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23
europe/au.json
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@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
{
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's \"perpetual neutrality\" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the EU in 1995 somewhat altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999."
}
},
"Geography": {
"Location": {
"text": "Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia"
@ -101,11 +106,6 @@
"text": "note 1: landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere<br><br>note 2: the world's largest and longest ice cave system at 42 km (26 mi) is the Eisriesenwelt (Ice Giants World) inside the Hochkogel mountain near Werfen, about 40 km south of Salzburg; ice caves are bedrock caves that contain year-round ice formations; they differ from glacial caves, which are transient and are formed by melting ice and flowing water within and under glaciers"
}
},
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's \"perpetual neutrality\" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the EU in 1995 somewhat altered the meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the EU Economic and Monetary Union in 1999."
}
},
"People and Society": {
"Population": {
"text": "8,940,860 (2023 est.)"
@ -1242,6 +1242,17 @@
"text": "Austria is constitutionally militarily non-aligned but is an EU member and actively participates in EU peacekeeping and crisis management operations under the Common Security and Defense Policy; Austria is not a member of NATO but joined NATO&rsquo;s Partnership for Peace framework in 1995 and participates in NATO-led crisis management and peacekeeping operations; as of 2023, more than 100,000 Austrian military and civilian personnel had taken part in more than 50 international peace support and humanitarian missions since 1960 (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Aeronautics and Space Agency (established in 1972 as the Austrian Space Agency) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has a national space program and is a member of the European Space Agency (ESA); develops, builds, operates, and tracks satellites, including remote sensing (RS) and research/scientific satellites; works closely with member states of ESA, the EU, and the commercial sector to develop a range of space capabilities and technologies, including applications for satellite payloads, space flight, and space research; has also cooperated with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, India, Russia, and the US (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
@ -1254,7 +1265,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "67,588 (Syria), 43,725 (Afghanistan), 10,110 (Iraq), 8,684 (Somalia), 7,294 (Iran), 6,124 (Russia) (mid-year 2022); 68,700 (Ukraine) (as of 31 July 2023)"
"text": "68,700 (Syria), 43,725 (Afghanistan), 10,110 (Iraq), 8,684 (Somalia), 7,294 (Iran), 6,124 (Russia) (mid-year 2022); 68,700 (Ukraine) (as of 7 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "3,219 (2022)"

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europe/be.json
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@ -1221,8 +1221,8 @@
},
"Military and Security": {
"Military and security forces": {
"text": "Belgian Armed Forces: Land Component, Marine (Naval) Component, Air Component, Medical Component (2023)",
"note": "<strong>note: </strong>the Belgian Federal Police is the national police force and responsible for internal security and nationwide law and order, including migration and border enforcement; the force reports to the ministers of interior and justice "
"text": "Belgian Armed Forces (Defensie or  La Défense): Land Component, Marine (Naval) Component, Air Component, Medical Component (2023)",
"note": "<strong>note: </strong>the Belgian Federal Police is the national police force and responsible for internal security and nationwide law and order, including migration and border enforcement; the force reports to the ministers of interior and justice"
},
"Military expenditures": {
"Military Expenditures 2023": {
@ -1259,6 +1259,17 @@
"text": "Belgium is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; Belgium hosts the NATO headquarters in Brussels<br><br>in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries; in 2018, the Defense Ministers of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); the C-SOCC was declared operational in December 2020 (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy-Interfederal Space Agency of Belgium (BIRA-IASB; established 1964; IASB added 2017); Belgium Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "founding member of the European Space Agency (ESA), which acts as the de facto Belgian space agency as most programs are carried out under the ESA or bi-laterally with its member states; builds satellites, particularly research/science/technology and remote sensing (RS) platforms; also researches, develops, and produces a wide variety of other space technologies, including telecommunications, optics, robotics, scientific instruments, and space launch vehicle (SLV) components; supports the ESA&rsquo;s SLV program with economic assistance (6% of the funding for the Ariane-5 SLV, for example), as well as legal, scientific, and technological expertise; hosts the European Space Security and Education Center (established 1968); participates in international astronomy efforts, particularly through the European Southern Observatory (ESO); participates in multiple ESA and EU space-related programs and research efforts; in addition to the ESA and EU, has cooperated with a variety foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Argentina, China, India, Russia, South Africa, UAE, Vietnam, and the US (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",

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europe/bo.json
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@ -1242,6 +1242,17 @@
"text": "Belarus has close security ties with Russia, including an integrated air and missile defense system, joint training exercises, and the establishment of three joint training centers since 2020 (1 in Belarus, 2 in Russia); Russia has been the principal supplier of arms to Belarus, and Belarusian troops reportedly train on Russian equipment; Russia leases from Belarus a strategic ballistic missile defense site operated by Russian Aerospace Forces and a global communications facility for the Russian Navy; in 2020, the countries signed an agreement allowing for close security cooperation between the Belarusian Ministry of Interior and the Russian National Guard, including protecting public order and key government facilities, and combating extremism and terrorism; in 2022, Belarus allowed Russian military forces to stage on its territory for its invasion of Ukraine and continues to supply arms and other aid to the Russian military; in 2023, Belarus agreed to allow Russia to deploy nuclear munitions inside the country<br><br>Belarus has been a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) since 1994 and contributes an airborne brigade to CSTO's rapid reaction force (KSOR) (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Belarus Space Agency (aka National Agency for Space Research; established 2009) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has a modest national space program focused on developing remote sensing (RS) satellites; jointly builds satellites with foreign partners; develops some space technologies and components for space equipment, including satellite payloads and associated technology, such as optics and imaging equipment; has cooperated with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Ukraine; has a state-owned satellite company (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Transnational Issues": {
"Disputes - international": {
"text": "<p><em>Belarus-Latvia:</em> Boundary demarcated with Latvia.<br><br><em>Belarus-Lithuania:</em> Boundary demarcated with Lithuania.<br><br><em>Belarus-Poland:</em> As a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland has implemented strict Schengen border rules to restrict illegal immigration and trade along its border with Belarus.</p>"

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europe/bu.json
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@ -1269,6 +1269,17 @@
"text": "Bulgaria became a member of NATO in 2004; Bulgaria conducts its own air policing mission, but because of Russian aggression in the Black Sea region, NATO allies have sent detachments of fighters to augment the Bulgarian Air Force since 2014 (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Space Research and Technology Institute - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (SRTI-BAS; formed in 1987 but originated from the Central Laboratory for Space Research and the Bulgarian Aerospace Agency, which was established in 1969) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has a long history of involvement in space going back to the 1960s; develops, produces, and operates satellites, mostly with foreign partners; researches, develops, and produces other space technologies, including those related to astrophysics, remote sensing, data exploitation, optics, and electronics; has specialized in producing scientific instruments for space research; has more than 20 research institutes; Cooperating State of the European Space Agency (ESA) since 2015; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and commercial entities, including those of the ESA and EU (and bi-laterally with their member states), India, Japan, Russia, and the US (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force",

