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Yo Robot
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"total": {
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"text": "4,236,351 sq km"
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},
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"note": "<strong>rank by area (sq km):<br /></strong>1. France (includes five overseas regions) 643,801 <br />2. Spain 505,370 <br />3. Sweden 450,295 <br />4. Germany 357,022 <br />5. Finland 338,145 <br />6. Poland 312,685 <br />7. Italy 301,340<br />8. Romania 238,391 <br />9. Greece 131,957 <br />10. Bulgaria 110,879 <br />11. Hungary 93,028 <br />12. Portugal 92,090 <br />13. Austria 83,871 <br />14. Czechia 78,867 <br />15. Ireland 70,273 <br />16. Lithuania 65,300 <br />17. Latvia 64,589 <br />18. Croatia 56,594 <br />19. Slovakia 49,035 <br />20. Estonia 45,228 <br />21. Denmark 43,094 <br />22. Netherlands 41,543 <br />23. Belgium 30,528 <br />24. Slovenia 20,273 <br />25. Cyprus 9,251 <br />26. Luxembourg 2,586 <br />27. Malta 316"
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"note": "<strong>rank by area (sq km):<br></strong>1. France (includes five overseas regions) 643,801 <br>2. Spain 505,370 <br>3. Sweden 450,295 <br>4. Germany 357,022 <br>5. Finland 338,145 <br>6. Poland 312,685 <br>7. Italy 301,340<br>8. Romania 238,391 <br>9. Greece 131,957 <br>10. Bulgaria 110,879 <br>11. Hungary 93,028 <br>12. Portugal 92,090 <br>13. Austria 83,871 <br>14. Czechia 78,867 <br>15. Ireland 70,273 <br>16. Lithuania 65,300 <br>17. Latvia 64,589 <br>18. Croatia 56,594 <br>19. Slovakia 49,035 <br>20. Estonia 45,228 <br>21. Denmark 43,094 <br>22. Netherlands 41,543 <br>23. Belgium 30,528 <br>24. Slovenia 20,273 <br>25. Cyprus 9,251 <br>26. Luxembourg 2,586 <br>27. Malta 316"
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},
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"Area - comparative": {
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"text": "less than one-half the size of the US"
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},
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"People and Society": {
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"Population": {
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"text": " 450,131,902 (July 2021 est.)<br><br><span class=\"category\"><strong>rank by population:</strong> </span>\r\n<div class=\"category_data\">\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Germany - 79,903,481; </li>\r\n<li>France - 68,084,217; </li>\r\n<li>Italy - 62,390,364; </li>\r\n<li>Spain - 47,260,584; </li>\r\n<li>Poland - 38,185,913; </li>\r\n<li>Romania - 21,230,362; </li>\r\n<li>Netherlands - 17,337,403; </li>\r\n<li>Belgium - 11,778,842; </li>\r\n<li>Czechia - 10,702,596; </li>\r\n<li>Greece - 10,569,703; </li>\r\n<li>Portugal - 10,263,850; </li>\r\n<li>Sweden - 10,261,767; </li>\r\n<li>Hungary - 9,728,337; </li>\r\n<li>Austria - 8,884,864; </li>\r\n<li>Bulgaria - 6,919,180; </li>\r\n<li>Denmark - 5,894,687; </li>\r\n<li>Finland - 5,587,442; </li>\r\n<li>Slovakia - 5,436,066; </li>\r\n<li>Ireland - 5,224,884; </li>\r\n<li>Croatia - 4,208,973; </li>\r\n<li>Lithuania - 2,711,566; </li>\r\n<li>Slovenia - 2,102,106; </li>\r\n<li>Latvia - 1,862,687; </li>\r\n<li>Cyprus - 1,281,506; </li>\r\n<li>Estonia - 1,220,042; </li>\r\n<li>Luxembourg - 639,589; </li>\r\n<li>Malta - 460,891 (July 2021 est.)</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n</div>",
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"note": "<span class=\"category\"><strong>rank by population:</strong> </span>\r\n<div class=\"category_data\">\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Germany - 79,903,481; </li>\r\n<li>France - 68,084,217; </li>\r\n<li>Italy - 62,390,364; </li>\r\n<li>Spain - 47,260,584; </li>\r\n<li>Poland - 38,185,913; </li>\r\n<li>Romania - 21,230,362; </li>\r\n<li>Netherlands - 17,337,403; </li>\r\n<li>Belgium - 11,778,842; </li>\r\n<li>Czechia - 10,702,596; </li>\r\n<li>Greece - 10,569,703; </li>\r\n<li>Portugal - 10,263,850; </li>\r\n<li>Sweden - 10,261,767; </li>\r\n<li>Hungary - 9,728,337; </li>\r\n<li>Austria - 8,884,864; </li>\r\n<li>Bulgaria - 6,919,180; </li>\r\n<li>Denmark - 5,894,687; </li>\r\n<li>Finland - 5,587,442; </li>\r\n<li>Slovakia - 5,436,066; </li>\r\n<li>Ireland - 5,224,884; </li>\r\n<li>Croatia - 4,208,973; </li>\r\n<li>Lithuania - 2,711,566; </li>\r\n<li>Slovenia - 2,102,106; </li>\r\n<li>Latvia - 1,862,687; </li>\r\n<li>Cyprus - 1,281,506; </li>\r\n<li>Estonia - 1,220,042; </li>\r\n<li>Luxembourg - 639,589; </li>\r\n<li>Malta - 460,891 (July 2021 est.)</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n</div>"
