MODULE : EU – FACTS , NUMBERS ,

ECONOMY AND TRADING

In this module we offer a brief presentation of the

following issues :

• EUROPEAN ECONOMY AND CURRENCY

• EU – FACTS AND NUMBERS• EU’s CONFIGURATION

I. EUROPEAN ECONOMY AND CURRENCY

II. EU – FACTS AND NUMBERS

III. EU’s CONFIGURATION This chapter contains the presentation of EU nations

AREA: 547 030 km2

POPULATION: 60 180 529 INHABITANTSPOSITION: WEST OF EUROPEBORDERS: BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG, GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, ITALY, MONACO, SPAIN, ANDORRA, MEDITERRANEAN SEACAPITAL:PARISFORM OF STATE: PRESIDENTIAL REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: FRENCHCURRENCY: EURONATIONAL DAY: 14TH OF JULY FONDATOR MEMBER

BEST KNOWN FOR :ARCH OF TRIUMPH LOUVRE MUSEUM EIFFEL TOWER NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL VERSAILLES PALACE DISNEYLANDMONT BLANC, HIGHEST MOUNTAIN PEAK OF EUROPE (4807)LUXURY PRODUCTS: PARFUMES, COSMETICS CHEESEWINESLOIRE VALLEYPERSONALITIES: HONORE DE BALZAC, MOLIERE, VICTOR HUGO, JULES VERNE

AREA: 357 021 KM2

POPULAŢION: 82 398 326 INHABITANTSPOSITION: CENTER OF EUROPEBORDERS: NORTH SEA, BALTIC SEA, POLAND, CEZCH, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND, FRANCE, LUXEMBOURG, BELGIUM, HOLLAND, DENMARKCAPITAL: BERLINFORM OF STATE: PARLIAMENT OF REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: GERMANCURRENCY: EURONATIONAL DAY: 3RD OF OCTOBER

BEST KNOWN FOR: CASTLESTHE WALL OF BERLIN BRANDENBURG GATE – BERLIN’S SYMBOLCAR BRANDS GRIMM BROTHERS STORIESPERSONALITIES: JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH, LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN, JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE, THOMAS MANN

AREA: 301 230 KM2

POPULAŢION: 10 665 989 INHABITANTSPOSITION: SOUTH OF EUROPECAPITAL: ROMAFORM OF STATE: PARLIAMENT OF REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: ITALIANCURRENCY: EURONATIONAL DAY: 2ND OF JUNEFONDATOR MEMBER

BEST KNOWN FOR: VENICESAINT PETER CHURCHPIZZA AND SPAGHETTIPERSONALITIES: LEONARDO DA VINCI, MICHELANGELO, CRISTOFOR COLUMB, LUCIANO PAVAROTI

AREA: 41 526 KM2

POPULAŢION: 16 150 511 INHABITANTSPOSITION: WEST OF EUROPEBORDERS: GERMANY, BELGIUM, NORTH SEACAPITAL: AMSTERDAM, HAGAFORM OF STATE: CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: DUTCHCURRENCY: EURONATIONAL DAY: 30TH OF APRILFONDATOR MEMBER

BEST KNOWN FOR:TULIPSMOULIN EOLIENPERSONALITIES: VINCENT VAN GOGH, MATA HARI

AREA: 30 510 KM2

POPULAŢION: 10 289 088 INHABITANTSPOSITION: WEST OF EUROPEBORDERS: HOLLAND, GERMANY, FRANCE, NORTH SEACAPITAL: BRUXELLESFORM OF STATE: CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: NEERLANDES, FRENCH, GERMANCURRENCY: EURONATIONAL DAY: 21ST OF JULYFONDATOR MEMBER

BEST KNOWN FOR: MINI-EUROPE PARKDIAMONDS MUSEUMANVERS IS THE CITY OF DIAMONDS – HERE ONE CAN BUY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DIAMONDSATOMS MUSEUM FROM BRUXELLESPERSONALITIES: GERARDUS MERCATOR

AREA: 2 586 KM2

POPULAŢION: 454 157 INHABITANTSPOSITION: WEST OF EUROPEBORDERS: BELGIUM, GERMANY, FRANCECAPITAL: LUXEMBOURGFORM OF STATE: CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: FRENCH, GERMAN, LUXEMBOURGISHCURRENCY: EURONATIONAL DAY: 23RD OF JUNEFONDATOR MEMBER

