International companies maintain a positive perception of the attractiveness of the European market, where Spain consolidates itself as one of the preferred destinations for channeling foreign capital, according to a report by Deutsche Bank.
Specifically, the survey "Deutsche Bank Global Sentiment Survey on Europe 2026," based on the responses of 1,200 senior executives from 13 non-European markets that already operate or plan to operate in the region, concludes that more than a third of the participants (35%) point to the "Old Continent" as the most attractive area on the planet for their business activity. Europe ranks ahead of Asia-Pacific –excluding China– (24%), North America (19%), the Middle East (10%), China (6%), and Latin America (5%).
Within this context, Spain (20%) appears among the five most valued European destinations for future investment decisions, in a group that also includes Italy (20%) and the Netherlands (22%), and only behind Germany (56%), the United Kingdom (47%), and France (35%).
"The results reflect that Europe is once again perceived as a region capable of combining stability with opportunities for growth and innovation. Spain is part of this trend and has attributes that make it an attractive market for international investors," highlighted in this regard the CEO of Deutsche Bank Spain, Íñigo Martos.
Although Germany, the United Kingdom, and France continue to occupy the top positions in the preferences of the consulted executives, the document emphasizes the strength of Spain's position by frequently appearing among the countries where multinationals are already present or project to increase their capital exposure.
GROWTH, INNOVATION, AND TALENT AS DIFFERENTIAL VALUES
Regarding the reasons that explain investor interest in Europe, the study by the financial entity points out that the view of the region goes beyond the classic legal and institutional security. Thus, 74% of the surveyed executives emphasize the growth opportunities that the European market offers, while 71% highlight its capacity for innovation, with a special emphasis on the integration of artificial intelligence. In turn, another 71% perceive the continent as a resilient economy in the face of global geopolitical challenges.
According to the report, 61% of the surveyed companies already have investments in Europe and intend to intensify their activity in the next five years. Conversely, only 6% of the companies currently present in the region do not contemplate new expansion projects for now.
At the same time, 33% of the respondents still do not operate in the "Old Continent," but are actively preparing or analyzing their entry into the European market for the first time in the next five years.
Above the rest of the economies, Germany consolidates as the market with the greatest attractiveness for growth in the region, thanks to its infrastructure and logistics network, its commitment to innovation and artificial intelligence, its industrial strength, the qualification of its workforce, and its potential for expansion and scalability, as detailed in the study.
Despite the good prospects for the community bloc, the report also identifies obstacles that may hinder its progress. For 43% of executives, cross-border frictions significantly diminish Europe's attractiveness, while 42% believe they have some impact and the remaining 15% estimate that their effect is limited or nonexistent.
Likewise, although growth and innovation are generally perceived as strengths, the analysis detects four areas in which less than half of the respondents believe that Europe has an advantage over other areas of the world: labor cost competitiveness (42%), the tax framework (44%), and, with 47% in each case, energy cost competitiveness and the agility of authorization and permit granting processes.
"Executives see Europe as an attractive investment destination, a growing market, and a hub of innovation. At the same time, it still has ground to recover in terms of competitiveness and conditions for doing business. That is why decisive reforms are now necessary to drive greater growth and attract more investment," concluded the member of the Board of Directors of Deutsche Bank, Alexander von zur Muehlen.