Since the financial crisis, European cities in fast-developing nations — like Poland, Turkey, and Germany, even Bulgaria — have tended to generate strong job and income creation, while Athens has floundered, according to the report on European cities.
Athens is last in almost every category, while Berlin, Stocholm, Istanbul and Warsaw are the fastest growing European cities.
According to the report, cities in central Europe are emerging onto the global scene. The nexus of central European capitals (Berlin, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Warsaw) are growing rapidly, but they have not yet developed a combined growth dynamic. Polish cities, aided by purposeful national policies, are making substantial progress.
On the other end, cities to the south and east of Europe have lost much of the impetus gained in the last economic cycle, and are experiencing the negative effects that globalisation can bring.
Here you can read the full report.