Editing Eastern Europe (section)

===Contemporary developments===

In broadest definition, there are 28 countries that constitute the region of Eastern Europe: [[Albania]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Belarus]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Croatia]], [[Cyprus]], the [[Czech Republic]], [[Estonia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[Greece]], [[Hungary]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kosovo]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Moldova]], [[Montenegro]], [[North Macedonia]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], [[Russia]], [[Serbia]], [[Slovakia]], [[Slovenia]], [[Turkey]] ([[East Thrace]]), and [[Ukraine]], all of which can be classified into any of the 6 categories below.

====Baltic states====
{{Main|Baltic states}}
[[UNESCO]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/|title=UNSD — Methodology|first=United Nations Statistics|last=Division|website=unstats.un.org|access-date=2017-08-04|archive-date=2017-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830170949/https://unstats.un.org/unsd/methodology/m49/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[EuroVoc]], [[National Geographic Society]], [[Committee for International Cooperation in National Research in Demography]], and the STW Thesaurus for Economics place the Baltic states in [[Northern Europe]], whereas the CIA World Factbook places the region in Eastern Europe with a strong assimilation to [[Northern Europe]]. Lithuania may alternatively be included in definitions of [[Central Europe]] because of its historical ties to [[Poland]] and the [[Catholic Church]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Columbia encyclopedia |date=2000 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-7876-5015-5 |editor-last=Lagassé |editor-first=Paul |edition=6th |location=New York, NY |editor-last2=Columbia University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Europe {{!}} Institute of International Relations Prague - Expertise to impact |url=https://www.iir.cz/en/central-europe |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=www.iir.cz |language=en}}</ref> Occasionally, Estonia and Latvia are also included. However, these countries are members of the [[Nordic-Baltic Eight]] regional cooperation forum whereas Central European countries formed their own alliance called the [[Visegrád Group]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visegradgroup.eu/about |title=About the Visegrad Group |website=Visgradgroup.eu |date=15 August 2006 |access-date=30 July 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925164958/http://www.visegradgroup.eu:80/about |archive-date=2011-09-25 }}</ref> The [[Northern Future Forum]], the [[Nordic Investment Bank]], the [[Nordic Battlegroup]], the [[Nordic-Baltic Eight]] and the [[New Hanseatic League]] are other examples of [[Northern Europe]]an cooperation that includes the three countries collectively referred to as the Baltic states.
* [[Estonia]]
* [[Latvia]]
* [[Lithuania]]

====Caucasus states====
{{Main|Caucasus}}
The [[South Caucasus]] nations of [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/dgacm/|title=Department for General Assembly and Conference Management &#124;|website=www.un.org|access-date=2021-04-25|archive-date=2021-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419164537/https://www.un.org/dgacm/|url-status=live}}</ref> are included in [[Boundaries between continents|definitions]] or histories of Eastern Europe. They are located in the transition zone of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. They participate in the [[European Union]]'s [[Eastern Partnership]] program, the [[Euronest Parliamentary Assembly]], and are members of the [[Council of Europe]], which specifies that all three have political and cultural connections to Europe. In January 2002, the [[European Parliament]] noted that Armenia and Georgia may enter the EU in the future.<ref>{{Citation | url = http://www.libertas-institut.com/de/PDF/Armenia%20ante%20portas.pdf | title = How Armenia Could Approach the European Union | access-date = 27 February 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080428045333/http://www.libertas-institut.com/de/PDF/Armenia%20ante%20portas.pdf | archive-date = 28 April 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | url = https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A5-2002-0028+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN | title = European Parliament on the European Union's relations with the South Caucasus | access-date = 2020-07-02 | archive-date = 2020-07-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200702131223/https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-%2F%2FEP%2F%2FTEXT+REPORT+A5-2002-0028+0+DOC+XML+V0%2F%2FEN&language=EN | url-status = live }}</ref> Georgia and Armenia are seeking EU membership, with Georgia also seeking NATO membership alongside.
 
