Weak economic prospects, two raging wars, and extreme weather events will have a profound impact on Europe in 2023.
While the cost of living crisis showed signs of abating in 2023 with inflation figures falling, economies considered to be among the most resilient in Europe. Under tremendous pressure Because of the impact of inflation on consumer spending.
2023 also saw far-right parties make small but strong gains across the continent, building momentum ahead of the 2024 European elections.
July, the hottest month on record, brought severe wildfires to southern Europe. The bloc has since begun increasing its firefighting air fleet in preparation for increasingly scorching summers.
Euronews takes a look at Europe’s 2023 through data.
Cooling the cost of living crisis
After a spike in prices in 2022 amid the energy crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2023 saw inflation decline across the continent.
While the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia continued to face rising consumer prices until the end of the year, inflation in the bloc’s 27 member states fell three-fold from an average of 9.9% in February to 3.1% in November.
The decline was driven by a particularly sharp fall in the cost of energy, which fell by 11.5% year-on-year in the euro area in November 2023, the largest decline since 2020.
The continued decline in food prices has also brought some relief to consumers, following a significant rise in prices of basic food items in 2022.
Economies were under pressure
But inflation is stubbornly high throughout 2022 and early 2023 I took effect On the economies of Europe, in light of the tightened belts that limit consumption and investments.
The 19-nation eurozone entered a technical recession in June after two straight quarters of decline, driven by rising energy prices. The contraction continued in the third quarter, while the EU economy remained stagnant.
This contraction was driven by the disappointing economic performance of Germany, Europe’s industrial powerhouse. According to her government’s estimates, the German economy is in good shape It is expected to shrink by 0.4% in 2023, while the EU executive expects a slightly smaller contraction of 0.3%.
The far right slowly gained ground
2023 saw the far right in Europe making small but powerful gains, gaining momentum that could translate into electoral success in 2023. Major elections It takes place in 2024.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won a historic victory in local elections in the central state of Thuringia in June, and won its first municipal election in a city in December.
Geert Wilders surprised many in Europe when he snatched a piece of weapon A surprise electoral victory In the Dutch elections that took place in November, putting him in pole position in the ongoing coalition government talks.
With support rising in countries such as France and Austria, far-right parties may be looking to make significant gains in the European elections next June.
Europe is boiled
July was the hottest month the world has ever seen, pushing the global average sea temperature to a new record high of 20.98°C.
Spain saw sea temperatures reach 31.21 degrees Celsius in Dragonera, Balearic Islands.
With the scorching heat, devastating forest fires broke out. The largest forest fire ever recorded in the European Union angry In northeastern Greece in August, the European Union mobilized half of its firefighting air fleet to contain the blaze.