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"text": " 450,131,902 (July 2021 est.)<br><br><strong>rank by population:</strong> \r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Germany - 79,903,481; </li>\r\n<li>France - 68,084,217; </li>\r\n<li>Italy - 62,390,364; </li>\r\n<li>Spain - 47,260,584; </li>\r\n<li>Poland - 38,185,913; </li>\r\n<li>Romania - 21,230,362; </li>\r\n<li>Netherlands - 17,337,403; </li>\r\n<li>Belgium - 11,778,842; </li>\r\n<li>Czechia - 10,702,596; </li>\r\n<li>Greece - 10,569,703; </li>\r\n<li>Portugal - 10,263,850; </li>\r\n<li>Sweden - 10,261,767; </li>\r\n<li>Hungary - 9,728,337; </li>\r\n<li>Austria - 8,884,864; </li>\r\n<li>Bulgaria - 6,919,180; </li>\r\n<li>Denmark - 5,894,687; </li>\r\n<li>Finland - 5,587,442; </li>\r\n<li>Slovakia - 5,436,066; </li>\r\n<li>Ireland - 5,224,884; </li>\r\n<li>Croatia - 4,208,973; </li>\r\n<li>Lithuania - 2,711,566; </li>\r\n<li>Slovenia - 2,102,106; </li>\r\n<li>Latvia - 1,862,687; </li>\r\n<li>Cyprus - 1,281,506; </li>\r\n<li>Estonia - 1,220,042; </li>\r\n<li>Luxembourg - 639,589; </li>\r\n<li>Malta - 460,891 (July 2021 est.)</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n",
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"note": "<strong>rank by population:</strong> \r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Germany - 79,903,481; </li>\r\n<li>France - 68,084,217; </li>\r\n<li>Italy - 62,390,364; </li>\r\n<li>Spain - 47,260,584; </li>\r\n<li>Poland - 38,185,913; </li>\r\n<li>Romania - 21,230,362; </li>\r\n<li>Netherlands - 17,337,403; </li>\r\n<li>Belgium - 11,778,842; </li>\r\n<li>Czechia - 10,702,596; </li>\r\n<li>Greece - 10,569,703; </li>\r\n<li>Portugal - 10,263,850; </li>\r\n<li>Sweden - 10,261,767; </li>\r\n<li>Hungary - 9,728,337; </li>\r\n<li>Austria - 8,884,864; </li>\r\n<li>Bulgaria - 6,919,180; </li>\r\n<li>Denmark - 5,894,687; </li>\r\n<li>Finland - 5,587,442; </li>\r\n<li>Slovakia - 5,436,066; </li>\r\n<li>Ireland - 5,224,884; </li>\r\n<li>Croatia - 4,208,973; </li>\r\n<li>Lithuania - 2,711,566; </li>\r\n<li>Slovenia - 2,102,106; </li>\r\n<li>Latvia - 1,862,687; </li>\r\n<li>Cyprus - 1,281,506; </li>\r\n<li>Estonia - 1,220,042; </li>\r\n<li>Luxembourg - 639,589; </li>\r\n<li>Malta - 460,891 (July 2021 est.)</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n"
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},
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"Languages": {
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"text": "Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish<br><br><strong>note:</strong> only the 24 official languages are listed; German, the major language of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, is the most widely spoken mother tongue - about 16% of the EU population; English is the most widely spoken foreign language - about 29% of the EU population is conversant with it (2020)",
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"text": "note - see individual entries of member states"
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},
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"Major infectious diseases": {
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"text": "<strong>note:</strong> widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring regionally; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in the European Union’s Schengen Area (comprised of the following 26 European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures"
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"text": "<strong>note:</strong> widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring regionally; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in the European Union’s Schengen Area (comprised of the following 26 European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures"
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},
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"Education expenditures": {
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"text": "4.6% of GDP (2017)"
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}
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},
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"Major infectious diseases": {
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"text": "<strong>note:</strong> widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring regionally; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in the European Union’s Schengen Area (comprised of the following 26 European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures"
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"text": "<strong>note:</strong> widespread ongoing transmission of a respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is occurring regionally; the US Department of Homeland Security has issued instructions requiring US passengers who have been in the European Union’s Schengen Area (comprised of the following 26 European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) to travel through select airports where the US Government has implemented enhanced screening procedures"
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}
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},
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"Government": {
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"text": "18 years of age (16 years in Austria); universal; voting for the European Parliament is permitted in each member state"
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},
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"Executive branch": {