* [[Armenia]] 
* [[Azerbaijan]]
* [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]

There are two de facto [[List of states with limited recognition|republics with limited recognition]] in the South Caucasus region that exist under the presence of Russian military. Both states participate in the [[Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations]]: 
* [[Abkhazia]]
* [[South Ossetia]]

Former republics with limited recognition:
* [[Chechen Republic of Ichkeria]] (1991–2000) – existed in former Soviet territory until it was driven into exile during the [[Second Chechen War]]
* [[Republic of Artsakh]] (1991–2023) – breakaway state from Azerbaijan that ceased to exist by 1 January 2024<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sauer |first1=Pjotr |title=Nagorno-Karabakh's breakaway government says it will dissolve itself |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/28/nagorno-karabakh-separatist-government-says-dissolve-azerbaijan-armenia |work=The Guardian |date=28 September 2023 |access-date=28 September 2023 |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115231542/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/28/nagorno-karabakh-separatist-government-says-dissolve-azerbaijan-armenia |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Post-Soviet states====
{{main|Post-Soviet States}}
Some [[Post-Soviet states#Country comparison|European republics]] of the former [[Soviet Union]] are considered a part of Eastern Europe:
* [[Belarus]]
* [[Moldova]] (sometimes considered a part of the [[Balkans]] or [[Southeast Europe]])<ref>{{cite journal|last=Simic|first=Predrag|title=Do the Balkans Exist? Visions of the Future of Southeastern Europe: Perspectives from the Region|journal=Medzinárodné otázky|publisher=Research Center of the Slovak Foreign Policy Association|pages=19–39|volume=10|number=1|date=2001|jstor=44963345}}</ref>
* [[Russia]] 
* [[Ukraine]]

[[List of states with limited recognition|Unrecognized states]]:
* [[Transnistria]]

====Central Europe====
{{main|Central Europe}}
The term "Central Europe" is often used by historians to designate states formerly belonging to the [[Holy Roman Empire]], the [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg Empire]], and the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]].

