Let me preface this by saying I was born and raised in Europe, though I no longer live there. I work in finance and quant-related roles, so the economy and stock market are part of my daily life.

Over the past few years, starting just before COVID and around the time Apple was approaching a one trillion dollar market cap, I began thinking more seriously about Europe’s position in the global order. The more I look into it, the more I believe the continent is in a slow, long-term decline, both economically and politically. I genuinely do not see a positive outcome ahead, and I am hoping to hear from others in case I am being overly pessimistic.

The United States completely dominates the tech sector. Almost every significant innovation in recent years, whether in AI, semiconductors, platforms, or software, has come from American companies. The entire digital infrastructure that powers the global economy is essentially American-owned. Europe does not have anything comparable. No companies like Google or Microsoft. No AI leaders like OpenAI. No chip giants like Nvidia. No major presence in social media or digital advertising. Even when Europe tries to lead with regulation through GDPR or the Digital Markets Act, it often feels more reactive than strategic. These tools also get used against Europe in trade disputes or as a reason for others to avoid doing business there.

China, meanwhile, has fully established itself as the world’s manufacturing powerhouse. It produces more efficiently, at lower cost, and increasingly at higher quality. It is pouring resources into AI, green technology, semiconductors, and military development. At the same time, it is expanding its geopolitical influence through cooperation with Russia and building leverage in key global supply chains. Europe is becoming less relevant in this equation.

So where does that leave Europe?

The continent has an aging population, sluggish economic growth, and political fragmentation. It depends on the United States for security and technology, and on external partners for energy and manufacturing. Capital markets are not integrated, and there is no indication that will change anytime soon. Europeans also have a habit of putting their money in savings accounts rather than directing it toward productive investment. This leaves the region with very limited access to growth capital.

To summarize:

• Europeans often seem more distrustful of each other than they are of external powers. There is little cultural cohesion and language barriers remain significant.

• The demographic crisis, combined with expensive social safety nets, makes long-term investment difficult.

• High levels of immigration are contributing to political instability, and many immigrants lack the skills needed to strengthen the economy.

• Europe lacks control over its own defense and remains dependent on NATO and the United States.

• It has almost no presence in global tech, and what little there is tends to be acquired or outcompeted by US firms.

• Manufacturing has been fully overtaken by China, leaving Europe with shrinking industrial leverage.

The more I think through these points, the more it seems like Europe is a continent that currently enjoys a standard of living it cannot maintain. I expect that in the coming decades, we will see a slow but significant drop in Europe’s relative wealth and influence compared to the United States and China.

What am I missing? Is there a realistic path forward that Europe could take, or is this decline already locked in?

Recently I asked about the USA now it’s turn to Europe. If you lives/has lived in Europe, what disappointed you the most?

With the meeting orchestrated by Macron in Paris, we have once again witnessed Europe's impotence. A summit that was supposed to mark a turning point, a moment of decision to reaffirm Europe's role in the world, but instead turned into yet another display of division, indecision, and empty statements. While other global players move with determination, we remain stuck in a limbo of meaningless words and political timidity.

Meanwhile, the few countries that have shown courage and determination—such as the Baltic nations and other smaller states—have been sidelined, ignored, and excluded from major decisions. The message we are sending to the world is clear: Europe is not united, Europe is incapable of defending its own interests, Europe is a laughingstock. We are digging our own grave, and no one seems willing to stop this descent into irrelevance.

We have entered a new "century of humiliation," where our foreign policy consists of inconclusive meetings and decisions driven by fear. European leadership does nothing more than manage decline—without vision, without a plan, without the will to face the challenges our time demands. The rest of the world will not wait for us; it has already acknowledged our growing insignificance.

If Europe were a true Union—cohesive, strong, and determined—the deployment of European military forces in Ukraine would be a real option to protect our Eastern brothers, proving that Europe is capable of defending its values and its allies. But without a clear vision of what the Union should be, every summit, every meeting, every political statement is meaningless. We have allowed ourselves to be dragged into a spiral of hesitation and compromise, and in doing so, we have betrayed Ukraine and all those who relied on us.

