narrative emphasizes the largest economies, potentially downplaying contributions from smaller, faster-growing nations. This could mislead the reader into believing the overall EU economic health is solely dependent on these four.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat false dichotomy by contrasting Germany's economic struggles with Spain's success. While it acknowledges other countries' performances, the narrative strongly emphasizes this contrast, potentially simplifying the complex reality of diverse economic situations within the EU.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article reports a slowdown in the EU economy, with Germany experiencing a significant decline. This negatively impacts job creation and overall economic growth, hindering progress towards SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The decline in Germany, a major EU economy, has ripple effects across the bloc.