After 18 years in recession , the eurozone finally experienced some much needed stability . Things are looking up but it depends where you are in Europe , and there 's little room for complacency . The challenge for Europe 's leaders will be to build upon the green shoots . Portugal , a nation whose profligacy and lack of competitiveness led to it being bailed out , grew 1.1 % while the Netherlands , famous for its fiscal prudence , shrank 0.2 % -- its fourth straight quarter of contraction . Now , the bloc 's business leaders need confidence , but that is an intangible currency .
After 18 years in recession , the eurozone finally experienced some much needed stability . Things are looking up but it depends where you are in Europe , and there 's little room for complacency . The challenge for Europe 's leaders will be to build upon the green shoots . Now , the bloc 's business leaders need confidence , but that is an intangible currency .