BEST KNOWN FOR: NOTRE DAME CATHEDRALPERSONALITIES: ROBERT SCHUMAN

AREA: 244 820 KM2

POPULAŢION: 60 094 648 INHABITANTSPOSITION: WEST OF ATLANTICBORDERS: THE ATLANTIC, NORTH SEA, SLEEVE SEA, IRELAND SEA, IRELANDCAPITAL: LONDONFORM OF STATE: CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: ENGLISHCURRENCY: POUNDS STERLING

NATIONAL DAY: 2ND SATURDAY FROM JUNE (QUEEN’S DAY)FONDATOR MEMBER SINCE 1973

BEST KNOWN FOR:THE MONSTER FROM LOCH NESS BUCKINGHAM PALACELONDON TOWERPERSONALITIES: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, LADY DIANA

AREA: 70 280 KM2

POPULAŢION: 3 924 140 INHABITANTSPOSITION: ÎN EXTREMITATEA VESTICĂ A EUROPEIBORDERS: GREAT BRITAIN(NORTH IRELAND), THE ATLANTICCAPITAL: DUBLINFORM OF STATE : REPUBLICĂ PARLAMENTARĂOFICIAL LANGUAGE : ENGLISH , IRISHCURRENCY: EURO

NATIONAL DAY: 17TH OF MARCH (SAINT PATRICK’S DAY)MEMBER SINCE 1973

BEST KNOWN FOR:LEGENDS WITH ELVESSAINT PATRICK, IRELANDS PROTECTORPERSONALITIES: JAMES JOICE

AREA: 43 094 KM2

POPULAŢION: 10 249 216 INHABITANTSPOSITION: NORTH WEST OF EUROPEBORDERS: GERMANY, NORTH SEA, BALTIC SEACAPITAL: COPENHAGUEFORM OF STATE: CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: DANISHCURRENCY: DANISH CORONA

NATIONAL DAY: 5TH OF JUNE ( CONSTITUTIONS DAY)MEMBER SINCE 1973

BEST KNOWN FOR: KROUNBOURG CASTLE TRIVOLI AMUSAMENT PARKPERSONALITIES: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

AREA: 131 940 KM2

POPULAŢION: 10 665 989 INHABITANTSPOSITION: SOUTH OF EUROPE, IN THE BALKANSCAPITAL: ATHENEFORM OF STATE: PARLIEMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: GREEKCURRENCY: EURONATIONAL DAY: 25TH OF MARCH (INDEPENDENCE DAY – 1821)MEMBER SINCE 1981

BEST KNOWN FOR:OLYMPIC GAMESTHE TEMPLES OF ACROPOLE (PARTHENONUL)OLYMPUS LEGENDS, ATHOS MOUNTAIN PESONALITIES: SOCRATE, PLATON, ARISTOTEL, PITAGORA, AUCLID, HOMER

AREA: 504 782 KM2

POPULAŢION: 40 217 413 INHABITANTSPOSITION: SOUTH WEST OF EUROPEBORDERS: FRANCE, ANDORRA, MEDITERRANIAN SEA, GIBRALTAR, MAROCCO, PORTUGAL, THE ATLANTICCAPITAL: MADRIDFORM OF STATE: CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: SPANISHCURRENCY: EURO

NATIONAL DAY: 12TH OF OCTOMBRIE (HISPANICS DAY)MEMBER SINCE 1986BEST KNOWN FOR:TAURUS CORRIDOS FLAMNECO DANCE EL ESCORIAL – A PALACE FROM MADRIDTHE RESORT PALMA DE MALLORCAPERSONALITIES: CERVATES, TIZIAN, VELASQUEZ, GOYA, PABLO, PICASSO, JULIO IGLESIAS

AREA: 92 391 KM2

POPULAŢION: 10 102 022 INHABITANTSPOSITION: SOUTH WEST OF EUROPEBORDERS: SPAIN, THE ATLANTICCAPITAL: LISABONFORM OF STATE: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: PORTUGUESECURRENCY: EURO

NATIONAL DAY: 10 IUNIE (MARKS THE DEATH OF THE NATIONAL POET LUIS DE CAMOES)MEMBER SINCE 1986BEST KNOWN FOR: PORTO WINE BELEM TOWERPERSONALITIES: ALMADA NEGREIROS (PAINTER), LUIS DE CAMOES