Now we stand idly by as the fate of our continent is decided elsewhere—in a sort of Yalta 2.0, taking place in negotiations in Arabia, where other actors, with interests very different from ours, will set the new geopolitical balance. Europe is not at the negotiating table—not because it isn’t involved, but because it has willingly relinquished its ability to matter. The dream of a sovereign Europe, capable of acting with strength and unity, seems more distant than ever.

I, as a committed Europeanist, am completely disillusioned. But at the same time, I refuse to passively watch this disaster unfold. We cannot wait for a savior from above—because if there ever was a man who could make a difference (his name was Mario Draghi), we traded him away for von der Leyen’s second term. If we truly want change, we must stop waiting and start building a grassroots movement to reform the Union. Because the way things are now, we simply cannot go on.

I am Australian, although have spent most of my life living in NZ. I feel the two are similar in the sense that kind gestures are daily occurrences that we barely think about. For example, when you pass someone in the street you say hello or smile. Or holding doors open even the other person is miles away. Or thanking drivers by giving a wave.
It made me think, even personally in my own everyday work life, I go so above and beyond with my customer service to make people have a pleasant experience/day - this might including smiling often, apologising even if it wasn’t my fault. etc.

I’m currently traveling through parts of Europe, and I’m finding some everyday interactions difficult to adjust to. I’m genuinely curious whether this is cultural difference or something I should change on my end. A few examples: In Austria I was exiting a hotel and had just lugged my 30kg suitcase down 3 flights of stairs. When I was exiting the hotel I held the door open with my foot while waiting for someone else to enter and at the same time I took off my jumper because I was so hot from the stairs. A woman inside the hotel reception asked me (in German, which I didn’t understand because I only speak English) to close the door because she was cold.The door was open for max. 20 seconds. It caught me off guard.

On a Westbahn train in Germany, a staff member seemed annoyed and rolled her eyes when asking whether we had asked someone to move from our reserved seats.

In busy areas, people often don’t move aside or apologise when bumping into you. Whereas, for me, even the smallest nudge into someone in a large crowd & I am saying sorry!

My partner picked up €5 that someone dropped, and the person took it without saying thank you. We were both shocked.

In a narrow corridor of a restaurant, both my partner and I moved out of the way to let a large family through first, I was smiling as they were walking by, trying to make eye contact with someone. Not one person looked at us and said thank you.

During any overseas trips, because we are the tourists/outsiders, we have make an effort to smile, hold doors, and apologise even when we’re not at fault, but on this trip, often get no response back. Where we’re from, those small interactions are normal and make public spaces feel friendlier. Kindness is free & it goes a long way. You never know the positive impact it might have on someone’s day.

I’m not trying to insult anyone, I know every place has different norms, but I’m struggling to understand whether this is just how social interactions work here, or if tourists are viewed negatively. Would love insight from locals or experienced travelers on how to interpret this and adjust expectations.

Lastly I’d like to add that this post is not to stereotype anyone. Not every interaction has been this way. We have met some LOVELY people from all corners of the earth, and I cannot fault them.

I just returned to Canada from my first trip to Europe. We spent 10 days between London, Amsterdam, and Ghent. I am blown away from this experience. Disclaimer: I only visited 3 areas, and was only a total of 10 days, so my experiences obviously are not fully representative of these areas or Europe as a whole. But I wanted to share it.

1. In all places, but especially Amsterdam, people seemed genuinely happy to do their job, the customer service was phenomenal, and this is without the expectation of a tip. Also, this was not just in tourist areas, also off the beaten path. People were very good at their job, appeared very happy, and very easy to engage in conversation.

2. The architecture was stunning, it seemed that around every turn, small street, or big street, the designs, upkeep, and overall appearance of things seemed so unique, intentional, and calming. I was blown away at how accessible everything was. From transportation to shared community spaces, it was amazing to see spaces designed for people and not just cars. Biking culture was amazing and the thought that, the streets seemed to be designed more for walking and biking was eye opening (specifically in Amsterdam and Ghent).