2
europe/cy.json
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@ -1222,7 +1222,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "10,869 (Syria) (mid-year 2022); 18,680 (Ukraine) (as of 2 July 2023)"
"text": "10,869 (Syria) (mid-year 2022); 18,695 (Ukraine) (as of 30 July 2023)"
},
"IDPs": {
"text": "242,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced since 1974) (2021)"

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europe/da.json
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@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
{
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "<p>Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union, and justice and home affairs issues.</p>"
}
},
"Geography": {
"Location": {
"text": "Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes several major islands (Sjaelland, Fyn, and Bornholm)"
@ -102,11 +107,6 @@
"text": "composed of the Jutland Peninsula and a group of more than 400 islands (Danish Archipelago); controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen"
}
},
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "<p>Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the EU's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union, and justice and home affairs issues.</p>"
}
},
"People and Society": {
"Population": {
"text": "5,946,984 (2023 est.)"
@ -1218,6 +1218,17 @@
"text": "Denmark is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949<br><br>Denmark is a member of the EU and voted to join the EU’s Common Defense and Security Policy in a June 2022 referendum<br><br>the Danish Armed Forces cooperate closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009<br><br>in 2018, the Defense Ministers of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the creation of a Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); the C-SOCC was declared operational in December 2020 (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "no formal space agency; the Ministry of Higher Education and Science has responsibility for coordinating Danish space activities managing international cooperation; the Danish Space Research Institute (Dansk Rumforskningsinstitut (DRKI) was the country&rsquo;s space agency from 1966-2005; DTU Space, National Space Institute, is Denmark&rsquo;s national space institute (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and fully integrated within its structure; participates in ESA programs, particularly those linked to human spaceflight and satellite-based remote sensing activities, as well as technology programs involving telecommunications and navigation; independently builds and operates satellites, particularly those with meteorological, science, technology, and signal/traffic monitoring capabilities; in addition to cooperating with the ESA and EU, as well as bi-laterally with member states, it has relations with the space agencies and industries of Canada, India, Japan, and the US (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force",

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europe/ee.json
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europe/ei.json
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},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "89,900 (Ukraine) (as of 23 July 2023)"
"text": "91,330 (Ukraine) (as of 6 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "7 (2022)"

2
europe/fi.json
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},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "9,175 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 55,600 (Ukraine) (as of 11 July 2023)"
"text": "9,175 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 59,445 (Ukraine) (as of 1 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "3,546 (2022)"

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europe/fr.json
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@ -1322,6 +1322,20 @@
"text": "France was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty), which created NATO in 1949; in 1966, President Charles DE GAULLE decided to withdraw France from NATO’s integrated military structure, reflecting his desire for greater military independence, particularly vis-à-vis the US, and the refusal to integrate France’s nuclear deterrent or accept any form of control over its armed forces; it did, however, sign agreements with NATO setting out procedures in the event of Soviet aggression; beginning with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, France distanced itself from the 1966 decision and has regularly contributed troops to NATO’s military operations, being one of the largest troop-contributing states; in 2009 it officially announced its decision to fully participate in NATO structures<br><br>in 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces, but would be available at short notice for French-UK bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; combined training exercises began in 2011; as of 2020, the CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel capable of high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance <br><br>the French Foreign Legion, established in 1831, is a military force that is open to foreign recruits willing to serve in the French military for service in France and abroad; the Foreign Legion is an integrated part of the French Army and is comprised of approximately 8,000 personnel; its combat units are a mix of armored cavalry and airborne, light, mechanized, and motorized infantry regiments (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "National Center for Space Studies (Centre National D'&eacute;tudes Spatiales, CNES; established 1961); established a military Space Command (Le Commandement de l&rsquo;Espace, CDE) under the Air and Space Force, 2020 (2023)"
},
"Space launch site(s)": {
"text": "Guiana Space Center (Kourou, French Guiana; also serves as the spaceport for the ESA); note &ndash; prior to the completion of the Guiana Space Center in 1969, France launched rockets from Algeria (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has one of Europe&rsquo;s largest space programs and is a key member of the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as one of its largest contributors; has independent capabilities in all areas of space categories except for autonomous manned space flight; can build, launch, and operate a range of space/satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) and spacecraft, including exploratory probes and a full spectrum of satellites; trained astronauts until training mission shifted to ESA in 2001; develops a wide range of space-related technologies; hosts the ESA headquarters; participates in international space programs such as the Square Kilometer Array Project (world&rsquo;s largest radio telescope) and International Space Station (ISS); cooperates with a broad range of space agencies and commercial space companies, including those of China, Egypt, individual ESA member countries, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Russia, the UAE, the US, and several African countries; has a large commercial space sector involved in such areas as satellite construction and payloads, launch capabilities, and a range of other space-related capabilities and technologies (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida",

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europe/gm.json
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@ -1291,6 +1291,20 @@
"text": "the Federal Republic of Germany joined NATO in May 1955; with the reunification of Germany in October 1990, the states of the former German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany in its membership of NATO<br><br>the German Army has incorporated a joint Franco-German mechanized infantry brigade since 1989, a Dutch airmobile infantry brigade since 2014, and a Dutch mechanized infantry brigade since 2016; in addition, the German Navy’s Sea Battalion (includes marine infantry, naval divers, reconnaissance, and security forces) has worked closely with the Dutch Marine Corps since 2016, including as a binational amphibious landing group (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum f&uuml;r Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR; established 1997); predecessor organization, German Test and Research Institute for Aviation and Space Flight, was established in 1969; note &ndash; the Federal Republic of Germany was allowed to research space flight after gaining sovereignty in 1955 (2023)"
},
"Space launch site(s)": {
"text": "none; launched an initiative in 2020 with the aim of launching SLVs from a floating, mobile platform in the North Sea, with a logistics base in Bremerhaven (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has one of Europe&rsquo;s largest space programs; is a key member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and one of its largest contributors; builds and operates satellites, satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs), space probes, unmanned orbiters, and reusable space planes; conducts research and develops a range of other space-related capabilities technologies, including satellite payloads (cameras, remote sensing, communications, optics, sensors, etc.), rockets and rocket propulsion, propulsion assisted landing technologies, and aeronautics; participates in ESA&rsquo;s astronaut training program and human space flight operations and hosts the European Astronaut Center; participates in other international space programs, such as the International Space Station (ISS); hosts the mission control centers for the ISS and the ESA, as well as the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT); in addition to ESA/EU and their member states, has ties to a range of foreign space programs, including those of China, Japan, Russia, and the US; has a robust commercial space industry sector that develops a broad range of space capabilities, including satellite launchers, and cooperates closely with DLR, ESA, and other international commercial entities and government agencies (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa'ida",
@ -1303,7 +1317,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "664,238 (Syria), 183,631 (Afghanistan), 151,254 (Iraq), 64,496 (Eritrea), 47,658 (Iran), 38,755 (Turkey), 32,155 (Somalia), 13,334 (Russia), 12,155 (Nigeria), 9,250 (Pakistan), 6,257 (Serbia and Kosovo), 6,912 (Ethiopia), 5,532 (Azerbaijan) (mid-year 2022); 1,079,815 (Ukraine) (as of 10 July 2023)"
"text": "664,238 (Syria), 183,631 (Afghanistan), 151,254 (Iraq), 64,496 (Eritrea), 47,658 (Iran), 38,755 (Turkey), 32,155 (Somalia), 13,334 (Russia), 12,155 (Nigeria), 9,250 (Pakistan), 6,257 (Serbia and Kosovo), 6,912 (Ethiopia), 5,532 (Azerbaijan) (mid-year 2022); 1,087,130 (Ukraine) (as of 6 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "28,941 (2022)"