AREA: 337 030 KM2

POPULAŢION: 5 190 785 INHABITANTSPOSITION: THE NORTH OF EUROPEBORDERS: NORWAY, RUSSIA, BALTIC SEA, SWEDENCAPITAL: HELSINKIFORM OF STATE: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGES: FINNISH, SWEDISHCURRENCY: EURONATIONAL DAY: 6TH OF DECEMBER MEMBER SINCE 1995

BEST KNOWN FOR:SANTA CLAUS – RAVANIEMI CITYIT HAS MORE THAN 1000 LAKES KORKEASAARI ZOOPERSONALITIES: JOHAN LUDVIG RUNEBERG (POET)

AREA: 83 858 KM2

POPULAŢION: 8 188 207 INHABITANTSPOSITION: CENTRAL EUROPEBORDERS: GERMANY, CZECH, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, SLOVENIA, ITALY, SWITZERLAND, LIECHTENSTEINCAPITAL: VIENAFORM OF STATE: FEDERAL PARLIAMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGES: GERMANCURRENCY: EURO

NATIONAL DAY: 26TH OF OCTOBERMEMBER SINCE 1995BEST KNOWN FOR:SKI SLOPES FROM ALPSMUSIC AND WINTER SPORTSCHOCOLATE SCHONBRUN PALACEPERSONALITIES: WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

AREA: 449 964 KM2

POPULAŢION: 8 878 085 INHABITANTSPOSITION: NORTH OF EUROPEBORDERS: NORWAY, FINLAND, BALTIC SEACAPITAL: STOCKHOLMFORM OF STATE: CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: SWEDISHCURRENCY: SWEDISH CORRONA

NATIONAL DAY: 6TH OF JULY (INAUGURATION OF WASA-1523 DINASTY)MEMBER SINCE 1995BEST KNOWN FOR:SWEDISH BITTERPERSONALITIES: ALFRED NOBEL, GRETA GARBO

AREA: 78 866 KM2

POPULAŢION: 10 249 216 INHABITANTSPOSITION: CENTRAL EUROPEBORDERS: GERMANY, POLAND, SLOVAKIA, AUSTRIACAPITAL: PRAGUESTATE FORM: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: CZECHCURRENCY: CZECH CORRONA

NATIONAL DAY: 28TH OF OCTOBER (INDEPENDENCE DAY SINCE 1918)MEMBER SINCE 2004BEST KNOWN FOR: UNESCO BIOSPHERIC RESERVATIONUNIVERSITY CAROL FROM PRAGUE HRAD CASTLE FROM PRAGUEPERSONALITIES: MARTINA NABRATILOVA (TENNIS PLAYER)

AREA: 9 250 KM2

POPULATION: 771 657 INHABITANTSPOSITION: OMONIM ISLAND FROM THE EAST OF MEDITERRANIAN SEABORDERS: MEDITERRANIAN SEA (CLOSEST STATE TO TURKEY – 65 KM DISTANCE)CAPITAL: NICOSIA STATE FORM: PRESIDENTIAL REPUBLIC

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: GREEK, TURKISHCURRENCY: EURONATIONAL DAY: 1ST OF OCTOBERMEMBER SINCE 2004BEST KNOWN FOR: ASINOU CHURCHWINE FESTIVALPERSONALITIES: ANNA VISSI (SINGER)

AREA: 45 226 KM2

POPULAŢION: 1 408 556 INHABITANTSPOSITION: CENTRAL - NORTH PART OF EUROPEBORDERS: LETON, RUSSIA, BALTIC SEACAPITAL: TALLINNSTATE FORM: PARLIAMENT REUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: ESTONIANCURRENCY: ESTONIAN CORRONA

NATIONAL DAY: 24 TH OF FEBRUARY (INDEPENDENCE DAY SINCE 1918)MEMBER SINCE 2004BEST KNOWN FOR: LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARKSONG FESTIVALPERSONALITIES: ADAMSON ERIC (PAINTER)

AREA: 64 589 KM2

POPULATION: 2 348 784 INHABITANTSPOSITION: CENTRAL NORTH PART OF EUROPEBORDERS: ESTONIA, RUSSIA, BELARUS, LITHUANIA, BALTIC SEASTATE FORM: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICCAPITAL ; RIGAOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: LETONCURRENCY:LITAS

NATIONAL DAY: 18TH OF NOVEMBER (INDEPENDENCE DAY SINCE 1918)MEMBER SINCE 2004BEST KNOWN FOR:PERSONALITIES: KARLIS BAUMANIS (COMPOSER)

