Economic activity in the European Union saw stronger than expected growth during the first half of the year, according to statements by European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis on Friday. Dombrovskis confirmed that the European Union is steadily moving towards achieving growth higher than the previous estimates of 1.1% in 2025.
Dombrovskis explained that the EU expects economic growth to exceed initial estimates thanks to the strong performance of several sectors, along with the continued resilience of the labor market. He added that the EU has benefited from an improved consumption environment supported by rising wages and declining inflation, which has bolstered domestic demand.
At the same time, the European Commissioner warned that the EU may face a slowdown in growth in 2026 due to various opposing factors. These factors include a slowdown in global trade growth, increased economic uncertainty, as well as geopolitical disruptions that loom over global markets.
Dombrovskis emphasized that despite these challenges, the EU still maintains strong economic fundamentals, explaining that the labor market in the EU continues to show clear resilience, with unemployment rates continuing to decline relatively.
He also confirmed that the EU relies on the strength of the labor market and rising wages to support local consumption, which represents a key foundation for maintaining stable growth. He noted that the EU will continue to focus on enhancing competitiveness and addressing geopolitical challenges to ensure the continuity of economic recovery.
Thus, the European Union remains in a better position than expected to achieve sustainable growth next year, despite the potential challenges that may arise in 2026.