13
europe/gr.json
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@ -1222,6 +1222,17 @@
"text": "Greece joined NATO in 1952"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Hellenic Space Center (HSC; aka Hellenic Space Agency; established 2018) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has a relatively new and growing space program focused on building and operating satellites; also researches and develops technologies in a variety of other space sectors, including such areas as remote sensing (RS), telecommunications, defense, environmental studies, and agricultural development; as a member of the European Space Agency (ESA), it contributes to, participates in, and benefits from ESA capabilities and programs; cooperates with space agencies and commercial space sectors of ESA and EU member states, as well as the US; has a robust commercial space sector that researches, develops, and produces a variety of space technologies and capabilities, including satellite components, electronics, sensors, and communications (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Revolutionary Struggle; Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)",
@ -1239,7 +1250,7 @@
"stateless persons": {
"text": "4,488 (2022)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> 1,242,560 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2023)"
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> 1,245,656 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2023)"
},
"Illicit drugs": {
"text": "a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis products and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime"

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europe/hr.json
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@ -1247,7 +1247,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "22,760 (Ukraine) (as of 14 July 2023)"
"text": "23,035 (Ukraine) (as of 4 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "2,889 (2022)"

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europe/hu.json
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@ -1265,6 +1265,17 @@
"text": "Hungary joined NATO in 1999; Czechia, Hungary, and Poland were invited to begin accession talks at NATO's Madrid Summit in 1997 and in March 1999 they became the first former members of the Warsaw Pact to join the Alliance (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Hungarian Space Office (HSO; established 1992) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has a history of involvement in space going back to the Soviet era; growing a modern space program focused on acquiring satellites and contributing to the European Space Agency (ESA); has a national space strategy; builds and operates satellites; researches and develops space technologies, including communications, navigation, and subsystems for satellites; has an astronaut corps; in addition to being an ESA member and cooperating with individual ESA and EU member states, particularly France, has relations with a variety of other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, Israel, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, the UAE, and the US; national space strategy included the goals of fostering innovation and increasing Hungary&rsquo;s competitiveness in the commercial space sector (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
@ -1277,7 +1288,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "52,335 (Ukraine) (as of 23 July 2023)"
"text": "49,375 (Ukraine) (as of 7 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "130 (2022)"

20
europe/it.json
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@ -565,7 +565,7 @@
"text": "<br>Senate - last held on 25 September 2022 (next to be held no later than December 2027)<br>Chamber of Deputies - last held on 25 September 2022; note - snap elections were called when Prime Minister DRAGHI resigned, and the parliament was dissolved on 21 July 2022 (next to be held 30 September 2027)"
},
"election results": {
"text": "<br>Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-right coalition (FdI 65, Lega 30, FI 18), center-left coalition (PD 40, AVS 3), M5S 28, Action-Italia Viva 9, SVP 2, MAIE 1, ScN 1; composition (as of September 2022) - men 131, women 69, percent of women 34.5%<br>Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-right coalition (FdI 119, Lega 66, FI 45), center-left coalition (PD 69, AVS 12), M5S 52, Action-Italia Viva 21, SVP 3, MAIE 1, ScN 1; composition (as of September 2022) - men 271, women 129, percent of women 32.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 33%"
"text": "<br>Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-right coalition (FdI 65, Lega 30, FI 18), center-left coalition (PD 40, AVS 3), M5S 28, Action-Italia Viva 9, SVP 2, MAIE 1, ScN 1; composition (as of September 2022) - men 131, women 69, percent of women 34.5%<br>Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - center-right coalition (FdI 119, Lega 66, FI 45), center-left coalition (PD 69, AVS 12, +EU 2), M5S 52, Action-Italia Viva 21, SVP 3, MAIE 1, ScN 1; composition (as of September 2022) - men 271, women 129, percent of women 32.3%; note - total Parliament percent of women 33%"
},
"note": "<strong>note</strong>: in October 2019, Italy's Parliament voted to reduce the number of Senate seats from 315 to 200 and the number of Chamber of Deputies seats from 630 to 400; a referendum to reduce the membership of Parliament held on 20-21 September 2020 was approved, effective for the September 2022 snap election"
},
@ -1265,6 +1265,20 @@
"text": "Italy is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949<br><br>Italy is an active participant in EU, NATO, UN, and other multinational military, security, and humanitarian operations abroad; as of 2022, it hosted the headquarters for the EU’s Mediterranean naval operations force (EUNAVFOR-MED) in Rome and the US Navy’s 6th Fleet in Naples; Italy was admitted to the UN in 1955 and in 1960 participated in its first UN peacekeeping mission, the UN Operation in Congo (ONUC); since 1960, it has committed more than 60,000 troops to UN missions; since 2006, Italy has hosted a training center in Vicenza for police personnel destined for peacekeeping missions (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Italian Space Agency (ISA; established 1988); Joint Space Operations Command (Comando Interforze delle Operazioni Spaziali or COS; established 2020) (2023)"
},
"Space launch site(s)": {
"text": "the Broglio (aka San Marco, Malindi) Space Center, located near Malindi, Kenya, served from 1967 to 1988 as an Italian and international satellite launch facility; in 2020, Kenya concluded a new deal with Italy to conduct rocket launches from the site again in the future; in 2018, the Italian Government designated the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport as a future spaceport and signed framework agreements with commercial space companies that could lead to suborbital and orbital launches from what would be called the Grottaglie Spaceport (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has one of the largest space programs in Europe; is a key member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and one of its largest contributors; designs, builds, launches, and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific satellites; designs and manufacturers sounding (research) rockets and orbital satellite launch vehicles (SLVs); hosts the ESA Center for Earth Observation; has astronaut cadre in the ESA astronaut corps; researches, develops, and builds a range of other space-related technologies and participates in a wide array of international programs with astronauts, cargo containers, construction, expertise, modules, scientific experiments, and technology; outside of the ESA/EU and their individual member states, has cooperated with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, the UAE, and the US; participates in international space projects such as the International Space Station (ISS); has a considerable commercial space industrial sector with more than 200 companies encompassing a wide range of capabilities, including manufacturing satellites, satellite payloads, launch vehicles, propulsion systems, cargo containers, and their sub-components (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
@ -1277,12 +1291,12 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "21,441 (Nigeria), 17,706 (Afghanistan), 17,619 (Pakistan), 11,193 (Mali), 8,405 (Somalia), 6,324 (Gambia), 5,768 (Bangladesh), 5,463 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 163,570 (Ukraine) (as of 21 July 2023)"
"text": "21,441 (Nigeria), 17,706 (Afghanistan), 17,619 (Pakistan), 11,193 (Mali), 8,405 (Somalia), 6,324 (Gambia), 5,768 (Bangladesh), 5,463 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 163,570 (Ukraine) (as of 4 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "3,000 (2022)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> 782,382 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2023)"
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> 789,935 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2023)"
},
"Illicit drugs": {
"text": "<p>important gateway for drug trafficking; organized crime groups allied with Colombian and Spanish groups trafficking cocaine to Europe</p>"

