Hey. I know, a bit special interest and maybe not the right place for this but i was thinking about animated characters from europe as part of its cultural DNA and then startet to research them for all the countries including where to buy merch (to also support that industry). I will hopefully be able to comlete the list over time but i would be happy about help and feedback. So here is what i got so far:

European animation characters (sometimes with merch) in no particular order:

Finland - Moomins, Angry Birds adaptations: https://shop.moomin.com/collections/all

France - Asterix, TinTin, edit: + les Shadoks, OuiOui, Barbapapas, Yugo https://boutique.asterix.com/de/ https://thetintinshop.uk.com/

Belgium - lucky luke, edit: also TinTin, Spirou & Fantasio, The Smurfs, Marsupilami

Poland - Lolek and Bolek, edit: +Reksio, Koziołek matołek, Plastuś, Miś uszatek

Netherlands - Alfred j. Kwak, nijntje, edit: + Miffy: https://www.dewinkelvannijntje.nl/en/

Czech republic - krtek, edit: + Pat and Mat, Rumcajs: https://czechmovie.com/collections/little-mole-krtek?page=2 https://www.czech-stuff.com/krtek-little-mole/

Spain - Mortadelo and Filemón, Superlópez, Pocoyó, The Telerín Family

Switzerland - globi, pingu, edit: + Titeuf: https://globi.ch/ https://www.pingu-store.jp/ (can't find a european one)

Portugal - tic tac tales

Italy - calimero, edit: + Corto Maltese, mio mao, La Linea, The Seagul and the Cat/Lucky and Zorbq (La Gabbianella e il Cato), Dylan Dog

Greece - Pandora and Plato

Sweden - Bamse, petterson and findus, the little ghost laban, editv + Lippi Longstocking, Arne Anka

Norway - Elias the little rescue boat, Ella Bella Bingo

Iceland - some lazy town characters

Denmark - Rita & Crocodile, Valiant Prince Ivandoe, edit: + The Child Who Wanted to Be a Bear (Drengen der ville gøre det umulige), John Dillermand

Germany - the mouse, bernd the bread, cptn. Blaubär, edit: + the sandman, Werner, the little Asshole: https://www.logoshirt-shop.de/en/COLLECTION/The-Show-with-the-Mouse/ https://mausundmehr.com/ https://www.spreadshirt.de/shop/bernd+das+brot/

UK - wallace and gromit, paddington bear, danger mouse edit: + postman pat, rupert bear, family ness, bananaman, bob the builder, the hurricanes, thomas the tank engine, captain pugwash, Dennis the Menace (the superior one): https://wallaceandgromitvmf.shop/ https://store.paddington.com/ https://www.truffleshuffle.co.uk/cartoons/dangermouse

Ireland - puffin rock, Kiva can do, edit: + the book of kells, song of the sea, and wolfwalkers

Luxembourg - ?

Malta - ?

Cyprus - ?

Lithuania - ?

Latvia - Flow

Estonia - ?

Slovakia - ?

Slovenia - Medved Bojan

Croatia - Profesor Baltazar, Little Flying Bears (Leteći Medvjedići)

Bulgaria - The Three Fools, The Blue Eyed Moon, The Little Girl, The Cat and the Clock, Anna Blume

Serbia - ?

North macedonia - ?

Montenegro - ?

Bosnia Herzegowina - ?

Albania - Nine Years, Nine Days

Romania - ?

Moldova - The Stairway (Letnistsa)

Austria - ?

Hungary - The rabbit with checkered ears, Frakk, pom pom, Mézga family, Szaffi, King Matthias, Magyar Népmesék, Ludas Matyi

Also nice read: animationineurope.eu