Southeast Europe

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Balkans. (Discuss)

Southeastern Europe is a relatively recent political designation for the Balkan states.^[1][2] Because of the negative connotations of the term Balkan, writers such as Maria Todorova and Vesna Goldsworthy have suggested the use of the term Southeastern Europe instead.^[3] The use of this term is slowly growing; a European Union initiative of 1999 is called the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, and the online newspaper Balkan Times renamed itself Southeast European Times in 2003.

Definitions

The Balkan Peninsula

This concept is based on a geographic argument, that is, on the boundaries of the Balkans (which is considered a synonym by the supporters)

•  Albania
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina
•  Bulgaria
•  Greece
•  Kosovo
•  Macedonia
•  Montenegro

Countries which are significantly located in the peninsula:  Croatia (1/2) and  Serbia (2/3).

Countries which are located mostly outside the peninsula:  Slovenia (1/3),  Romania (6%) and  Turkey (3%).

In the extended sense, Southeastern Europe might also include regions and countries who are located mostly or completely outside the Peninsula, but from political and historical reasons related to the Balkans^{[citation needed]}. It is based on the historical concept- the largest extent of the former Ottoman Empire in Europe^{[citation needed][clarification needed]}.

•  Albania
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina
•  Bulgaria
•  Croatia
•  Cyprus
•  Greece
•  Kosovo
•  Macedonia
•  Montenegro
•  Moldova
•  Romania
•  Serbia
•  Slovenia
•  Turkey
•  Ukraine (only Budjak)

Some countries are often regarded as Southeastern European (for example Romania).

Notes

References

v • d • e Regions of the world Africa Northern (Maghreb) · Sub-Sahara (Central · Southern · Western · Eastern (Horn)) Oceania Australasia · Melanesia · Micronesia · Polynesia Americas North (Northern • Middle • Central • Caribbean) · South (Southern Cone) · Anglo · Latin Polar Arctic · Antarctic Asia Central · Eastern · Northern · Southeastern · Southern · Western Oceans World · Arctic · Atlantic · Indian · Pacific · Southern Europe Central · Eastern · Northern · Southeastern · Southern · Western See also Continents of the world

v • d • e Balkan countries Geographically fully located Albania · Bosnia and Herzegovina · Bulgaria · Greece · Kosovo1 · Macedonia · Montenegro Significantly located Serbia · Croatia Mostly outside of the peninsula Romania · Slovenia · Turkey · Italy See also Balkans · Southeast Europe · History of the Balkans · Balkan languages (Sprachbund)  · Balkanization 1 Declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008 and is recognised by 63 United Nations member states.