13
europe/lh.json
View file

@ -1245,13 +1245,24 @@
"text": "Lithuania became a member of NATO in 2004<br> <p>since 2017, Lithuania has hosted a German-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; NATO also has provided air protection for Lithuania since 2004 through its Air Policing mission; NATO member countries that possess air combat capabilities voluntarily contribute to the mission on 4-month rotations; NATO fighter aircraft are hosted at Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base (2022)</p>"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Lithuanian Space Office (established 2019; operates under the Agency for Science, Innovation and Technology and focuses on developing links between Lithuanian space business, science, and public sectors, as well as the international space community); Lithuanian Space Association (established 2009; is an association of public and state-funded scientific and technology research institutes and private businesses behind much of Lithuania&rsquo;s space program, including satellite development and ties to international space programs) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has a small but growing space program; operates satellites; manufactures small satellites; conducts research and development of other space-related capabilities, including in propulsion system components, infrared-based technologies, remote sensing applications, opto-electronics, and radio frequency systems, as well as those related to astronomy (has one of the oldest observatories in Europe located in Vilnius) and space applications for life and physical sciences; participates in international space programs; associate member of the European Space Agency (ESA); has cooperated with space agencies and industries of China, India, Russia, Ukraine, and the US, as well as individual ESA/EU member states; as of 2022, more than 30 Lithuanian companies participated in space supply chains, as well as small satellite production (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Transnational Issues": {
"Disputes - international": {
"text": "<p><em>Lithuania-Belarus</em>: as of January 2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and mapped with final ratification documents in preparation</p> <p><em>Lithuania-Lativa</em>: boundary demarcated with Latvia was completed in 1998</p> <p><em>Lithuania-Russia</em>:<strong> </strong>Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to strict Schengen border rules; in January 2018, demarcation of the Lithuania-Russia border was completed</p>"
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "48,425 (Ukraine) (as of 24 July 2023)"
"text": "48,425 (Ukraine) (as of 4 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "2,720 (2022)"

13
europe/lo.json
View file

@ -1214,13 +1214,24 @@
"text": "Slovakia became a member of NATO in 2004<br><br>in 2022, Slovakia agreed to host a NATO ground force battlegroup comprised of troops from Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the US; Czechia and Poland also provide fighter aircraft for the NATO air policing mission over Slovakia (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "no national government agency; the Slovak Space Office is responsible for inter-ministerial political coordination and multilateral international cooperation; it serves as the official national contact point for international cooperation between space agencies, offices, associations, businesses, and research entities, and is part of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "focused on the development of satellites, satellite subcomponents, and other space-related technologies; as a member state of the EU, it is actively involved in all key components of the EU space program, and Slovak researchers actively participate in a variety of EU and/or European Space Agency (ESA) space missions including the Galileo global navigational system program, Copernicus Earth observation satellite program, Rosetta comet probe, BepiColombo (Mercury planetary orbiter), and Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission; has more than 40 established companies actively involved in the space sector (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Transnational Issues": {
"Disputes - international": {
"text": "<p><em>Slovakia-Austria</em>: none identified</p> <p><em>Slovakia-Czechia</em>: none identified</p> <p><em>Slovakia-Hungary</em>: initiated by the 1977 Budapest Treaty, Hungary and formerly Czechoslovakia agreed to a hydroelectric dam project on the Danube with dams to be constructed at Gabcikovo (Slovakia) and Nagymaros (Hungary) to prevent floods, improve river navigability, and to generate electricity; when Hungary suspended work on the project until its environmental impact could be assessed, Slovakia continued working on it and adopted a pared down strategy to divert the Danube so that all construction was within Czechoslovakian territory; Hungary terminated the project on environmental and economic grounds in 1989, and in 1992 both countries took the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ); the ICJ found largely in favor of then Slovakia, finding Hungary had breached their agreement; however, then Czechoslovakia should not have begun the alternative plan before the ICJ ruled on the case; in 2017, Hungary and Slovakia agreed to discontinue the ICJ proceedings</p> <p><em>Slovakia-Poland</em>: none identified</p> <p><em>Slovakia-Ukraine</em>: tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees are crossing the border to Slovakia to escape the Russian invasion in their country</p>"
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "105,245 (Ukraine) (as of 23 July 2023)"
"text": "105,600 (Ukraine) (as of 30 July 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "2,940 (2022)"

11
europe/lu.json
View file

@ -1179,6 +1179,17 @@
"text": "Luxembourg is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949<br><br>in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA; established 2018) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "aims to be the commercial space hub for Europe; LSA established largely to develop space policy, encourage and coordinate commercial space ventures, support space education, and to promote the country&rsquo;s space-related capabilities internationally; has set up policy and funding initiatives aimed at encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship and attracting space-based industries; focused on developing commercial satellites and infrastructure (Luxembourg is home to some of the largest commercial satellite companies in the world), as well as other space sector capabilities and technologies, such as autonomous vehicles, robotics, remote sensing (RS), communications, and software; member of the European Space Agency (ESA), participates in ESA programs, and cooperates with individual ESA and EU member states; also has relations with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UAE, and the US (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Transnational Issues": {
"Disputes - international": {
"text": "<p>none identified</p>"

2
europe/md.json
View file

@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "116,835 (Ukraine) (as of 23 July 2023)"
"text": "117,340 (Ukraine) (as of 7 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "1,701 (2022)"

