The EU economy is a reflection, determinant and predictor of every aspect of our society. The summer 2026 heatwaves brought a vivid reminder of the economic losses related to climate change. Public finances remain heavily constrained, although some flexibility has enabled increased investment in defence. Despite growth (EU GDP has been on the rise since the middle of 2025), geopolitical volatility continues to create economic uncertainty, as seen by the energy shocks that followed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
EPRS has regularly charted the state of the EU economy since 2022. This well-established series of infographics now tracks the state of the EU economy on a quarterly basis. Each snapshot looks at GDP growth in the Member States, consolidated gross government debt and net borrowing, as well as inflation and monetary policy. It examines the dynamics of EU national labour markets and the unemployment rate. Finally, the infographics monitor the roll-out of the ground-breaking Next Generation EU (NGEU) and its Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) since their inception in 2020.
