AP EURO SNAPSHOT CHART: CONTEMPORARY EUROPE (PRESENT-DAY)
Using the following websites – BBC News (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/default.stm), Europa (http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/index_en.htm), CIA World Factbook
(https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/wfbExt/region_eur.html) and any others you may find on your own - complete the following chart on contemporary European countries in the 21st century.
Country
EU
Member?
State of the
Economy
Currency
Type of
Gov’t
Current Political
Situation
International/
Transnational Issues
Major Social Issue/Problem
AUSTRIA
Yes
Euro
Federal
republic
Under the "grand coalition"
tradition, the centre-left
SPOe and conservative
People's Party have shared
power for much of the postWorld War II period
Permanent neutrality is a
cornerstone of foreign policy.
Vienna is home to key
international organizations
N/A
FRANCE
Yes
Euro
Republic
Francois Hollande is
France's first Socialist
president since Francois
Mitterrand in 1981-95
France is a key European and
world player. It has a strong
military. France is influential
in Africa, especially in former
colonies
Dealing w/ immigrants & guest
workers; Protests of Arab citizens who
are seen as a permanent underclass;
anti-Islamic laws
GERMANY
Yes
Euro
Federal republic
Angela Merkel of the
conservative Christian
Democrats won a third term
as chancellor in 2013
Germany is a major player in
Europe and a proponent of
European integration. It is the
third biggest troop supplier in
Afghanistan
Ageing population; ability to conintue
high welfare and health spending;
how to integrate guest workers and
immigrants (esp. Turks)
GREECE
Yes
Euro
Parliamentary
republic
After inconclusive elections
in May 2012, a further round
of voting in June restored a
shaky coalition of the
advocates of austerity
measures
Greece calls for the
restoration of a unified state
in Cyprus. It is involved in a
naming dispute with
Macedonia
High unemployment has led to
social unrest and the rise in
popularity of far right political
parties (ex. Golden Dawn) and
violence toward immigrants
ITALY
Yes
Banking and insurance
predominate. A strong
industrial sector depends
on exports, with Germany
a key market. An austerity
package aims to balance
the budget by 2016
France has the eurozone's
second-largest economy
and is a leading industrial
power, but has struggled
to emerge from recession
since 2008
Europe's largest economy,
Germany is a leading
manufacturer and
exporter. Vehicles,
machines and chemicals
are key sectors
Enormous debts have
sent Greece into deep
recession. Multi-billioneuro bailouts from the EU
and IMF are conditional
on tough austerity
measures
Italy has the eurozone's
third largest economy and
a huge public debt second only to Greece's
Euro
Republic
Matteo Renzi leads a leftright coalition government
Lowest birthrate in all of Europe
POLAND
Yes
Zloty
Republic
Prime Minister Donald Tusk's
governing coalition won a
second term in October 2011
RUSSIA
No
The economy has
boomed since EU
accession in 2004, and
Poland is one of the
region's top-performing
countries. Unemployment
remains high
Russia is heavily
dependent on oil and gas
exports. Officials have
been hesitant to privatise
energy assets
Italian forces have been
active in peacekeeping in the
Balkans, Africa and Middle
East, and are present in
Afghanistan
The governing coalition seeks
deeper EU integration,
eventual euro membership.
Poland is one of Europe's
most pro-American countries
Ruble
Federation
Vladimir Putin, Russia's
dominant political figure
since 2000, resumed the
presidency in 2012
Russia has reacted with
hostility to any developments
perceived to threaten its
strategic interests. The 2014
revolution in Ukraine sparked
the biggest East-West
showdown since the Cold
War
Ethnic and religious separatism
and violence (esp. in Caucasus;
Terrorism; human rights abuses
(esp. among homosexuals);
political censorship
Polish Diaspora; high
unemployment
SPAIN
Yes
SWEDEN
Yes
TURKEY
UNITED
KINGDOM
(G.BRITAIN)
Spain was hit hard in the
2008-9 global economic
crisis, and has undertaken
painful austerity
measures. More than 27%
of Spaniards are
unemployed
Engineering is a key
sector in the export-based
economy. Voters have
rejected eurozone
membership
Euro
Parliamentary
monarchy
PM Mariano Rajoy from the
conservative Popular Party
took office in late 2011. The
recession is spurring
secessionist sentiment in
Catalonia
Spanish forces have taken
part in multilateral missions
and peacekeeping, including
in Afghanistan. Spain claims
sovereignty over the British
overseas territory of Gibraltar
Basque separatist violence;
extremely high unemployment and
forced austerity have led to the
“Indignados” protests
Krona
Constitutional
monarchy
Prime Minister Fredrik
Reinfeldt from the centreright Alliance for Sweden
heads a coalition government
Immigration by refugees & asylum
seekers (10% of pop.)
No
The economy has enjoyed
strong growth, fuelled by
trade and foreign
investment. Tourism,
agriculture and
manufacturing are key
sectors
Turkish lira
Republican
parliamentary
democracy
Recep Tayyip Erdogan was
voted in as president in 2014,
having served as prime
minister since 2003. He has
dealt ruthlessly with alleged
challenges from the powerful,
secularist military
Yes
The UK is striving to
recover from a slump that
followed the 2008 global
financial crisis. Austerity
measures aim to tackle a
large budget deficit.
London's financial industry
is a significant part of the
services-based economy
Pound
Constitutional
monarchy and
Commonwealth
realm
Prime Minister David
Cameron, from the centreright Conservative Party,
heads a coalition with the
UK's third party, the Liberal
Democrats. Scotland and
Wales have a degree of
political autonomy. A vote on
Scottish independence is due
in 2014.
Sweden joined the EU in
1995. Though a famously
neutral country, a security
doctrine has allowed for the
deployment of Swedish forces
overseas
EU accession negotiations
have been tortuous,
bedevilled by disputes with
Greece over Cyprus. Former
close ties with Israel have
deteriorated, while liberal
reformers throughout the
Arab region have looked to
Turkey's system of
government as a potential
model
The UK is a key global player
diplomatically and militarily. It
plays leading roles in the EU,
UN and Nato
Kurdish separatism; increased
Islamism of Erdogan and his AKP
party
Terrorism & Islamic radicalization;
immigration issue; migration of
guest workers from Eastern
Europe; increased poverty and
unemployment in crumbling
northern industrial cities.