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"text": "<p>under the EU treaties there are three distinct institutions, each of which conducts functions that may be regarded as executive in nature:<br /><em>European Council </em>- brings together heads of state and government, along with the president of the European Commission, and meets at least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the development of the Union and to issue general policy guidelines; the Treaty of Lisbon established the position of \"permanent\" (full-time) president of the European Council; leaders of the EU member states appoint the president for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once; the president's responsibilities include chairing the EU summits and providing policy and organizational continuity; the current president is Charles MICHEL (Belgium), since 1 December 2019, succeeding Donald TUSK (Poland; 2014 - 2019)<br /><em>Council of the European Commission</em> - consists of ministers of each EU member state and meets regularly in 10 different configurations depending on the subject matter; it conducts policymaking and coordinating functions as well as legislative functions; ministers of EU member states chair meetings of the Council of the EU based on a 6-month rotating presidency except for the meetings of EU Foreign Ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council that are chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy<br /><em>European Commission</em> - headed by a College of Commissioners comprised of 28 members (one from each member country) including the president; each commissioner is responsible for one or more policy areas; the Commission's main responsibilities include the sole right to initiate EU legislation (except for foreign and security/defense policy), promoting the general interest of the EU, acting as \"guardian of the Treaties\" by monitoring the application of EU law, implementing/executing the EU budget, managing programs, negotiating on the EU's behalf in core policy areas such as trade, and ensuring the Union's external representation in some policy areas; its current president is Ursula VON DER LEYEN (Belgium) elected on 16 July 2019 (took office on 1 December 2019); the president of the European Commission is nominated by the European Council and formally \"elected\" by the European Parliament; the Commission president allocates specific responsibilities among the members of the College (appointed by common accord of the member state governments in consultation with the president-elect); the European Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a 5-year term.</p><br><br><strong>note:</strong> for external representation and foreign policy making, leaders of the EU member states appointed Joseph BORRELL (Spain) as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; BORRELL took office on 1 December 2019, succeeding Federica MOGHERINI (Italy (2014 - 2019); the High Representative's concurrent appointment as Vice President of the European Commission was meant to bring more coherence to the EU’s foreign policy (horizontally, between policies managed by the Commission that are particularly relevant for EU external relations, such as trade, humanitarian aid and crisis management, neighborhood policy and enlargement; and vertically, between national capitals and the EU); the High Representative helps develop and implement the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy components, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council, represents and acts for the Union in many international contexts, and oversees the European External Action Service, the diplomatic corps of the EU, established on 1 December 2010",
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"note": "<strong>note:</strong> for external representation and foreign policy making, leaders of the EU member states appointed Joseph BORRELL (Spain) as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; BORRELL took office on 1 December 2019, succeeding Federica MOGHERINI (Italy (2014 - 2019); the High Representative's concurrent appointment as Vice President of the European Commission was meant to bring more coherence to the EU’s foreign policy (horizontally, between policies managed by the Commission that are particularly relevant for EU external relations, such as trade, humanitarian aid and crisis management, neighborhood policy and enlargement; and vertically, between national capitals and the EU); the High Representative helps develop and implement the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy components, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council, represents and acts for the Union in many international contexts, and oversees the European External Action Service, the diplomatic corps of the EU, established on 1 December 2010"
