The European, billed as "Europe's first national newspaper", was a British weekly newspaper founded by Robert Maxwell. It was published from 11 May 1990 until December 1998. History Maxwell founded the paper in the fervour which immediately followed the destruction of the Berlin Wall and collapse of the Iron Curtain: the name was a reflection of the feelings of pan-European unity which were brought on by the historic changes, an ideal which Maxwell wholeheartedly supported. According to Time magazine, Maxwell originally envisaged a daily with a circulation of 650,000, but by the launch date plans had been cut down to a more realistic weekly with a circulation of 225,000. In the event, the circulation peaked at 180,000, over half of which was British. Following Maxwell's death, the Barclay brothers bought the newspaper in 1992, investing an estimated $110 million and in 1996 transforming it into a high-end tabloid format oriented at the business community edited by Andrew Neil. In 1996, The European had a staff of 70 in London, 3 in Brussels, 1 in Paris, 1 in Berlin, 1 in Moscow, as well as a network of 100 freelance writers throughout Europe. Among the newspaper's innovations was a weekly short fiction contribution from published and previously unpublished writers. The New European (a pro-EU newspaper founded in 2016 following the Brexit referendum) is partially inspired by The European's experience. Editors 1990: Ian Watson 1991: John Bryant 1992: Charles Garside 1993: Herbert Pearson 1994: Charles Garside 1996: Andrew Neil 1998: Gerry Malone Contributors (partial list) Nigel Cox Jean Cavé Bronwyn Cosgrave Jean Schalit Roger Faligot Peter Millar Jane Mulvagh Stephanie Theobald Peter Ustinov Mark Porter Walter Ellis Anne-Elisabeth Moutet Tim Walker, later to work on The New European Teodor Troev, later a Financial Times contributor References Further reading Robert Maxwell's The European, Magforum.com See also The New European 1990 establishments in the United Kingdom 1998 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Publications established in 1990 Publications disestablished in 1998 1992 mergers and acquisitions Defunct newspapers published in the United Kingdom Defunct weekly newspapers Weekly newspapers published in the United Kingdom David and Frederick Barclay