Europe’s Future

Five Central and Eastern European countries are enjoying an economic renaissance—expanding exports, growing GDP at rapid clips, and attracting foreign investment. William argues that investors seeking the next great European growth story need look no further than the de facto bloc of Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. … Europe has been gaining relevance in the global economy by investing in strategically indispensable sectors: defense and aerospace, energy infrastructure, semiconductors, critical minerals, batteries, AI innovation, and digital infrastructure. But retooling Europe is expensive. Can Europe pay for its new relevance without reviving its old fiscal crises? France is the first test.