The IMF flagged weak growth and sticky inflation for Europe in a week when cost-of-living protests turned violent in France and Ukraine asked for more money.
The fear is, they may only be representing a much wider spread phenomena.
The IMF projected Europe’s economy to grow 1.5% in 2026 and 1.6% in 2027, held back by high energy costs, trade barriers and weak productivity.
Among major economies, Germany is expected to grow 1.3% in 2026, Spain 2.5%, Italy 0.8% and France only 0.4%.
Tens of thousands protested across France over rising prices, with more than 150 arrests. Zelenskyy asked for at least €70 billion in additional European aid for 2027 on 16 October.