16
europe/mj.json
View file

@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
{
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. The later medieval state of Zeta maintained its existence until 1496 when Montenegro finally fell under Ottoman rule. Over subsequent centuries, Montenegro managed to maintain a level of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it transformed into a secular principality. Montenegro was recognized as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. After World War I, during which Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. At the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro joined with Serbia, creating the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, shifting to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the two-state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia barely exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally restore its independence on 3 June 2006. In 2017, Montenegro joined NATO and is currently completing its EU accession process, having officially applied to join the EU in December 2008."
}
},
"Geography": {
"Location": {
"text": "Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia"
@ -103,11 +108,6 @@
"text": "strategic location along the Adriatic coast"
}
},
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "The use of the name Crna Gora or Black Mountain (Montenegro) began in the 13th century in reference to a highland region in the Serbian province of Zeta. The later medieval state of Zeta maintained its existence until 1496 when Montenegro finally fell under Ottoman rule. Over subsequent centuries, Montenegro managed to maintain a level of autonomy within the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th centuries, Montenegro was a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop princes; in 1852, it transformed into a secular principality. Montenegro was recognized as an independent sovereign principality at the Congress of Berlin in 1878. After World War I, during which Montenegro fought on the side of the Allies, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1929. At the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro joined with Serbia, creating the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, shifting to a looser State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from the two-state union. The vote for severing ties with Serbia barely exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU - allowing Montenegro to formally restore its independence on 3 June 2006. In 2017, Montenegro joined NATO and is currently completing its EU accession process, having officially applied to join the EU in December 2008."
}
},
"People and Society": {
"Population": {
"text": "602,445 (2023 est.)"
@ -578,7 +578,7 @@
"text": "Prime Minister Dritan ABAZOVIC (since 28 April 2022)"
},
"cabinet": {
"text": "Ministers act as cabinet"
"text": "ministers act as cabinet"
},
"elections/appointments": {
"text": "president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 March 2023 with a runoff on 2 April 2023 (next to be held in 2028); prime minister nominated by the president, approved by the Assembly"
@ -1245,12 +1245,12 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "48,700 (Ukraine) (as of 31 July 2023)"
"text": "50,800 (Ukraine) (as of 7 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "468 (2022)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> 31,873 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2023)"
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> 32,230 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-August 2023)"
},
"Illicit drugs": {
"text": "<p>drug trafficking groups are major players in the procurement and transportation of of large quantities of cocaine destined for European markets</p>"

26
europe/mt.json
View file

@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
{
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta&rsquo;s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times having come under control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and the French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination while its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008."
}
},
"Geography": {
"Location": {
"text": "Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)"
@ -95,11 +100,6 @@
"text": "the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing oil exploration on the continental shelf between their countries, although no commercially viable reserves have been found as of 2017"
}
},
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "With a civilization that dates back thousands of years, Malta boasts some of the oldest megalithic sites in the world. Situated in the center of the Mediterranean, Malta&rsquo;s islands have long served as a strategic military asset, with the islands at various times having come under control of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Moors, Normans, Sicilians, Spanish, Knights of St. John, and the French. Most recently a British colony (since 1814), Malta gained its independence in 1964 and declared itself a republic 10 years later. While under British rule, the island staunchly supported the UK through both world wars. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination while its key industries moved toward more service-oriented activities. Malta became an EU member in May 2004 and began using the euro as currency in 2008."
}
},
"People and Society": {
"Population": {
"text": "467,138 (2023 est.)"
@ -542,7 +542,7 @@
"text": "president indirectly elected by the House of Representatives for a single 5-year term; election last held on 2 April 2019 (next to be held by April 2024); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a 5-year term; deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister"
},
"election results": {
"text": "<em>2019:</em> George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous; <em>2020:</em> Robert ABELA (PL) appointed prime minister<br><br><em>2014:</em> Maria Louise Coleiro PRECO elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous"
"text": "<em><br>2019:</em> George VELLA (PL) elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous; <em>2020:</em> Robert ABELA (PL) appointed prime minister<br><em>2014:</em> Maria Louise Coleiro PRECO elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous"
}
},
"Legislative branch": {
@ -1179,14 +1179,22 @@
"text": "Malta maintains a security policy of neutrality, but contributes to EU and UN military missions and joined NATO&rsquo;s Partnership for Peace program in 1995 (suspended in 1996, but reactivated in 2008); it also participates in various bilateral and multinational military exercises; Malta cooperates closely with Italy on defense matters; in 1973, Italy established a military mission in Malta to provide advice, training, and search and rescue assistance (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST; established in 1988 by the Maltese Government as a public body to provide advice and coordinate on science, technology, and space-related issues) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MSCT) is a public body originally established by the Maltese Government to provide advice on science and technology policy; its mission has since expanded to building relationships with foreign space agencies, the Maltese Government, industry, and the educational sector with the aim of exploring the use and sharing of space-related applications; the MCST acts for and on behalf of the Foundation for Science and Technology; it has established relationships with the European Space Agency (ESA), the French Space Agency (CNES), the Italian Space Agency (ASI), and Eurisy, a Paris-based, non-profit association that brings together space agencies, international organizations, research institutions, and private businesses involved or interested in space-related activities across Europe (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear Appendix S"
}
},
"Transnational Issues": {
"Disputes - international": {
"text": "<p>none identified</p>"
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "5,890 (Ukraine) (as of 16 July 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "11 (2022)"
},

13
europe/nl.json
View file

@ -941,7 +941,7 @@
"Energy": {
"Electricity access": {
"electrification - total population": {
"text": "100% (2020)"
"text": "100% (2021)"
}
},
"Electricity": {
@ -1250,6 +1250,17 @@
"text": "the Netherlands is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949<br><br>since 1973, the Dutch Marine Corps has worked closely with the British Royal Marines, including jointly in the UK-Netherlands amphibious landing force; the Dutch Army cooperates closely with the German Army, including integrated units <br><br>in 2020, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands formed a joint Composite Special Operations Component Command (C-SOCC); in 2015, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories; under the agreement, which went into effect in January of 2017, the Belgian and Dutch Air Forces trade responsibility for patrolling the skies over the three countries (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Netherlands Space Office (NSO; established 2009); Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON; advises NSO on scientific space research; established 1983) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has an active space program focused on the added value of space on science, the economy, and society, as well as the development of cutting edge space technologies and services based on satellite data; builds and operates satellites; researches and develops technologies related to astrophysics, telecommunications, remote sensing (RS), propulsion systems, atmospheric measuring instruments (such as spectrometers), planetary/exoplanetary research, and robotics; active member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and participates in the construction of ESA satellite launch vehicles (Arienne and VEGA) and in the ESA astronaut training program; participates in international space programs and with other foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Japan, the US, and members of the EU; has a robust commercial space sector tied in to the larger European space economy (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",

