Capital city: Lisbon Official language: Portuguese Population: 11,, Currency: Euro Total area: 92 sq km including Madeira and Azores Land: sq km Water: sq km Land use : 26 percent arable land; 9 percent permanent crops; 9 percent permanent pastures; 36 percent forests and woodland; 20 percent other Terrain: Mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south.
Portugal, one of the oldest countries in Europe, is located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula lying between Spain in the north and east, and the Atlantic Ocean in the south and west. The signs of the Portuguese presence around the world are still visible and this is the reason why Portuguese is one of the most spoken languages worldwide and the Portuguese are one of the peoples more open to other civilizations. Portugal has been a Republic since and its government is a Parliamentary Democracy.
A member of the European Union EU since , Portugal is a nation in full development that has always kept its best treasure - its ability to welcome people. This makes this country an attractive and safe place. The Iberian Peninsula covers an area of approximately , square miles becoming the second largest in Europe after the Scandinavian Peninsula. Portugal has 21 European Parliamentary members, and the country has December The government in Portugal sends representatives to regular Council meetings, held to approve EU laws and agree on policies.
Portugal formed the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance with England in , a deal that helped progress the two countries. The United Kingdom continues to honor the agreement to date. Portugal began implementing Schengen Area rules that eliminated border control with other members of Schengen on March 26, Portugal uses the funds from the European Union in programs and projects such as the construction of roads, conservation of the environment and also to subsidize research.
Luxembourg is a member country of the Schengen Area since March 26, The Maltese comprise 0. Its capital is Valletta and the official language is Maltese. Malta holds 6 seats in the European Parliament and will hold the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time in Malta is a member country of the Schengen Area since December 21, The Dutch comprise 3. Its capital is Amsterdam and the official language is Dutch.
The Netherlands holds 26 seats in the European Parliament and held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU 12 times between and The Netherlands is a member country of the Schengen Area since March 26, The Polish comprise 7. Its capital is Warsaw and the official language is Polish.
Poland holds 51 seats in the European Parliament and held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU once in Poland is a member country of the Schengen Area since December 21, Its capital is Lisbon and the official language is Portuguese. Portugal holds 21 seats in the European Parliament and held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU 3 times between and Portugal is a member country of the Schengen Area since March 26, The Romanians comprise 3.
Its capital is Bucharest and the official language is Romanian. Romania holds 32 seats in the European Parliament and will hold the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time in Romania is not a member country of the Schengen Area. Slovaks comprise 2. Its capital is Bratislava and the official language is Slovak.
The political system in Slovakia is a parliamentary republic. Slovakia holds 13 seats in the European Parliament and is currently holding the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU for the first time. Slovakia is also a member state of the Schengen Area since March 26, The Slovenians comprise 0. Its capital is Ljubljana and the official language is Slovenian. Slovenia holds 8 seats in the European Parliament and held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU once in Slovenia is a member country of the Schengen Area since December 21, Spain is a member country of the EU since January 1, The Spanish comprise 9.
Its capital is Madrid. The official language in Spain is Spanish. Spain holds 54 seats in the European Parliament and held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU 4 times between and Spain is a member country of the Schengen Area since March 26, The Swedes comprise 1.
Its capital is Stockholm and the official language is Swedish. Sweden holds 20 seats in the European Parliament and held the revolving presidency of the Council of the EU twice, in and Sweden is a member country of the Schengen Area since March 25, The continental territories of the member states of the European Union European Communities pre , animated in order of accession.
In , the European Coal and Steel Community began the uniting of European countries economically and politically to gain lasting peace. This brought a good period for the economy, as the EU countries stopped charging customs duties when trading with each other. In , Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom formally decided to join the European Union, becoming nine member states altogether.
The political divisions, during the s, between the east and west Europe finally healed and 10 more new countries joined the EU in , followed by Bulgaria and Romania which joined in In , a financial crisis hits the global economy. Therefore, the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force in , providing the EU with modern institutions and more efficient working methods.
In June , the United Kingdom held a referendum, letting the people decide whether they want to leave or remain in the European Union, after a few years of political debate on the topic.
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