No nation has won either the men's or women's titles outside of the two countries since 2016, when Russia claimed the women's gold.

A men's winner from elsewhere dates all the way back to 2013 when Switzerland stood atop of the podium.

On the women's side at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Scotland - competing as Britain - and Sweden were the top two European nations, while both countries met in the men's final too.

The most prominent change can be felt on the women's side with the absence of Eve Muirhead's rink.

Muirhead was a perennial figure on the international circuit since she was a teenager and called time on her career at the young age of 32 after claiming the Olympic title.

She was joined by team-mates Vicky Wright and alternate Mili Smith, who had called time on their careers too.

This means Scotland has a new skip hoping to replicate the success of one of the sport's greats.

Rebecca Morrison competed at the 2022 World Women's Curling Championship, but her team was forced to withdraw in the early stages of the round-robin due to four players testing positive for COVID-19, meaning this will be the first chance to really see the team in a Championship.

Muirhead's retirement means her long-time friend and rival Anna Hasselborg has a strong chance of winning her third European title in her absence, on home ice.

Hasselborg, who won the 2018 Olympic title, was on the losing end of a dramatic semi-final against Muirhead in Beijing, regarded as a modern classic.

Now, her likely challenges will come from Silvana Tirinzoni's Switzerland - who has won the last three world titles - as well as mixed doubles Olympic champion Stefania Constantini and her improving Italian rink.

Tirinzoni's team is boosted by Alina Pätz, who has won five world titles in total, dating back to 2012.

Bruce Mouat's Scotland are the reigning men's champions from 2021, having defeated Niklas Edin's Sweden in that final.

Edin got revenge in the Olympic final to win the elusive gold medal from his bulky collection, however, the Swedish skip is set to miss out after sustaining a knee injury recently, meaning third and vice-skip Oskar Eriksson has been given a promotion to the top spot for the next few months.

Eriksson is an accomplished all-rounder, having been as much integral to Sweden's success as Edin over the years, and has even picked up a world title and Olympic bronze as a mixed doubles player.

The rest of the team remains unchanged, with alternate Daniel Magnusson now acting as the second for the team, while Simon Olofsson comes in as the new alternate.

Mouat has won two of the past three European titles.

Switzerland has often been the third team in the mix, but has a new skip this year following the retirement of Peter de Cruz.

Yannick Schwaller comes in as the new skip, aided by Benoît Schwarz, regarded as one the best players at the 2018 Olympic tournament.

Joël Retornaz's Italy come off the back of a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championship and a bronze at the European Championships last year, while Norway and Germany will be fancied for the podium too.

Turkey is set to make its men's Division A debut this year, while Spain features in the tournament for the first time since 2008.

Hungary and Spain replaced the suspended Russian team in the women's and men's competition respectively.