3. I’m not sure how to properly word this without sounding basic, but people (again specifically in Amsterdam and Ghent) follow the rules and show respect for others. From my interactions, interpretations, and experiences, there always seemed to be an unspoken social norms that were followed by all. Again, I’m struggling to fully explain this but maybe someone will understand what I mean.

4. The food was different, not bad, but different. I found this to be mostly true for snack or junk foods. I thought many items lacked flavor that I’m used too, for example, candy tasted less sweet, and chips tasted less flavorful. I didn’t hate this because it felt that they were less processed (were they? I don’t know lol, I could be sounding completly stupid here) but I did read that a lot of additives and preservatives are banned so maybe this is why? Please correct me if I am wrong.

Again, as I said above, this was my first time visiting, and it was only 10 days. I know my post is through rose coloured glasses, and my experiences don’t fully reflect the realities of all of Europe, or even the places I visited, but these things stood out to me specifically. I’m looking forward to planning the next trip, just have to decide when and where :)

I’m someone who is sort of fixated and genuine a European supporter in terms of its institutions and what it does for us. I don’t think they are infallible but to reject it would be insanity in my view in a multipolar world.

But I see many comments saying Europe should just federalize across reddit and in the real world.

• Europe is not integrated yet culturally. If you take any nation state in Europe they first developed a national consciousness. Firstly by assuming a language as the national language. Typically their first Bible would be written in the vernacular and a national consciousness would develop in their literate, poetry and a mythification the past. There not not a true pan European identity. Not yet. Programs like Erasmus are helping.

• Economic integration is the biggest impediment. Even just for rail infrastructure between nations needs to be developed. Obviously TENT-T is underway but it should be as easy to from Italy to France as it is to go to Paris or Rome internally.

The European economy needs vast work. And the Single Market is still a massive work in progress. Capital markets for example are something that should have been properly integrated decades ago like with Wall Street but each European financial center is guarding jealously their slice of the pie (Luxembourg vs Paris vs Frankfurt or Amsterdam).

• Elites vs hoi polloi

The EU was founded primarily a project of the elites imposed from top down. I don’t mean this in a derogatory sense but it advances by incremental steps by visionary type politicians. As it’s success became evident then other nations became drawn to it. All policy making in the EU is heavily technocratic and isn’t really derived from a mandate the same way a party political program is.

My point is your would need some sort of mass aspiration across the continent some sort of catalyst evident. I don’t think another Lisbon Treaty would suffice.

Also the ECB would need to get more power equivalent to the federal reserve and redistribution/ recycling of funds would need to be expanded massively. Look at how California recycles fiscal flows to Alabama

• the euro would need to be enforced across the bloc. The EU commission would need to be beefed up as its puny as an executive body.

• Opposition to the EU is not yet normalized. Anyone who is against the EU (Orban, Le Pen) is perceived to be an existential threat. In a functioning democracy being in opposition is valid place to inhabit politically. They are leaders in waiting and hold power in check. There is a hysteria and fear and to be a conservative voice is viewed with a critical eye.

• National interest. Look at the migration crises which generated intense backlash across the bloc. Nations can feel they can undermine the pillars once they deal their rights are being infringed. Imagine if there is another migrant crisis due to war or climate change countries like Poland or France pullout. The national interest is strong.

• Democratic deficit / opacity. Brussels is seen as the place where many failed national politicians go to rehabilitate their reputations and fail upwards. There is the belief it is less accountable due to how technocratic it is and geographic distance. It is harder to hold to account due to the complexity of its institutions versus non EU institutions . just ask the common man on the street the difference between the European Court of Human Rights, ECJ, CJEU, or The Hague.

I think ultimately federalization has too many inherent risks and this unique project could collapse over it. I really get afraid when I see federalism bandied around as a sincere proposal.

I watched a YouTube video about Europe’s future in a shifting global landscape—geopolitics, economy, tech.

Can Europe stay competitive, or is it at risk of decline? Does it need deeper EU integration, or more flexibility for nations?

Curious about your thoughts!