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"text": "<p>under the EU treaties there are three distinct institutions, each of which conducts functions that may be regarded as executive in nature:<br><em>European Council </em>- brings together heads of state and government, along with the president of the European Commission, and meets at least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the development of the Union and to issue general policy guidelines; the Treaty of Lisbon established the position of \"permanent\" (full-time) president of the European Council; leaders of the EU member states appoint the president for a 2 1/2 year term, renewable once; the president's responsibilities include chairing the EU summits and providing policy and organizational continuity; the current president is Charles MICHEL (Belgium), since 1 December 2019, succeeding Donald TUSK (Poland; 2014 - 2019)<br><em>Council of the European Commission</em> - consists of ministers of each EU member state and meets regularly in 10 different configurations depending on the subject matter; it conducts policymaking and coordinating functions as well as legislative functions; ministers of EU member states chair meetings of the Council of the EU based on a 6-month rotating presidency except for the meetings of EU Foreign Ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council that are chaired by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy<br><em>European Commission</em> - headed by a College of Commissioners comprised of 28 members (one from each member country) including the president; each commissioner is responsible for one or more policy areas; the Commission's main responsibilities include the sole right to initiate EU legislation (except for foreign and security/defense policy), promoting the general interest of the EU, acting as \"guardian of the Treaties\" by monitoring the application of EU law, implementing/executing the EU budget, managing programs, negotiating on the EU's behalf in core policy areas such as trade, and ensuring the Union's external representation in some policy areas; its current president is Ursula VON DER LEYEN (Belgium) elected on 16 July 2019 (took office on 1 December 2019); the president of the European Commission is nominated by the European Council and formally \"elected\" by the European Parliament; the Commission president allocates specific responsibilities among the members of the College (appointed by common accord of the member state governments in consultation with the president-elect); the European Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a 5-year term.</p><br><br><strong>note:</strong> for external representation and foreign policy making, leaders of the EU member states appointed Joseph BORRELL (Spain) as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; BORRELL took office on 1 December 2019, succeeding Federica MOGHERINI (Italy (2014 - 2019); the High Representative's concurrent appointment as Vice President of the European Commission was meant to bring more coherence to the EU’s foreign policy (horizontally, between policies managed by the Commission that are particularly relevant for EU external relations, such as trade, humanitarian aid and crisis management, neighborhood policy and enlargement; and vertically, between national capitals and the EU); the High Representative helps develop and implement the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy components, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council, represents and acts for the Union in many international contexts, and oversees the European External Action Service, the diplomatic corps of the EU, established on 1 December 2010",
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"note": "<strong>note:</strong> for external representation and foreign policy making, leaders of the EU member states appointed Joseph BORRELL (Spain) as the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy; BORRELL took office on 1 December 2019, succeeding Federica MOGHERINI (Italy (2014 - 2019); the High Representative's concurrent appointment as Vice President of the European Commission was meant to bring more coherence to the EU’s foreign policy (horizontally, between policies managed by the Commission that are particularly relevant for EU external relations, such as trade, humanitarian aid and crisis management, neighborhood policy and enlargement; and vertically, between national capitals and the EU); the High Representative helps develop and implement the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defense Policy components, chairs the Foreign Affairs Council, represents and acts for the Union in many international contexts, and oversees the European External Action Service, the diplomatic corps of the EU, established on 1 December 2010"
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},
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"Legislative branch": {
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"description": {
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"note": "<strong>note:</strong> the ECJ is the supreme judicial authority of the EU; it ensures that EU law is interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU, resolves disputed issues among the EU institutions and with member states, and reviews issues and opinions regarding questions of EU law referred by member state courts"
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},
