PARIS — Europe slipped deeper into a widespread recession, according to data released Wednesday. But when European heads of state meet next week in Brussels, no big announcements about plans to stimulate growth are expected.

As the euro zone economy shrank in the first three months of the year — a record sixth consecutive quarter — economists say the region seems to be in policy paralysis.

With Germany, the Continent’s economic heavyweight, in the grip of pre-election politicking, no big European policy moves are likely until after that country’s elections in September. Even then, it is not clear that anyone has any master strokes planned.

“We don’t see policy makers lifting a finger anywhere in Europe,” Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics in Valhalla, N.Y., said Wednesday. “But this is a depression, rather than a cyclical downturn, and there must be a policy response if things are going to get better.”