 The Netherlands performs well |
Business leaders in the East Midlands are aiming to make the region a member of Europe's top 20 by the year 2010. The "premier league" of regions is based on criteria in areas such as income, employment, equality and environment.
The East Midlands currently sits at number 35 on the list of 77 regions for which Eurostat collects data.
East Midlands Development Agency chief executive Martin Briggs says: "My own view is that it's going to be tough to get to that (top 20) level."
Here is the latest top 20:
 Hamburg is number four on the list |
1. Zuid-Nederland, Netherlands 2. Aland, Finland
3. Emilia-Romagna, Italy
4. Hamburg, Germany
5. Lombardia, Italy
6. Denmark (*)
7. Westosterreich, Austria
 The south-east is the UK's best |
8. Bremen, Germany
9. Nord Est, Italy
10. Oost-Nederland, Netherlands
11. Luxembourg (*)
12. West-Nederland, Netherlands
13. Ostosterreich, Austria
14. South East, UK
 Sweden scrapes into the top 20 |
15. Nord Ovest, Italy
16. Ireland (*)
17. East of England, UK
18. Bayern, Germany
19. London, UK
20. Sweden (*)
(*) denotes entire countries classed as regions
Where the East Midlands ranks in specific areas:
TOP FLIGHT At least Leicester City is back in the Premier League |
Income: 40th
Unemployment: 19th
Employment: 8th
Equality: 43rd
Environment: 49th
Overall: 35th
Source: East Midlands Development Agency's Destination 2010 strategy published in March 2003
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