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"Political parties and leaders": {
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"text": "European United Left-Nordic Green Left or GUE/NGL [Manon AUBRY and Martin SCHIRDEWAN]<br />European Conservatives and Reformists or ECR [Raffaele FITTO and Ryszard LEGUTKO]<br />European Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA [Ska KELLER, Philippe LAMBERTS]<br />European People's Party or EPP [Manfred WEBER]<br />Identity and Democracy Party or ID [Marco ZANNI]<br />Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats or S&D [Iratxe PEREZ]<br />Renew Europe - RE (successor to Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE) [Dacian CIOLOS]"
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"text": "European United Left-Nordic Green Left or GUE/NGL [Manon AUBRY and Martin SCHIRDEWAN]<br>European Conservatives and Reformists or ECR [Raffaele FITTO and Ryszard LEGUTKO]<br>European Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA [Ska KELLER, Philippe LAMBERTS]<br>European People's Party or EPP [Manfred WEBER]<br>Identity and Democracy Party or ID [Marco ZANNI]<br>Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats or S&D [Iratxe PEREZ]<br>Renew Europe - RE (successor to Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE) [Dacian CIOLOS]"
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},
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"International organization participation": {
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"text": "ARF, ASEAN (dialogue member), Australian Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CERN, EBRD, FAO, FATF, G-8, G-10, G-20, IDA, IEA, IGAD (partners), LAIA (observer), NSG (observer), OAS (observer), OECD, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SICA (observer), UN (observer), UNRWA (observer), WCO, WTO, ZC (observer)"
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},
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"Economy": {
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"Economic overview": {
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"text": "<p>The 27 member states that make up the EU have adopted an internal single market with free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor. The EU, which is also a customs union, aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic weight in international affairs.</p> <p> </p> <p>Despite great differences in per capita income among member states (from $28,000 to $109,000) and in national attitudes toward issues like inflation, debt, and foreign trade, the EU has achieved a high degree of coordination of monetary and fiscal policies. A common currency – the euro – circulates among 19 of the member states that make up the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Eleven member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999 (Greece did so two years later). Since 2004, 13 states acceded to the EU. Of the 13, Slovenia (2007), Cyprus and Malta (2008), Slovakia (2009), Estonia (2011), Latvia (2014), and Lithuania (2015) have adopted the euro; seven other member states - excluding Denmark, which has a formal opt-out - are required by EU treaties to adopt the common currency upon meeting fiscal and monetary convergence criteria.</p> <p> </p> <p>The EU economy posted moderate GDP growth for 2014 through 2017, capping five years of sustained growth since the 2008-09 global economic crisis and the ensuing sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone in 2011. However, the bloc’s recovery was uneven. Some EU member states (Czechia, Ireland, Malta, Romania, Sweden, and Spain) recorded strong growth, others (Italy) experienced modest expansion, and Greece finally ended its EU rescue program in August 2018. Overall, the EU’s recovery was buoyed by lower commodities prices and accommodative monetary policy, which lowered interest rates and stimulated demand. The euro zone, which makes up about 70% of the total EU economy, performed well, achieving a growth rate not seen in a decade. In October 2017 the European Central Bank (ECB) announced it would extend its bond-buying program through September 2018, and possibly beyond that date, to keep the euro zone recovery on track. The ECB’s efforts to spur more lending and investment through its asset-buying program, negative interest rates, and long-term loan refinancing programs have not yet raised inflation in line with the ECB’s statutory target of just under 2%.