AREA: 65 200 KM2

POPULAŢION: 3 592 561 INHABITANTSPOSITION: CENTRAL EAST EUROPEBORDERS: LETON, BELARUS, POLAND, RUSSIACAPITAL: VILNIUSSTATE FORM: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: LITHUANIANCURRENCY:LITAS

NATIONAL DAY: 16TH OF FEBRUARYMEMBER SINCE 2004 BEST KNOWN FOR:THE OLD HISTORY BUILDING FROM VILNIUSUNIVERSITY OF VILNIUSPERSONALITIES: STOROSTA (WRITER)

AREA: 316 KM2

POPULAŢION: 400 420 INHABITANTSPOSITION: SOUTH OF EUROPE, MEDITERRANIAN SEACAPITAL: VALLETTASTATE FORM: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: FRENH, GERMANCURRENCY: EURO

NATIONAL DAY: 21ST OF SEPTEMBER (INDEPENDENCE DAY SINCE 1964)MEMBER SINCE 2004 BEST KNOWN FOR:BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES , ISLANDSPERSONALITIES: ESPRIT BARTHET ( PAINTER)

AREA: 312 685 KM2

POPULAŢION: 38 662 660 INHABITANTSPOSITION: NORTH OF CENTRAL EUROPEBORDERS: RUSSIA, LITHUANIA, BELARUS, SLOVAKIA, CZECH, GERMANY, BALTIC SEACAPITAL: VARSOVIASTATE FORM: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGES: POLISHCURRENCY: ZLOT

NATIONAL DAY: 3RD OF MAY (CONSTITUTION DAY -1971)MEMBER SINCE 2004 BEST KNOWN FOR: TATRA NATIONAL PARKPERSONALITIES: POPE JOHN PAUL THE 2ND

AREA: 48 845 KM2

POPULAŢION: 5 430 033 INHABITANTSPOSITION: CENTRAL EUROPEBORDERS: POLAND, HUNGARY, AUSTRIA, CZECHCAPITAL: BRATISLAVASTATE FORM: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: SLOVAKCURRENCY: EURO

NATIONAL DAY: 1ST OF JANUARYMEMBER SINCE 2004 BEST KNOWN FOR: TATRA MOUNTAINS – HIGHEST MOUNTAINS FROM THE CARPATHIANSCAVESWATERFALLSPERSONALITIES: LUCIA POPP

AREA: 20 253 KM2

POPULAŢION: 1 935 677 INHABITANTSPOSITION: SOUTH OF EUROPE (BALKANS)BORDERS: ITALY, AUSTRIA, HUNGARY, CROATIA, ADRIATIC SEACAPITAL: LJUBLJANAFORM OF STATE: PARLIEMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: SLOVENIANCURRENCY: EURO

NATIONAL DAY: 25TH OF JUNE, INDEPENDENCE DAYMEMBER SINCE 2004 BEST KNOWN FOR:LAKES AND CAVESWINTER SPORTSPERSONALITIES: ANJA RUPEL ( JURNALIST)

AREA:: 93 030 KM2

POPULAŢION: 10 045 407 INHABITANTSPOSITION: CENTER EUROPEBORDERS: ROMANIA, SERBIA, CROATIA, SLOVENIA, AUSTRIA, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARYCAPITAL: BUDAPESTFORM OF STATE: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICOFFICIAL LANGUAGE : HUNGARIANCURRENCY: FORINT

NATIONAL DAY: 15 TH OF MARCHMEMBER SINCE 2004 BEST KNOWN FOR: BALATON LAKE HORTOBAGY NATURAL PARKCEARDAŞUL ( DANCER )PERSONALITIES: MONICA SELES ( TENNIS PLAYER)

AREA: 110 910 KM2

POPULAŢION: 7 537 929 INHABITANTSPOSITION: SOUTH EAST OF EUROPE, IN THE BALKANSCAPITAL: SOFIABORDERS: ROMANIA, BLACK SEA, TURKEY, GREECE, MACEDONIA, SERBIA ŞI MONTENEGROOFFICIAL LANGUAGE: BULGARIANFORM OF STATE: PARLIAMENT REPUBLICCURRENCY: LEVA

NATIONAL DAY: 3RD OF MARCHMEMBER SINCE 2007 BEST KNOWN FOR:MOSCHEECHURCHESGOLDEN SANDSROSE OILPERSONALITIES: HRISTO BOTEV