Look at the bright side: as an undeniable consequence, Europe will see probably more localized games, bundles, deals. Nintendo works better when they are on pressure. Mark my words.

I think it is more to do with marketing. The Wii was hyped up a lot more than the Wii U. Nintendo got very lazy when trying to build up the system. Calling it the Wii U is a clear enough statement in saying "You have the Wii, now here's the next level of Wii. If you lived in Japan or America you would be able to know more about it." They didn't try to sell people on it like they did with the Wii.

I should also note that Wii U is going to be far less viral than Wii. The reason being that there were lots of Wii parties with various games, but Nintendo hasn't really released a game that has players aside from the system owner getting a chance to use the new controller. If there were 4 Wii U Gamepad's and they were the right price, and backed with the right software to show off multiplayer, then it would be a hit.

I agree, Wii is pretty much anomaly when it comes to Nintendo consoles and Europe - it attracted lot of non-gamers, but if we look at other Nintendo's home consoles, NA vs Europe ratio is usually some 2.5-3.

From the little I saw around, I tend to agree with you: stores I visited didn't even bother keeping demo units working, there was only a demo PS3 fully working, with a good screen, a salesperson attending to it and a game installed, Book of Spells, and for this miserable little showing to represent the whole gaming world I saw only ONE person interested, a toddler less than 3 years old, that randomly shaking the PS Dildo was nevertheless advancing in the game and beating it... That game must be utterly hardcore!   

Edit:

PS: and on TV here they advertise (so massively to become annoying) only 3DS and Prof. Layton, in an appalling ad that makes Penelope Cruz look lunatic and the game meh.

Firstly, the economic situation. Secondly, dire marketing by Nintendo has confused people as to what the Wii U is - is it a new pad? Thirdly, it's a confused console. Is it taking on consoles or tablets? Is it next-gen or current-gen?

I live in Europe, and i'm seeing a lot more of Wii U advertisements at the moment. Before It's launch, i barely saw any.
It seems Nintendo is turning on the marketing machine in Europe in response to moderate sales.

First off, the fact that you think assumption need to be made is part of the problem.  See rule 8.

You posted something that can be eaisly seen as trolling with no context to infer with. 

I'm warning you to save you the moderation.  You should know better then to flamebait via vagueness.

Wii u is doing like nintendo consoles usually do in europe. It will not be a success like wii was here.

I can't speak of all European countries, but there was little to no marketing in the UK (I live around London). Normally when a game or console comes out there are numerous ads on billboards and in the underground, but I saw absolutely nothing for Wii U. Even the PS3 has a stronger marketing campaign here. Maybe Nintendo didn't push marketing so as not to create overwhelming demand they can't meet.

Holy sh!t, is that true!?

If the Master System really outsold the NES, then yeah, Europe hates Nintendo confirmed.