Europeans also have their own particular way of giving the market economy a social face. This was apparent not least during the crisis. It seems to me that the social market economy, which the Germans are so proud of, was also embraced by the other countries a long time ago.
The former EU-15 countries are not only the most important trading partners for the new Members States but also account for three quarters of their total FDI stock. This is particularly true for the banking sector, in which foreign-owned banks have gained an average market share of around 70%. I expect the very positive dynamics in Central and Eastern Europe to continue.