A bit off-topic, which wire size and circuit breaker rating should one typically expect in an European home, for example for a branch line feeding CEE 7/3 (Schuko) 16A socket? I think something like 3x1.5mm2 NYM cable and C16 breaker, but not 100% sure.

Here for wiring inside walls on a B16 you need to use 2.5mm^2. And B16 is maximum allowed for wall sockets.
1.5mm^2 is allowed only on power cords in free air.

C16 would require at least 4mm^2, but that is at this moment my guess (did not check the characteristics).
The "B" characteristic is the only directly rated for wiring protection here, "C" or "D" could be used only if derated so their characteristic is within the envelope of the formally rated "B" protection. So if I remember well, with C it means 1 rating step down (so a C20 could be used instead for wiring formally rated for B16), D is 2 steps down (so D6 with a B16 rated wiring). But not 100% sure now if this derating is correct, you need to check the characteristics.
This replacement makes sense only if you intend to protect other things than just the wiring (like a transformer, ballast or a motor or so) by that lower current rating.

B10 would be the maximum breaker for 1.5mm^2.

Medved, thanks!

From your reply and from some googling I got the idea that in Europe it is mostly common to feed schuko style CEE receptacles with 1.5 mm2 wire and have 10A breakers. Some circuits for kitchen for example where higher load is expected are wired with 2.5mm2 and 16A breaker. In Europe B-type breakers are preferred, and for some reason, here in ex-USSR, C-types are used everywhere. Also, when money is not the reason, people tend to choose 2.5mm2 cable, although in many places this is an overkill, and thick wire is hard to mount.

If I remember right C and B type breakers have different required short circuit current that the wiring has to be able to deliver to ensure required cut out time. So if the cables are long or short circuit current is otherwise too low one might havento use B type.

Yes, the practical difference between most B vs C designs is the different settings of the electromagnetic trigger mechanism. But many have also differences in the thermal trigger (C has extra thermal mass attached to it). The D is so much slower vs B, it always has the extra mass on the thermal trigger (and even higher threshold for the electromagnet).
But what matters is the overall current vs time envelope. The upper limits are imposed to what the protected thing can handle, the lower by what the load needs during normal operation to not trip it. The area between is the space for tolerances and mismatch between ideal characteristics vs how real mechanisms perform.
Yes, better breakers have "the area between" smaller (usually because of tighter manufacturing tolerances and faster contact mechanism, leaving more time space before the trigger has to trip), so allow higher load current spikes so suffer less from nuisance tripping, yet stay safe for the protected things.


Short vs long cables is not the only limitation.
The thing is (the philosophy what the standadr here is based on) you can attempt to draw any current with any time profileyou wish yet still the breaker should not allow the wire to overheat. Really no limitation, anything from open load and short circuit. If it would overheat the wire, the breaker should disconnect it in time to protect the wire.
So includes if you draw current for a time just a hair below where the breaker would trip (that includes currents many times the breaker nominal current rating) and then have a hard short circuit (so practically a current corresponding to the the rated current breaking capacity flowing over the time the mechanism needs to really break it after it got triggered), the wires still shall stay within safe temperature limits.
So even theshorter wire may overheat when you draw current limited by something else than the long cable length. It uses to be the case when e.g. motors or transformers are failing: As the insulation breakdown progresses (when the motor itself is practically already burned - assume the equipment is made so it by itself is still safe in that condition), the current increases gradually (even when we are talking about time frime like a a second or so) and ends up as a hard short.

The B characteristics was designed exactly to match the profile the wires can tolerate (with the margin for a hard short circuit at the end of the load current profile), so practically allows you (within the limits of the window for the attainable tolerances) the highest currents the wire can safely handle for the given wire size (16A for 2.5mm^2 in a wall or conduit). C breaker (the same nominal current) may allow higher inrush, but it leaves no margin for e.g. a short circuit just at the end of the inrush limit, the B restricts the inrush current so the wire still has enough temperature margin for the extra heat surge the short circuit event imposes.