Europe is a significant part of the largest continent of Eurasia, which is located in the west. In the south it is separated from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea, and in the East from Asia by the Ural Range, the Emboy River and the Caspian Sea. It is located on an area of about 10 million square kilometers. This is an important geopolitical region. The list of European countries includes completely independent states, as well as unrecognized republics and controlled territories with a special political status - they are subject to the laws of the European protectorate. Some states, being in Asia, economically and culturally gravitate towards Europe.
Territorial division of the region
All states of Europe, according to their location, are divided into western, eastern, northern and southern. There are 65 subjects in this region: 19 European countries do not have a sea border and are located in the interior of the continent, 32 states are located on the coast of oceans and seas, and 14 are located on islands close to the European continent.
Northern Europe
The list of European countries located in the north of the continent is as follows: Finland, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Iceland, Denmark. Norway and Iceland are not members of the EU as of the end of 2017. Iceland has just joined the European Economic Area and is taking steps towards further integration. Unlike her, Norway, as a country with a strong economy and strong social policy, refuses to go towards the bloc. In pursuit of the goal of further economic growth and the preservation of the achievements of the nation, Norway is trying to develop away from the political bloc and have its own commodity currency. Although in Norway, both the US dollar and the euro are in free circulation along with the Norwegian krone.
Western Europe
The list of European countries that are located in the west of the continent includes the following states: Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Luxembourg, Ireland, Great Britain, Belgium, Austria and Germany. These countries are characterized by a high level of economic development, such as Germany, Switzerland, France, Great Britain. On the territory of Western Europe, there is also a geopolitical association, which is an intergovernmental organization of the Benelux. It includes Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - very similar states that are part of the European Union.
Some listed countries other than Switzerland and England areEU members. The latter in 2016 expressed a desire to leave it. De facto, the UK remains a member of the EU, as the procedure for its exit has not yet taken place. Despite the will of the people of England, the results of the referendum can still be revised. Switzerland, even because of the national idea of neutrality, refused to join any political blocs, which is largely due to the high level of well-being.
Southern Europe
In the south of Europe there are mostly small states. These are Montenegro, Croatia, Greece, Serbia, Slovenia, Macedonia, M alta, Andorra, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal, San Marino, Vatican, Serbia. Larger states located in the south of the continent should also be added to this list of European countries. These are Italy and Spain. These are countries with a European culture, but different in economic development. The leaders of the region are: Spain, Italy, Greece and Croatia.
The economic situation of other states is relatively low. But, for example, the Vatican, M alta and San Marino should not be included in this rating. For the Vatican, the economy is not at all of decisive importance, and in the dwarf state of San Marino, the tourism industry is quite successful, due to which the country ensures a high level of its own well-being. M alta cannot be considered as a developed economy, but it is firmly held by cooperation with England and the expensive procedure for obtaining citizenship for a private investor. All countries of southern Europe, listwhich are listed above, are distinguished by an interesting centuries-old history.
Eastern Europe
The list of European countries located in the east is relatively small. These are medium and large states by European and world standards, although among them there are countries that are small in area. The list consists of the following states: Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Russia, Moldova and Belarus. The 4 states at the end of the list are not included in the EU. Belarus is the only state that does not have membership in the Council of Europe.
The position of Belarus in Europe resembles that of the unrecognized republics. In Europe, these are the Donetsk People's Republic, the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, the Lugansk People's Republic, and the Republic of Kosovo. The countries of Western Europe (the list is located above), as well as the UN member states, have not yet recognized their right to independence, and therefore their existence is legal only from the point of view of their own constitutions.
Dependent and disputed territories of Europe
The list of dependent territories should include the Aland Islands, Guernsey, Jersey, Gibr altar, Faroe, Isle of Man, Svalbard. The Åland Islands are dependent on Finland and represent a monolingual autonomy within this state on a demilitarized territory. Maine, Guernsey and Jersey are islands belonging to Great Britain, her crown possessions. Gibr altar is also a British dependency, although Spain also claims it.
The Faroe Islands is an autonomous region of Denmark, which independentlyresolves its state issues. But Denmark provides their police, justice and money circulation. Svalbard is a demilitarized zone that belongs to Norway. However, only Russia can carry out economic activities on it due to the special status of the archipelago.
These dependent countries of northern Europe, the list of which includes Svalbard and the Faroe Islands, are economically inferior and, one way or another, depend on their protectorates. Also, Turkey, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Cyprus are often included in the states of Europe, but this is due to discrepancies in the interpretation of the borders of the continent and differences in mentality.