16
europe/no.json
View file

@ -1214,13 +1214,27 @@
"text": "Norway is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; the Norwegian Armed Forces cooperate closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009<br><br>the origins of the Norwegian military go back to the leidangen, defense forces which were established along the coastline in the 10th century to protect the Norwegian coast (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA, aka Norsk Romsenter; established 1987) (2023)"
},
"Space launch site(s)": {
"text": "And&oslash;ya Space Center (And&oslash;ya Island; established 1962, privatized 1997) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has a broad and active space program coordinated with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the EU; jointly designs and builds satellites with foreign partners, including communications, remote sensing (RS), scientific, and navigational/positional; operates satellites; develops and launches sounding rockets; researches and produces a range of other space-related technologies, including satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) and space station components, telescopes, and robotics; conducts solar and telecommunications research; participates in international space programs, such as the International Space Station; hosts training for Mars landing missions on the island of Svalbard; active member of the ESA and cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, ESA/EU member states, Japan, Russia, and the US; has an active and advanced space industry that cooperates with both the NOSA and foreign space programs and produces a variety of space-related products, from terminals for satellite communications and technologies for RS satellites to sensors for gamma radiation in deep space (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Transnational Issues": {
"Disputes - international": {
"text": "<p><em>Norway-Antarctica</em>: Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf)</p> <p><em>Norway-Russia</em>: Russia amended its 2001 CLCS submission in 2015 and 2021, each time delineating the outer limits of its continental shelf further into the Arctic Ocean; Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010, ending a dispute over an area of the Barents Sea by dividing the territory equally</p> <p><em>Norway-Sweden</em>: none identified</p> <p> </p> <p> </p>"
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "15,901 (Syria), 10,883 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 48,280 (Ukraine) (as of 10 July 2023)"
"text": "15,901 (Syria), 10,883 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 48,280 (Ukraine) (as of 27 July 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "3,901 (2022)"

13
europe/pl.json
View file

@ -1255,6 +1255,17 @@
"text": "Poland joined NATO in 1999; Czechia, Hungary, and Poland were invited to begin accession talks at NATO's Madrid Summit in 1997, and in March 1999 they became the first former members of the Warsaw Pact to join the Alliance<br><br>since 2017, Poland has hosted a US-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence initiative; since 2014, Poland has also hosted NATO fighter detachments at Malbork Air Base under NATO's enhanced air policing arrangements<br><br>Poland hosts a NATO-led divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Northeast; operational in 2018), which coordinates training and preparation activities of its respective subordinate battlegroups in Poland and Lithuania; Poland also hosts a corps-level headquarters (Multinational Corps Northeast) (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Polish Space Agency (POLSA; established 2014; operational in 2015); Space Research Center (SRC, interdisciplinary research institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences that acted as Poland&rsquo;s space agency until POLSA was established in 1977) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "space program is integrated within the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA); builds satellites, including nano/cube remote sensing (RS) and educational/scientific/technology satellites; researches and develops communications, RS, navigational, and other scientific applications for satellite payloads; creating infrastructure for receiving, storing, processing and distributing data from meteorological and environmental satellites; researches and develops other space-related technologies, including sensors and robotic probes for interplanetary landers, and launcher systems; participates in international space programs and cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Brazil, Canada, China, ESA/EU member states (particularly France, Germany, Italy), India, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Ukraine, UK, and the US; has a growing commercial space sector with more than 300 active enterprises (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
@ -1267,7 +1278,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "999,960 (Ukraine) (as of 26 June 2023)"
"text": "968,390 (Ukraine) (as of 27 July 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "1,435 (2022)"

14
europe/po.json
View file

@ -1221,6 +1221,20 @@
"text": "Portugal is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949 (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Portugal Space (aka Portuguese Space Agency or Ag&ecirc;ncia Espacial Portuguesa; established 2019); Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; government agency that funds space research established in 2009) (2023)"
},
"Space launch site(s)": {
"text": "in 2019, announced intentions to build a commercial space port on Santa Maria Island in the Azores (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has a national space program which is is integrated within the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA); builds and operates satellites; researches and develops a range of space-related technologies with an emphasis on small/micro/nano satellites for remote sensing (RS), navigation, science/technology, and telecommunications, as well as satellite launch services; in addition to the ESA/EU and their member states, cooperates with the space agencies and industries of a variety of countries, including those of Algeria, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Morocco, South Korea, and the US, as well as such international organizations and projects as the Europe South Observatory (ESO) and the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Observatory project; Portugal Space acts as a business and development unit for universities, research entities and companies (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",

15
europe/ro.json
View file

@ -1253,6 +1253,17 @@
"text": "Romania became a member of NATO in 2004<br><br>Romania hosts a NATO multinational divisional headquarters (Multinational Division Southeast; became operational in 2017) and a French-led ground force battlegroup as part of NATO's tailored forward presence in the southeastern part of the Alliance in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine; Romania conducts its own air policing mission, but because of Russian aggression in the Black Sea region, NATO allies have sent detachments of fighters to augment the Romanian Air Force since 2014 (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Romanian Space Agency (Agentia Spatiala Romania, ROSA; established 1991) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "space program is integrated into the European Space Agency (ESA) and dates back to the 1960s; program is involved in the development and production of a wide range of capabilities and technologies, including satellites, satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs), remote sensing, human space flight, navigation, telecommunications, and other space-related applications; in addition to the ESA/EU and their member states (particularly Bulgaria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy), it cooperates with a variety of other space agencies and commercial space entities, including those of Azerbaijan, China, Japan, Russia, and the US; also participates in international programs; has an active space industry sector with over 50 entities involved in space-related activities (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
@ -1265,12 +1276,12 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "95,035 (Ukraine) (as of 23 July 2023)"
"text": "95,160 (Ukraine) (as of 6 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "297 (2022)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> 14,408 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2023)"
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> 14,611 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015-July 2023)"
},
"Illicit drugs": {
"text": "<p>a source country for cannabis</p>"

2
europe/si.json
View file

@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "9,970 (Ukraine) (as of 24 July 2023)"
"text": "10,010 (Ukraine) (as of 7 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "10 (2020)"

