Having lived in Europe (Portugal to be exact) for the past two years, I've become increasingly fascinated with the many cultural differences that exist between country in Europe. If you are looking to do business in Europe, I can't stress enough the importance of cultural awareness in order to be successful. Europe isn't just one country with a uniform culture - although each country is geographically close to each other, each one has its own distinct culture. Remember that age-old saying "When in Rome, do as the Romans do", it is wise to take that advise and familiarize yourself with some basics of the country where you intend to do business.
With this article, I intend to highlight the differences between business cultures in the following countries: France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom. For each country, I will specify how people greet one another, the corporate culture, how to dress, what they think about gifts, and some general tips for each specific country.