If all you have is static pages and that's all your care about, the only language(s) you need is/are HTML and CSS (CSS is just the style sheets). If you don't mind going in and editing HTML to make change to stuff, that's perfect and you can learn the basics in a week or two.
If you're looking to build dynamic sites that you can update from a pretty web interface, that changes. You can either go with a CMS like PHP-Nuke or Drupal or something, or you can learn to hand code. I don't know much about CMSs....google 'free website CMS' or something and see what you can find. I hand code everything, but it's unrealistic to think you can go from no knowledge to building a fully-functional CMS in 4 months.
I guess option 3 would be to hire someone to build it for you. You can afford me, so I'm not fishing.
If you want ultimate control, I'd say go with the flat HTML site. If you want to make it editable and dynamic you can always add that later. If you just want something that works, find a CMS.
As for hosts, there are plenty. If you go with a CMS, make sure the host supports the language... typically it's either .net or php and a single host rarely supports both. Check reviews. I'm with Powweb... it's based in California I think, but there are plenty of Europeans that are hosted there. It's ok...I guess you'd know...occasionally slow, usually fine. If you're marketing to Europe exclusively it may make more sense to get a host that's more local.
Whatever you choose, make sure you clearly design your site from teh get go. Designing a website is not something you can just do as you go along. Sketch it out on paper, build a mockup in photoshop, whatever, just make sure you know exactly what your layout and colors are going to be.