In some media, "Central Europe" can thus partially overlap with "Eastern Europe" of the Cold War Era. The following countries are labelled Central European by some commentators, though others still consider them to be Eastern European.<ref name=wallace>Wallace, W. ''The Transformation of Western Europe'' London, Pinter, 1990</ref><ref name=huntington>Huntington, Samuel ''The Clash of Civilizations'' Simon & Schuster, 1996</ref><ref>Johnson, Lonnie ''Central Europe: Enemies, Neighbours, Friends'' Oxford University Press, US, 2001</ref>
* [[Czech Republic]]
* [[Croatia]] (can variously be included in [[Southeast Europe|Southeastern]]<ref name="cia.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/croatia/|title=Croatia |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |date=18 January 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219055717/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/croatia/ |archive-date= Feb 19, 2024 }}</ref> or [[Central Europe]])<ref name="ReferenceA">Lonnie Johnson, [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780195100716 ''Central Europe: Enemies, Neighbors, Friends''], Oxford University Press</ref>
* [[Hungary]] (most often placed in [[Central Europe]] but sometimes in [[Southeast Europe|Southeastern Europe]])<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003 |title=Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) |url=https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/old_new_tir/seci/documents/GEReport0307-final.pdf |website=United Nations Economic Commission for Europe |access-date=2023-10-10 |archive-date=2023-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021173058/https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/old_new_tir/seci/documents/GEReport0307-final.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Lithuania]] (can variously be included in [[Northeastern Europe|Northeastern]] or [[Central Europe]])
* [[Poland]]
* [[Romania]] (can be included in [[Southeast Europe|Southeastern Europe]]<ref name="eia.doe.gov">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eia.gov/emeu/cabs/SE_Europe/Background.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205212441/http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/SE_Europe/Background.html|url-status=dead|title=U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)|archivedate=February 5, 2009|website=www.eia.gov}}</ref> or partially in [[Central Europe]])<ref name="7 Invitees - Romania">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/invitees2004/romania/glance.htm|title=7 Invitees - Romania|website=www.nato.int|access-date=2021-04-25|archive-date=2023-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029052253/https://www.nato.int/invitees2004/romania/glance.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Serbia]] (most often placed in [[Southeast Europe|Southeastern Europe]] but sometimes partially included in [[Central Europe]])<ref name="Purdue University Press">{{cite book |author1=Steven Tötösy de Zepetnek |author2=Louise Olga Vasvári |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pFCzty0P4UcC&q=central+europe+serbia+culture&pg=PA24 |title=Comparative Hungarian Cultural Studies |publisher=Purdue University Press |isbn=9781557535931 |year=2011 |access-date=2020-11-10 |archive-date=2024-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330041420/https://books.google.com/books?id=pFCzty0P4UcC&q=central+europe+serbia+culture&pg=PA24#v=snippet&q=central%20europe%20serbia%20culture&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Slovakia]]
* [[Slovenia]] (most often placed in [[Central Europe]] but sometimes in [[Southeast Europe|Southeastern Europe]])<ref name="Armstrong2007">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FWA3ppuOgK4C&pg=PA165 |title=Geopolitics of European Union Enlargement: The Fortress Empire |page=165 |chapter=Borders in Central Europe: From Conflict to Cooperation |publisher=Routledge |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-134-30132-4 |author1=Armstrong, Werwick |author2=Anderson, James |access-date=2016-03-10 |archive-date=2024-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330041921/https://books.google.com/books?id=FWA3ppuOgK4C&pg=PA165#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Southeastern Europe/ Balkan states====
{{Main|Southeast Europe|Balkans}}
Some countries in [[Southeast Europe]] can be considered part of Eastern Europe. Some of them can sometimes, albeit rarely, be characterized as belonging to [[Southern Europe]],<ref name="UN"/> and some may also be included in [[Central Europe]].

In some media, "Southeast Europe" can thus partially overlap with "Eastern Europe" of the Cold War Era. The following countries are labelled Southeast European by some commentators, though others still consider them to be Eastern European.<ref>Bideleux and Jeffries (1998) ''A History of Eastern Europe: Crisis and Change''</ref>

The following eleven countries are generally considered to be part of the Balkans by most definitions:
* [[Albania]] 
* [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] 
* [[Bulgaria]] 
* [[Croatia]] (can variously be included in Southeastern<ref name="cia.gov"/> or Central Europe)<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
* [[Greece]] (Sometimes grouped in Southern Europe with countries like [[Italy]], [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]])
* [[Montenegro]]
* [[North Macedonia]] 
* [[Romania]] (can variously be included in Southeastern<ref name="eia.doe.gov"/> or Central Europe)<ref name="7 Invitees - Romania"/>
* [[Serbia]] (mostly placed in Southeastern but sometimes in Central Europe)<ref name="Purdue University Press"/>
* [[Slovenia]] (most often placed in Central Europe but sometimes in Southeastern Europe)<ref name="Armstrong2007" /><ref name=":0">[https://www.pccseesecretariat.si/index.php?item=9&page=static#:~:text=The%20PCC%20SEE%20is%20a,threat%20analysis%2C%20liaison%20officers%2C%20hot "Police Cooperation Convention for Southeast Europe (PCC SEE)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124191128/https://www.pccseesecretariat.si/index.php?item=9&page=static#:~:text=The%20PCC%20SEE%20is%20a,threat%20analysis%2C%20liaison%20officers%2C%20hot|date=2024-01-24}}. ''PCC SEE Secretariat''. Retrieved 20 December 2023.</ref>
* [[Turkey]] ([[East Thrace]], the portion west of the [[Turkish Straits]])

