European economic integration seems to have gone backwards primarily due to the recent Brexit movement.

European economic integration seems to have gone backwards primarily due to the recent Brexit movement. Brexit, key European sovereign debt, and French and German hawkish dominance appear to interfere with European Commission public affairs against the long-term trend of economic integration. As a primary basis of Eurozone economic harmonization, the single market seems to fail to remove most E.U. barriers for goods, services, people, and capital flows. The European trade bloc faces fierce competition from global rivals such as North America, Australasia, and East Asia.

As of September 2019, only 7 of the 40 largest companies are European. These 7 companies are Allianz (Germany), BNP Paribas (France), HSBC (Britain), Royal Dutch Shell (Holland), Santander (Spain), and Volkswagen (Germany). Fewer lean enterprises originate from Europe as stock market investors and venture capitalists witness a generic decline in the European entrepreneurial spirit in recent times. If Europe attempts to rebuild world-class corporations in order to enhance broader economic prospects, the European Union not only has to reinvigorate the single market, but the E.U. should also rediscover the original vision of greater unity and harmony within the post-war trade bloc. This regional enhancement entails fewer trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas, and even embargoes.