With an area of about 10.16 million square kilometres, Europe has 45 countries and regions. It is one of the continents with the most developed economy, the most sophisticated science and technology, and the most advanced education in the world. Most of developed countries are in Europe. Besides, it enjoys the most diverse languages, with over 30 official languages. It is divided geographically into five parts: northern Europe, southern Europe, western Europe, central Europe and eastern Europe.

With an area of about 1.32 million square kilometres, northern Europe includes Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, etc.

Covering an area of about 1.66 million square kilometres, southern Europe consists of Greece, Italy, Vatican, San Marino, Malta, Spain, Portugal, etc.

Western Europe refers to those regions and islands close the Atlantic in the west of Europe, including UK, Ireland, Netherland, Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Morocco, etc. The area is about 930 thousand square kilometres.

Central Europe refers to those regions in the heart of Europe, to the south of the Baltic Sea and to the north of the Alps Mountain. It composes Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Hungary, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, etc. The area is about 1.01 million square kilometres.

Eastern Europe refers to those in the east of Europe. Geographically it includes Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, White Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Russia and the west of Kazakhstan.

    Cross-border M&As drive an FDI rebound in Europe. Regaining much of the ground lost during the three preceding years, inflows to Europe rose to $504 billion, accounting for 29 per cent of global inflows. Ireland, Switzerland and the Netherlands became the three largest recipients in Europe. Inflows into the United Kingdom fell back to $40 billion but remained among the largest in Europe.

    Europe became the world’s largest investing region. FDI by MNEs in Europe shot up by 85 per cent to $576 billion, accounting for more than one third of the world total. The Netherlands became the largest investor country in Europe.

Europe is close to the Atlantic to the west and the Arctic Ocean to the north. In its south, the Mediterranean and the Straits of Gibraltar divide it from South Africa. It is connected with the Asia continent in the east. Most of its lands are plain, with tropical continental climate. The western coast in Europe is featured with marine climate.

With a temperate coniferous forest climate in most of areas in northern Europe, the coast areas along the Atlantic, as exception, belongs to the tropical broadleaved forest climate due to the influence of warm current from the North Atlantic Ocean. There are rich hydropower resources. The major minerals include iron ore, lead, zinc and copper, etc. The forest area is large. The major agricultural products include wheat, rye, oat, potato and beet. It has developed animal husbandry and diverse categories of fishes. The western coast is one of the four largest fisheries in the world. Its fishing accounts for about 9% of the world’s total.

The three peninsulas in southern Europe are of many mountains and the area of plain is limited. It is located at the volcanic belt among the Atlantic-Mediterranean-Indian Ocean. The occurrence of earthquakes is frequent. Most of the region belongs to subtropical Mediterranean climate. The small and short rivers flow into the Mediterranean. The major minerals include oil, natural asphalt, coal, chromium, mercury, lead, zinc, copper and so on. Southern Europe produces olive, grape, fennel, European cork oak, etc. The major agricultural products include wheat, corn and tobacco. It produces a large number of orange, grape, olive, lemon and cork bark. The sheep husbandry is sophisticated. Besides, Spain is famous for its merino sheep.

Western Europe covers an area of 930 thousand square kilometres. Western Europe is usually used to represent European capitalist countries. Narrowly speaking, the geography of western Europe is featured with plain and plateau, and small mountainous areas. Within the zone of westerly wind, most of western Europe is of marine temperate broadleaved forest climate. It has abundant rain and heavy fog. Many of its rivers flow into the Atlantic. The major minerals include coal, iron ore, oil, natural gas, sylvite, etc. It mainly produces wheat, barley, oat, potato, beet, grape and apple. It enjoys developed fishery and animal husbandry. It is famous for the horses, pigs and ox bred in Belgium, France, UK and Netherland.

The area of central Europe is about 1.01 million square kilometres. The Alps Mountain and its Carpathian branch are located in the south of central Europe. Within mountainous region, most are sunken basins. In its north is plain and is of glacier and lakes as the consequence of the Quaternary Glaciation. It is of the transitional climate between the marine temperate broadleaved forest climate and continental temperate broadleaved climate. The Danube River, the second largest in Europe, flows into the Black Sea. Except that, most of the rivers flow north to the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The major minerals consist of lignite, hard coal, sylvite, lead, zinc, copper, uranium, magnesite, alumyte and sulphur. It produces wheat, barley, rye, potato, beet and tropical fruits.

Eastern Europe is featured with its plain of 170 metres in height. The Ural Mountain is located at the eastern margin. There are many mountains and glaciers in the plain, and a lot of lakes in the north. The area of grassland and desert in the southeast is large. The north is of frigid tundra climate and the south temperate grassland climate. In the southeast, the climate is temperate desert one. The Volga River, the largest in Europe, flows southeast into the Caspian Sea. The major minerals include oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, phosphate and so on. It produces wheat, potato, beet and sunflower. It has advanced animal husbandry and is famous for its horses.

Invest: Sweden www.investsweden.se

Copenhagen Capacity www.copcap.com

invest in Iceland Agency www.invest.is

UK Trade and Investment www.ukti.gov.uk

Invest in France Agency www.investinfrance.org

Economic and Commercial Representation of Flanders, Belgium www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com

Development Authority Antwerp www.investinantwerp.be

Germany Trade and Invest www.gtai.de

NRW.INVEST Germany www.nrwinvest.com

Switzerland Trade and Investment Promotion www.locationswitzerland.com

Business Development Lucerne www.lucerne-business.ch

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation www.tpprf.ru/en/

invest IN CATALONIA www.investincatalonia.com