Additionally, although they have no territory on the Balkan Peninsula, the following countries are sometimes incorporated in the Balkans region, or Southeastern Europe, for cultural and historical affiliations:<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Todorova |first=Maria |title=Imagining the Balkans |date=1997 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-508750-5 |location=New York |page=15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kolstø |first=Pål |date=2016-08-08 |title='Western Balkans' as the New Balkans: Regional Names as Tools for Stigmatisation and Exclusion |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09668136.2016.1219979 |journal=Europe-Asia Studies |language=en |volume=68 |issue=7 |pages=1245–1263 |doi=10.1080/09668136.2016.1219979 |issn=0966-8136}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BUB0028 - Evidence on Beyond Brexit: the UK and the Balkans |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/81047/html/ |access-date=2025-02-08 |website=committees.parliament.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Djurdjevic |first=Maria |title=The Balkans: Past and Present of Cultural Pluralism |url=https://www.iemed.org/publication/the-balkans-past-and-present-of-cultural-pluralism/ |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=European Institute of the Mediterranean}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Detrez |first=Raymond |date=2001 |title=Colonialism in the Balkans |url=https://www.kakanien-revisited.at/beitr/theorie/RDetrez1.pdf |pages=1–2 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Juhász |first=József |date=2015 |title=Hungary and the Balkans in the 20th Century — From the Hungarian Perspective |url=http://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.desklight-4acf4d74-0230-4935-89ff-5cd70c155701 |journal=Prague Papers on the History of International Relations |language= |issue= 1|pages=114–119 |quote=After 1918, with the massive reduction of Hungary’s territory and influence, many Western observers held Hungary to be one of the nations of the Balkans. |via=CEJSH}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-11 |title=Balkans |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Balkans |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Encyclopaedia Britannica |language=en |quote=Moldova—although located north of the Danube River, which is frequently cited as the region’s northeastern geographic dividing line—is included in the Balkans under some definitions by virtue of its long-standing historical and cultural connections with Romania.}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
* [[Cyprus]] (geographically in [[West Asia]], though most often considered a part of Southeastern Europe)
* [[Hungary]] (most often placed in Central Europe, sometimes considered part of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans)<ref>Hötte, Hans; Mihalik, Béla (2016). ''Atlas of Southeast Europe''. Boston: Brill.</ref><ref name=":3" />
* [[Moldova]] (usually grouped with the non-Baltic post-Soviet states, sometimes considered part of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans)<ref name="thoughtco.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/where-are-the-balkan-states-4070249|title=A List of Countries That Make up the Balkan Peninsula|website=www.ThoughtCo.com|access-date=2020-01-14|archive-date=2017-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014111414/https://www.thoughtco.com/where-are-the-balkan-states-4070249|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":4" />

[[List of states with limited recognition|Partially recognized states]]:
* [[Kosovo]]

====Kazakhstan====
Despite being frequently classified as a [[Central Asia]]n country, about 4% of [[Kazakhstan]]'s territory, situated west of the [[Ural (river)|Ural River]], geographically lies in Eastern Europe, thus technically making it a [[List of transcontinental countries|transcontinental country]].<ref>{{cite book|first1=Malcolm|last1=Porter|first2=Keith|last2=Lye|title=Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nXn6qEGYv0QC&q=area+of+kazakhstan+in+europe+sq+km&pg=PA14|publisher=Cherrytree Books|date=2008|isbn=978-1-84234-461-3|page=14|access-date=11 October 2021|archive-date=12 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112032648/https://books.google.com/books?id=nXn6qEGYv0QC&q=area+of+kazakhstan+in+europe+sq+km&pg=PA14|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Factbook-Ural">{{Cite book | title=World Factbook | date=29 September 2021 | url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kazakhstan/ | location=Washington, D.C. | publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] | access-date=23 January 2021 | archive-date=9 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109132304/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kazakhstan | url-status=live }} Kazakhstan: Geography</ref>