</p> <p> </p> <p>Despite its performance, high unemployment in some member states, high levels of public and private debt, muted productivity, an incomplete single market in services, and an aging population remain sources of potential drag on the EU’s future growth. Moreover, the EU economy remains vulnerable to a slowdown of global trade and bouts of political and financial turmoil. In June 2016, the UK voted to withdraw from the EU, the first member country ever to attempt to secede. Continued uncertainty about the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU (concluded January 2020) could hurt consumer and investor confidence and dampen EU growth, particularly if trade and cross-border investment significantly declines. Political disagreements between EU member states on reforms to fiscal and economic policy also may impair the EU’s ability to bolster its crisis-prevention and resolution mechanisms. International investors’ fears of a broad dissolution of the single currency area have largely dissipated, but these concerns could resurface if elected leaders implement policies that contravene euro-zone budget or banking rules. State interventions in ailing banks, including rescue of banks in Italy and resolution of banks in Spain, have eased financial vulnerabilities in the European banking sector even though some banks are struggling with low profitability and a large stock of bad loans, fragilities that could precipitate localized crises. Externally, the EU has continued to pursue comprehensive free trade agreements to expand EU external market share, particularly with Asian countries; EU and Japanese leaders reached a political-level agreement on a free trade agreement in July 2017, and agreement with Mexico in April 2018 on updates to an existing free trade agreement.</p>"
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"text": "<p>The 27 member states that make up the EU have adopted an internal single market with free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor. The EU, which is also a customs union, aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic weight in international affairs.</p> <p> </p> <p>Despite great differences in per capita income among member states (from $28,000 to $109,000) and in national attitudes toward issues like inflation, debt, and foreign trade, the EU has achieved a high degree of coordination of monetary and fiscal policies. A common currency – the euro – circulates among 19 of the member states that make up the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Eleven member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999 (Greece did so two years later). Since 2004, 13 states acceded to the EU. Of the 13, Slovenia (2007), Cyprus and Malta (2008), Slovakia (2009), Estonia (2011), Latvia (2014), and Lithuania (2015) have adopted the euro; seven other member states - excluding Denmark, which has a formal opt-out - are required by EU treaties to adopt the common currency upon meeting fiscal and monetary convergence criteria.</p> <p> </p> <p>The EU economy posted moderate GDP growth for 2014 through 2017, capping five years of sustained growth since the 2008-09 global economic crisis and the ensuing sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone in 2011. However, the bloc’s recovery was uneven. Some EU member states (Czechia, Ireland, Malta, Romania, Sweden, and Spain) recorded strong growth, others (Italy) experienced modest expansion, and Greece finally ended its EU rescue program in August 2018. Overall, the EU’s recovery was buoyed by lower commodities prices and accommodative monetary policy, which lowered interest rates and stimulated demand. The euro zone, which makes up about 70% of the total EU economy, performed well, achieving a growth rate not seen in a decade. In October 2017 the European Central Bank (ECB) announced it would extend its bond-buying program through September 2018, and possibly beyond that date, to keep the euro zone recovery on track. The ECB’s efforts to spur more lending and investment through its asset-buying program, negative interest rates, and long-term loan refinancing programs have not yet raised inflation in line with the ECB’s statutory target of just under 2%.</p> <p> </p> <p>Despite its performance, high unemployment in some member states, high levels of public and private debt, muted productivity, an incomplete single market in services, and an aging population remain sources of potential drag on the EU’s future growth. Moreover, the EU economy remains vulnerable to a slowdown of global trade and bouts of political and financial turmoil. In June 2016, the UK voted to withdraw from the EU, the first member country ever to attempt to secede. Continued uncertainty about the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU (concluded January 2020) could hurt consumer and investor confidence and dampen EU growth, particularly if trade and cross-border investment significantly declines. Political disagreements between EU member states on reforms to fiscal and economic policy also may impair the EU’s ability to bolster its crisis-prevention and resolution mechanisms. International investors’ fears of a broad dissolution of the single currency area have largely dissipated, but these concerns could resurface if elected leaders implement policies that contravene euro-zone budget or banking rules. State interventions in ailing banks, including rescue of banks in Italy and resolution of banks in Spain, have eased financial vulnerabilities in the European banking sector even though some banks are struggling with low profitability and a large stock of bad loans, fragilities that could precipitate localized crises. Externally, the EU has continued to pursue comprehensive free trade agreements to expand EU external market share, particularly with Asian countries; EU and Japanese leaders reached a political-level agreement on a free trade agreement in July 2017, and agreement with Mexico in April 2018 on updates to an existing free trade agreement.</p>"