30
europe/sp.json
View file

@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
{
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "<p>Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World War I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently, Spain has emerged from a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008, posting solid years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region.</p>"
}
},
"Geography": {
"Location": {
"text": "Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France"
@ -103,11 +108,6 @@
"text": "strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas; Spain's Canary Islands are one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), and Cabo Verde"
}
},
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "<p>Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World War I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy, and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently, Spain has emerged from a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008, posting solid years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region.</p>"
}
},
"People and Society": {
"Population": {
"text": "47,222,613 (2023 est.)"
@ -577,7 +577,7 @@
"text": "<br>Senate - last held on 23 July 2023 (next to be held no later than July 2027)<br>Congress of Deputies - last held on 23 July 2023 (next to be held no later than July 2027)"
},
"election results": {
"text": "<br>Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 120, PSOE 72, ERC 7, PNV 4, other 5; composition (as of mid-2022) - men 161, women 104; percent of women 39.3%<br>Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PP 33.3%, PSOE 32.0%, Vox 12.5%, Sumar 12.4%, ERC 1.9%, JuntsxCat 1.6%, EH-Bildu 1.4%, PNV 1.3% other 3.6%; seats by party - PP 136, PSOE 122, Vox 33, Sumar 31, ERC 7, JuntsxCat 7, EH-Bildu 6, PNV 5, other 3; men 196, women 154, percent of women 44%; note - overall General Courts percent of women 42%"
"text": "<br>Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 120, PSOE 72, ERC 7, PNV 4, other 5; composition (as of mid-2022) - men 161, women 104; percent of women 39.3%<br>Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PP 33.1%, PSOE 31.7%, Vox 12.4%, Sumar 12.3%, ERC 1.7%, JuntsxCat 1.6%, EH-Bildu 1.4%, PNV 1.1% other 4.7%; seats by party - PP 136, PSOE 122, Vox 33, Sumar 31, ERC 7, JuntsxCat 7, EH-Bildu 6, PNV 5, other 3; men 196, women 154, percent of women 44%; note - overall General Courts percent of women 42%"
}
},
"Judicial branch": {
@ -1258,6 +1258,20 @@
"text": "Spain joined NATO in 1982 but refrained from participating in the integrated military structure until 1996; the Spanish Marine Corps, established in 1537, is the oldest marine corps in the world; the Spanish Army has an infantry regiment, formed in the 13th century, that is considered the oldest still active military unit in the western world<br><br>Spain created a Spanish Legion for foreigners in 1920, but early on the Legion was primarily filled by native Spaniards due to difficulties in recruiting foreigners and most of its foreign members were from the Republic of Cuba; it was modeled after the French Foreign Legion and its purpose was to provide a corps of professional troops to fight in Spain's colonial campaigns in North Africa; in more recent years, it has been used in NATO peacekeeping deployments; today’s Legion includes a mix of native Spaniards and foreigners with Spanish residency (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Spanish Space Agency (became operational in April 2023); previously, the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (Instituto Nacional de T&eacute;cnica Aeroespacial or INTA, established 1942), a public research organization that depends on the Ministry of Defense, acted as Spain&rsquo;s space agency; Center for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI); Catalan Space Agency (established 2021); Valencian Space Consortium (established 2009) (2023)"
},
"Space launch site(s)": {
"text": "Arenosillo Experiment Center/Range (Andalusia); private launch site (Teruel province) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "space program is integrated into the European Space Agency (ESA) and dates back to the 1940s; manufactures and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific/technology satellites; has developed sounding rockets; conducts research and development in a broad range of space-related capabilities, including astrobiology, astronomy, imaging/RS, materials, meteorology, optics, propulsion, robotics, satellites (particularly micro- and nano-satellites), satellite systems and subsystems, satellite/space launch vehicles (SLVs), and space sciences; participates in ESA, EU, and other international programs; hosts the European Space Astronomy Center (ESOC) and the ESA&rsquo;s Space Surveillance and Tracking Data Centre (ESAC); cooperates with foreign space agencies and industries, including those of ESA and EU member states and the US; has a considerable commercial space industry, which is involved in a wide range of space-related research, development, and production, including satellites and SLVs; the CDTI coordinates the activities of the commercial space sector (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida",
@ -1270,12 +1284,12 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "14,994 (Syria) (mid-year 2022); 438,400 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2022); 186,045 (Ukraine) (as of 30 July 2023)"
"text": "14,994 (Syria) (mid-year 2022); 438,400 (Venezuela) (economic and political crisis; includes Venezuelans who have claimed asylum, are recognized as refugees, or have received alternative legal stay) (2022); 186,045 (Ukraine) (as of 6 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "6,489 (2022)"
},
"note": "<strong>note: </strong>293,878 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals, including Canary Islands (January 2015-July 2023)"
"note": "<strong>note: </strong>295,589 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals, including Canary Islands (January 2015-August 2023)"
},
"Illicit drugs": {
"text": "<p>a primary European transit point for cocaine from South America and for hashish from Morocco; cocaine is shipped in raw or liquid form with mixed cargo to avoid detection or altered to escape detection Spanish chemists reconstitute it and distribute to Europe; minor domestic drug production; synthetic drugs, including ketamine, new psychoactive substances (NPS), and MDMA transit from Spain to the United States</p>"

16
europe/sw.json
View file

@ -1245,6 +1245,20 @@
"text": "Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment for over 200 years before applying for NATO membership in May 2022; before then, Stockholm joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1994 and contributed to NATO-led missions, including those in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo<br><br>the Swedish military cooperates closely with the military forces of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; NORDEFCO was established in 2009<br><br>Sweden is a signatory of the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy and contributes to CSDP missions and operations (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Swedish National Space Agency (SNSA; established 1972; known until 2018 as the Swedish National Space Board) (2023)"
},
"Space launch site(s)": {
"text": "Esrange Space Center (Kiruna); Esrange is slated to become a new European launch site for small satellites in 2023; Esrange also accommodates one of the world&rsquo;s largest civilian satellite ground stations and acts as a hub for Sweden&rsquo;s satellite station network (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and program is integrated within the framework of the ESA; produces and operates satellites; builds and launches sounding rockets; involved in the research, development, production, and operations of a wide variety of other space-related areas and capabilities, including astronomy, atmospheric monitoring, geographic information systems, infrared imaging, meteorology, propulsion systems, remote sensing, satellite subsystems, spacecraft systems and structures, space physics, scientific research, stratospheric balloons, and telecommunications; conducts extensive bilateral and multilateral international cooperation, in particular through the ESA and EU and their member states, as well as with the US; has a robust commercial space industry with more than 30 companies involved in a broad range of space-related capabilities (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
@ -1257,7 +1271,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "113,213 (Syria), 26,857 (Afghanistan), 25,849 (Eritrea), 10,464 (Iraq), 9,315 (Somalia), 7,146 (Iran) (mid-year 2022); 40,455 (Ukraine) (as of 20 July 2023)"
"text": "113,213 (Syria), 26,857 (Afghanistan), 25,849 (Eritrea), 10,464 (Iraq), 9,315 (Somalia), 7,146 (Iran) (mid-year 2022); 40,720 (Ukraine) (as of 3 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "46,515 (2022); note - the majority of stateless people are from the Middle East and Somalia"

