The precise figure is €17.9 trillion for 2024, not exactly €18 trillion. However, the €18 trillion figure represents standard rounding (0.56% difference) and is commonly used in public discourse.
The source is Eurostat, the official statistical office of the European Union.
The most recent complete annual data available before the claim date (February 2026) was for the year 2024.
Sources
PrimaryEurostat - National accounts and GDPIn 2024, GDP in the EU was 17.9 trillion PPS (17,900 billion PPS), where 1 PPS equals 1 euro for the EU