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Real GDP growth rate": {
|
||||
"Real GDP growth rate 2017": {
|
||||
|
|
@ -792,30 +792,32 @@
|
|||
},
|
||||
"Military and Security": {
|
||||
"Military and security forces": {
|
||||
"text": "the European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is the EU's highest military body; it is composed of the chiefs of defense of the Member States, who are regularly represented by their permanent Military Representatives; the EUMC provides the Political and Security Committee (PSC) with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EU"
|
||||
"text": "<p>the EU's Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) provides the civilian, military, and political structures for EU crisis management and security issues; the highest bodies are:</p> <p>the <strong>Political and Security Committee (PSC)</strong>, which meets at the ambassadorial level as a preparatory body for the Council of the EU; it assists with defining policies and preparing a crisis response</p> <p>the <strong>European Union Military Committee (EUMC)</strong> is the EU's highest military body; it is composed of the chiefs of defense (CHODs) of the Member States, who are regularly represented by their permanent Military Representatives; the EUMC provides the PSC with advice and recommendations on all military matters within the EU</p> <p>the <strong>Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management (CIVCOM) </strong>provides advice and recommendations to the PSC in parallel with the EUMC on civilian aspects of crisis management</p> <p>the<strong> Politico-Military Group (PMG)</strong> provides advice and recommendations to the PSC on political aspects of EU military and civil-military issues, including concepts, capabilities and operations and missions, and monitors implementation</p> <p>other bodies set up under the CSDP include; the Security and Defense Policy Directorate (SECDEFPOL, the Integrated approach for Security and Peace Directorate (ISP), the EU Military Staff (EUMS), the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), the European Defense Agency, the European Security and Defense College (ESDC), the EU Institute for Security Studies, and the EU Satellite Center</p>"
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Military expenditures": {
|
||||
"Military Expenditures 2019": {
|
||||
"text": "1.4% of GDP (2019)"
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Military Expenditures 2018": {
|
||||
"text": "1.5% of GDP (2018)"
|
||||
"text": "1.36% of GDP (2018)"
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Military Expenditures 2017": {
|
||||
"text": "1.49% of GDP (2017)"
|
||||
"text": "1.35% of GDP (2017)"
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Military Expenditures 2016": {
|
||||
"text": "1.48% of GDP (2016)"
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Military Expenditures 2015": {
|
||||
"text": "1.48% of GDP (2015)"
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Military Expenditures 2014": {
|
||||
"text": "1.5% of GDP (2014)"
|
||||
"text": "1.3% of GDP (2016)"
|
||||
}
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Military deployments": {
|
||||
"text": "since 2003, the EU has launched more than 30 civilian and military crisis-management, advisory, and training missions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, as well as counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and a naval operation in the Mediterranean to disrupt human smuggling and trafficking networks and prevent the loss of life at sea"
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Military - note": {
|
||||
"text": "Eurocorps, formally established in 1992 and activated the following year, began in 1987 as a French-German Brigade; Belgium (1993), Spain (1994), and Luxembourg (1996) joined over the next few years; five additional countries participate in Eurocorps as associated nations: Greece, Poland, and Turkey (since 2002), Italy and Romania (joined in 2009 and 2016 respectively); Eurocorps is headquartered in Strasbourg, France (2021)"
|
||||
"text": "the EU partners with NATO<br><br>Eurocorps, which supports both the EU and NATO, was formally established in 1992 and activated the following year, began in 1987 as a French-German Brigade; Belgium (1993), Spain (1994), and Luxembourg (1996) joined over the next few years; five additional countries participate in Eurocorps as associated nations: Greece, Poland, and Turkey (since 2002), Italy and Romania (since 2009 and 2016 respectively); Eurocorps is headquartered in Strasbourg, France (2021)"
|
||||
}
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Terrorism": {
|
||||
"Terrorist group(s)": {
|
||||
"text": "see individual EU member states"
|
||||
}
|
||||
},
|
||||
"Transnational Issues": {
|
||||
|
|
|
|||
Loading…
Add table
Add a link
Reference in a new issue