"The European Countries Today series offers readers a broad-ranging yet concise look at Europe today by providing information on 15 of the most important countries in Europe and describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors."--Provided by publisher.

A country that occupies the western part of the Iberian peninsula in southwest Europe, Portugal borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south, and Spain to the east and north. It also includes two Atlantic archipelagos, the Azores and Madeira that occupy strategic points along the approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar. The overseas territory of Macao (Macau) was returned to China in 1999. Portugal has developed a diverse and increasingly service-oriented...

The European Union (EU) consists of 28 countries, spanning the European continent from Ireland in the west to the border of Russia in the east. Any European country with a democratic government, a functioning market economy, respect for fundamental rights, and a government capable of implementing EU laws and policies may apply for membership. The EU is neither a nation, nor an international organization, nor is it intended to replace existing nations....

A European country in the southern Balkans, Greece is a complicated series of mountain ridges and enclosed valleys, forming a deeply indented peninsula that extends down into the Mediterranean Sea. Greece is famous for the clarity of its light, and no place is very far from the sea. Scores of islands, some of them forming named groups, make up a fifth or so of the country, and are mostly uninhabited. The largest island, Crete, was acquired by Greece...

Denmark is a kingdom of northwest Europe bordering the North and Baltic Seas. It occupies the northern two-thirds of the Jutland Peninsula, together with the islands lying between the peninsula and Sweden. During World War II, Denmark was invaded by Germany, but offered strong resistance throughout the occupation. Denmark joined NATO in 1949 and in 1973, together with Britain, entered the EU. Today, Denmark is a prosperous, progressive, and thoroughly...

"The European Countries Today series offers readers a broad-ranging yet concise look at Europe today by providing information on 15 of the most important countries in Europe and describes the history, geography, economy, culture, and relationship each country has with its neighbors."--Provided by publisher

A kingdom of Northern Europe, Sweden occupies the eastern portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula and borders Finland in the northeast. It has a coastline on the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea to the east, and the Skagerrak and Kattegat Straits lie to the southwest. Sweden has enjoyed a long period of peace and neutrality, and an almost continuous Social Democratic government since 1932. This stability, combined with the country's mix of high-tech...

The island of Ireland lies to the west of England and Wales and faces them across the Irish Sea. About 80 percent of the total area of the island is occupied by the Republic of Ireland (usually referred to simply as Ireland), which is divided up into 26 counties. Ireland consists of a central lowland area traversed by rivers, such as the Shannon, and with large areas of peat bog, an important source of fuel. The bogs are interspersed by areas of fertile...