SECONDARY SECTOR
Industry was born in Europe two centuries ago and had massive effects on politics, culture and society. The
Industrial Revolution started at the end of the 18th century in the United Kingdom, where the Scottish
instrument maker James Watt invented the steam engine. In the 19th century, industrialisation spread
throughout Western Europe and the US.
Central-western Europe is still the most
industrialised area of our continent. The
principal manufacturing zone extends from
west to east, from Britain through northeastern France, Belgium, Germany, to Silesia ( a
region of Central Europe now located mostly
in Poland). Other important industrial areas are
found in Switzerland and Northern Italy.
Industry in Western Europe
The UK was the first country in the world to become highly industrialised, but lost its international
industrial leadership in the 20th century. However, the industrial structure of the UK is considered
important, thanks to new high-tech industries.
Iron and steel manufacturing is concentrated in the Rhine—Ruhr Valley
because this area is near to large coalfields and because the Rhine provides
easy transportation. Rotterdam is at the mouth of Europe’s most important
river; this has made it one of the world’s largest ports.
Modern industrial progress in Northern Italy started in the 19th century
because of a large workforce and cheap hydroelectricity. Factories developed
especially in the so called “industrial triangle” between Milan, Turin and Genoa.
Industry in Eastern Europe
Apart from Silesia, rich in coal and minerals, the main industrial regions in Eastern Europe are located
around Moscow and St. Petersburg, along the Volga, in the Donets Basin (in Ukraine and Russia) and
around the Urals. These mountains are rich in iron and other minerals; there are also oil fields nearby.
The region around the Volga has the advantage of being not so far from the Urals’ resources and connected
to Russia’s major inland waterway, which also provides hydroelectric power.
The Donets Basin has large coal and mineral reserves, so it was one of the first industrialised areas in
Eastern Europe. Industrialisation, however, has caused high levels of pollution in the Donets river.
Main industry sectors and problems
The most important industry sectors in Europe are automotive, aerospace, chemical and pharmaceutical,
biotechnology, electrical and mechanical engineering and the food industry.
The European Union is the world’s largest producer of motor vehicles; automotive factories are widespread
above all in Germany, France and Italy. France and the UK are the leaders in the aerospace industry, which
is the second most important in the world (after NASA). Germany, France and the UK are also leaders in the
chemical sector.
In spite of its important role in the world’s economy, industry in Western Europe has suffered from some
problems in the last decades: manufacturing has become less important and jobs are being moved to
regions with cheaper labour costs (mainly China, India and Eastern Europe). Another problem is the energy
dependency of the European Union, because most countries can’t cover their energy needs with their
internal resources.
Glossary
Automotive (industry): industria automobilistica
Cheaper labour costs: costi di lavoro più convenienti
Decade: decennio
Engineering: ingegneria
Nearby: nelle vicinanze
Steam engine: macchina a vapore
Steel: acciaio
To spread: diffondersi
Widespread: diffuso
Workforce: forza lavoro
Questions:
1) Which are the main industrial areas in Western Europe? And in Eastern Europe?
2) Which are the most important industries in Europe?
3) Which problems affects industry in Western Europe?