Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe is a relatively recent political designation mostly for the states of the Balkans.[1][2] Writers such as Maria Todorova and Vesna Goldsworthy have suggested the use of the term Southeastern Europe to replace the word Balkans for the region, to minimize potential misunderstandings about the term Balkans having negative connotations.[3] The use of this term is slowly growing; a European Union initiative of 1999 is called the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.
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The first known usage of the term 'Southeast Europe' was by an Austrian researcher, Johann Georg von Hahn (1811–1869) as broader term than the traditional Balkans.[4] Unlike the United Nations definitions of Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Southern Europe and Northern Europe, there are no clear and universally accepted geographical or historical divisions that delineate this region.[5] However, if United Nations definitions of bordering macroregions are done, the rest can be considered as Central Europe.[6]
There are four possible definitions of "Southeastern Europe". The 'traditional Balkans' model, which is the Balkan Peninsula south of the River Danube-River Sava-River Kupa line, the European territories of the former Ottoman Empire, and there is a substantially larger space with a northern delineation that respects actual borders, promoted by the European Union from 1999. Finally, there is a European Union co-funded regional development model that adds Austria, the eastern Regions of Italy and south-western Ukraine.
This concept is based on a geographic argument, that is, on the boundaries of the Balkans (which is considered a synonym by the supporters). The countries located fully in the peninsula are the following: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo (Limited recognition), Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, and Montenegro
The geographic definition may also include countries which are significantly located in the peninsula: Croatia (1/2) and Serbia (up to 2/3) and some countries which are located mostly outside the peninsula as defined by the rivers: Romania (6%) and Turkey (3%).
The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe was an institution aimed at strengthening peace, democracy, human rights and economy in the countries of South Eastern Europe from 1999–2008. It was replaced by the Regional Co-operation Council in February 2008. The RCC replaced the Stability Pact because it is more "regionally owned" than the SP, which was driven more by outside partners such as the EU. The countries included were: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia.
The 'Southeast Europe transnational co-operation programme' "aims to develop transnational partnerships on matters of strategic importance, in order to improve the territorial, economic and social integration process and to contribute to cohesion, stability and competitiveness of the region".[7]
The members include: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia , Slovakia, Slovenia, and some regions of Italy and Ukraine[8]
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