![Firefox Leaps Ahead of IE in Europe [REPORT]](https://helios-i.mashable.com/imagery/archives/03IvEpItxhMP4FkgkNzmKh1/hero-image.fill.size_1248x702.v1647019421.jpg)
Having overtaken Microsoft's Internet Explorer for the first time, Firefox is currently the number one browser in Europe, according to StatCounter. Firefox has 38.11% of the European market share, while IE is in the second place with 37.52%.
Firefox didn't experience tremendous growth, however; it merely stood its ground while Google Chrome took the market share away from IE. "This appears to be happening because Google's Chrome is stealing share from Internet Explorer while Firefox is mainly maintaining its existing share," says StatCounter CEO Aodhan Cullen.
Google Chrome has experienced tremendous growth in Europe in 2010, having jumped to 14.58% market share, compared to just 5.06% in December last year.
In early 2010, the European Commission made Microsoft implement a browser choice screen into Windows, which lets users choose between several major browsers, including IE, Firefox, Chrome and Opera. The browser "ballot" surely contributed to IE's diminishing market share; Opera even reported a big increase in downloads after it was implemented.