Latin Europe

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Latin Europe Countries where a Romance language is the national language Countries where a Romance language is one of several official languages

Latin Europe (Italian, Portuguese and Spanish: Europa latina; French: Europe latine; Romanian: Europa latină; Catalan: Europa llatina; Franco-Provençal: Eropa latina) is composed of those nations and areas in Europe that speak a Romance language and are seen as having a distinct culture from the Germanic and Slavic parts of Europe.

The term "Latin Europe" is originally used for four countries around the northwestern Mediterranean basin (also known as the Latin Arch); Italy, France, Spain and on the Iberian peninsula (but not on the Mediterranean littoral); Portugal. These countries have a common linguistic background (i.e. their languages are derived from Vulgar Latin) and Roman Catholicism as the prevalent religion. This definition, in a larger sense, also includes smaller political entities of Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City (all of these states are members of the Latin Union except the Holy See that has permanent observer status), along with adjacent Wallonia (in Belgium), Romandy and Italian- and Romansh-speaking Switzerland. Istria county in Croatia and Italian-speaking municipalities of Slovenia, often seen linguistically and culturally integral with neighbouring Italy, and Dalmatia, with its own (now extinct) Romance language Dalmatian, may also be mentioned. On the other hand, in particular contexts, the usage of "Latin Europe" may well be ambiguous such as inclusion of Israel. [1]PDF (222 KiB)

Romania and Moldova both speak Romanian, a Romance language but are located far from the core of Latin Europe, surrounded by "Slavic Europe" and Hungary. However, these countries have shown conscious enthusiasm for recognition as parts of Latin Europe, historically expressed in official regulation of Latin Romanian script in 1860, Romanian spelling reform in 1993, and installation of the Latin script for the Romanian language in Moldova. Both of these countries are, currently, full members of the Latin Union, and Romanian is an official language of that organisation.

Note that some parts of the countries above have non-Romance languages and cultural traits distinct from most of Latin Europe:

Alsace-Moselle and French Flanders in France have mostly Germanic roots
South Tyrol in Italy is a predominantly German-speaking area, with German as an official language alongside Italian
Brittany in France is considered as a "Celtic nation"
Some parts of the Italian region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia are Slovenian-speaking, with Slovenian having the status of official language alongside Italian and Friulian
Basque is a co-official language in the autonomous regions of Basque Country and parts of Navarre in Spain. The neighbouring French region of Pays Basque shows a Basque identity, even if Basque language is spoken by few.
Transylvania in Romania in addition to its Romanian-speaking majority is also home to a substantial Hungarian minority.

Latin America is an equivalent term to refer to countries in the Americas with a Romance language. Although the language and cultural features of parts of the society (often the creoles and the Southern Cone) is derived directly from Latin Europe, other Latin American countries have partial Latin culture, due to Amerindian and African influence.