23
europe/sz.json
View file

@ -1,4 +1,9 @@
{
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "<p>The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.</p> <p> </p>"
}
},
"Geography": {
"Location": {
"text": "Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy"
@ -101,11 +106,6 @@
"text": "landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps"
}
},
"Introduction": {
"Background": {
"text": "<p>The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. A constitution of 1848, subsequently modified in 1874 to allow voters to introduce referenda on proposed laws, replaced the confederation with a centralized federal government. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.</p> <p> </p>"
}
},
"People and Society": {
"Population": {
"text": "8,563,760 (2023 est.)"
@ -1249,6 +1249,17 @@
"text": "<p>Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality but does periodically participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and UN military and peacekeeping operations; however, Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE; Switzerland joined NATO’s Partnership for Peace program in 1996; it contributed to the NATO-led Kosovo force (KFOR) in 1999 and as of 2023, continued doing so with up to 165 personnel; Switzerland also provided a small number of staff officers to the NATO mission in Afghanistan from 2004-2007</p> (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "Switzerland does not have its own national space agency; it does most of its research and development within the framework of the European Space Agency&rsquo;s (ESA) activities and programs; the Swiss Space Office, under the State Secretariat for Education, Research, and Innovation (SERI), is the government body responsible for space matters, including implementing national space policy, coordinating space activities, serving as the government point of contact for space industry and scientific institutions, and representation with the ESA and other international partners; the Federal Commission on Space Affairs provides advice and recommendations to the Federal Council on space matters; the Committee on Space Research of the Swiss Academy of Sciences coordinates and stimulates space research in Switzerland (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "space program integrated within the ESA framework; manufactures satellites and satellite payloads and products/components for satellite launch vehicles, satellites (particularly remote sensing, navigational, and telecommunications), and ground stations, including electronics, fairings, laser and fiber optics, sensor and nano technologies, scientific instruments, and software; produces atomic clocks (for navigational needs); has a considerable space research effort and has provided scientific instruments for a range of ESA and other space programs; participates in international space programs such as the International Space Station; has relations with a range of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of China, ESA and EU member states, Japan, and the US; the Swiss space industry is spread across approximately 100 businesses, most of which provide niche capabilities and supplies to large space companies (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)",
@ -1261,7 +1272,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "14,726 (Eritrea), 11,441 (Afghanistan), 8,039 (Syria), (mid-year 2022); 65,345 (Ukraine) (as of 1 August 2023)"
"text": "14,726 (Eritrea), 11,441 (Afghanistan), 8,039 (Syria), (mid-year 2022); 65,385 (Ukraine) (as of 8 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "891 (2022)"

16
europe/uk.json
View file

@ -1256,6 +1256,20 @@
"text": "the UK is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) in 1949; the UK is also a member of the Five Power Defense Arrangements (FPDA), a series of mutual assistance agreements reached in 1971 embracing Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK; the FPDA commits the members to consult with one another in the event or threat of an armed attack on any of the members and to mutually decide what measures should be taken, jointly or separately; there is no specific obligation to intervene militarily <br><br>in 2010, France and the UK signed a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF), a deployable, combined Anglo-French military force for use in a wide range of crisis scenarios, up to and including high intensity combat operations; the CJEF has no standing forces but would be available at short notice for UK-French bilateral, NATO, EU, UN, or other operations; combined training exercises began in 2011; as of 2020, the CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel capable of high intensity operations, peacekeeping, disaster relief, and humanitarian assistance<br><br>in 2014, the UK led the formation of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a pool of high-readiness military forces from Baltic and Scandinavian countries able to respond to a wide range of contingencies both in peacetime and in times of crisis or conflict; its principal geographic area of interest is the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions, where the JEF can complement national capabilities or NATO’s deterrence posture, although it is designed to be flexible and prepared to respond to humanitarian crises further afield; the JEF consists of 10 countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK) and was declared operational in 2018; most of the forces in the pool are British, and the UK provides the most rapidly deployable units as well as the command and control elements<br><br>the British Armed Forces were formed in 1707 as the armed forces of the Kingdom of Great Britain when England and Scotland merged under the terms of the Treaty of Union; while the origins of the armed forces of England and Scotland stretch back to the Middle Ages, the first standing armies for England and Scotland were organized in the 1600s while the navies were formed in the 1500s; the Royal Marines were established in 1755; the Royal Air Force was created in April 1918 by the merger of the British Army's Royal Flying Corps and the Admiralty's Royal Naval Air Service (2023)"
}
},
"Space": {
"Space agency/agencies": {
"text": "UK Space Agency (UKSA; established in 2010); the UKSA replaced the British National Space Center (BNSC; organized in 1985); UK Space Command (formed 2021) (2023)"
},
"Space launch site(s)": {
"text": "preparing commercial space ports at SaxaVord (Shetland Islands) and Sutherland (Cornwall); a 2021 national space strategy called for additional space launch facilities in Argyll, Prestwick, Outer Hebrides (Scotland), and Snowdonia (Wales) (2023)"
},
"Space program overview": {
"Space programs overview": {
"text": "has a comprehensive space program and is active across all areas of the space sector outside of launching humans into space, including space launch vehicles (SLVs)/rockets and their components, space probes, satellites and satellite subcomponents, space sensors, spaceports, and various other space-related technologies; as a founding member of the European Space Agency (ESA), it is heavily involved in ESA programs and has bi-lateral relations with many members; is a close partner of the US NASA and since 2016 has forged over 350 relationships with international organizations across nearly 50 developing countries; has an extensive commercial space sector that produces SLVs, SLV components, satellites, satellite subcomponents and sensors, and other space-related technologies; as of 2020, the UK&rsquo;s space sector generated revenues of over $20 billion per year (2023)"
},
"note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S"
}
},
"Terrorism": {
"Terrorist group(s)": {
"text": "Continuity Irish Republican Army; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); New Irish Republican Army; al-Qa'ida",
@ -1268,7 +1282,7 @@
},
"Refugees and internally displaced persons": {
"refugees (country of origin)": {
"text": "21,904 (Iran), 15,615 (Eritrea), 11,371 (Sudan), 12,155 (Syria), 10,259 (Afghanistan), 8,009 (Pakistan), 7,699 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 206,700 (Ukraine) (as of 26 June 2023)"
"text": "21,904 (Iran), 15,615 (Eritrea), 11,371 (Sudan), 12,155 (Syria), 10,259 (Afghanistan), 8,009 (Pakistan), 7,699 (Iraq) (mid-year 2022); 210,800 (Ukraine) (as of 1 August 2023)"
},
"stateless persons": {
"text": "5,483 (2022)"

24
europe/up.json
View file

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