Central Europe
_________________________________________
-
"Germany has introduced a minimum wage of € 8.50 an hour"
_________________________________________
-
"Germany is to introduce a national minimum wage for the first time in its history"
_________________________________________
-
"MPs voted by an overwhelming majority to approve a new law that will introduce a national minimum"
_________________________________________
-
"of € 8.50 an hour from the start of 2015"
_________________________________________
-
"the decision was hailed as a "historic day for Germany" by Sigmar Gabriel, the German vice-Chancellor"
_________________________________________
-
"it was a victory for his centre-left Social Democratic Party (SDP), which made the new law a central condition for joining Merkel's coalition government"
_________________________________________
-
"as many as 30 per cent of employees in the east currently earn less than the new minimum"
_________________________________________
-
"twice as many as in the west"
_________________________________________
-
"in the hospitality industry, 36 per cent of employees currently earn less than the new minimum wage"
_________________________________________
-
"while in the agricultural sector it is as many as 44 per cent"
_________________________________________
-
"the minimum wage is being seen as a triumph for the employment minister, Andrea Nahles"
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________Opel - US cable - 2010: LINK ¤ 09BERLIN1395
_________________________________________
- "just hours after Chancellor Merkel's address to a joint session of Congress"
_________________________________________
- "General Motors (GM) canceled its sale of Opel to Canadian auto parts manufacturer Magna"
_________________________________________
- "the decision, which followed repeated assurances from GM that it was a done deal"
_________________________________________
- "came as a complete shock in Germany"
_________________________________________
- "and dominated media coverage throughout the day. Merkel herself was highly upset over GM's flip flop"
_________________________________________
- "Ulrich Wilhelm, the Chancellor's spokesman said the German government "regretted" the decision"
_________________________________________
- "and reminded GM that it must now repay Berlin's € 1.5 billion bridge loan to Opel"
_________________________________________
- "Economics Minister Rainer Bruederle blasted GM's behavior as "totally unacceptable""
_________________________________________
- Juergen Ruettgers, Minister President Nordrhein Westfallen: "GM's decision showed the ugly face of turbo capitalism"
_________________________________________
- "a high-level source indicated that Chancellor Merkel is furious over the GM move"
_________________________________________
- "and refuses to talk to GM's leadership"
_________________________________________
- "although no one directly blamed the US, the Germans are still having trouble understanding"
_________________________________________
- "how GM could act independently of Washington"
SWIFT - US cable - 2010: LINK ¤ 10BERLIN180
- EU Parliament's veto of bank data sharing deal proposed by the US: "public reactions to the EP vote portrayed the veto as a sign"
_________________________________________
- "that the European Parliament has won a victory"
_________________________________________
- "as well as delivering a rebuke to US policies that undervalue data privacy"
_________________________________________
- Federal Justice Minister Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger: "the citizens of Europe have won a victory today"
_________________________________________
- "that strengthened not just data protection"
_________________________________________
- "but democracy in all of Europe"
_________________________________________
- "the EP veto will lead to a change of European policy"
_________________________________________
- "in which data protection is no longer just an appendix of security policy"
_________________________________________
- "the EP decision paves the way for new negotiations"
_________________________________________
- "that take into account European notions of data protection"

______________________________________________________________________________
US Security - US cable - 2010: LINK ¤ 09BERLIN1271
_________________________________________
- "a well-placed FDP source said that in the coalition negotiations between the CDU, FDP leader Westerwelle argued"
_________________________________________
- "for the removal of the remaining non-strategic nuclear weapons from German soil"
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
- "the conservative CDU / CSU party is the only party that still supports"
_________________________________________
- "the deployment of US nuclear weapons in Germany"
_________________________________________
- "senior Chancellery officials have already requested"
_________________________________________
- "that they be pre-notified about any possible change in US policy"
Alt-Bundespräsident Richard von Weizsäcker gestorben - der Standard: LINK ¤ der STANDARD
_________________________________________
- "1984 wurde Weizsäcker - übrigens gegen den Willen Helmut Kohls - zum Bundespräsidenten gewählt"
_________________________________________
- "schon ein Jahr später setzte er sich am 40. Jahrestag des Kriegsendes ein Denkmal"
_________________________________________
- "als erstes Staatsoberhaupt bezeichnete er den 8. Mai 1945 in aller Deutlichkeit als "Tag der Befreiung""
_________________________________________
- "damit leitete Weizsäcker einen grundlegenden Wandel ein"
_________________________________________
- "in Deutschland selbst waren die Konservativen entsetzt"
_________________________________________
- "Bayerns Ministerpräsident und CSU-Chef Franz-Josef Strauß verhöhnte ihn als "Spezialgewissenträger im Präsidentenamt""
_________________________________________
- "Weizsäcker aber blieb dabei: wer sich mit der Vergangenheit aussöhnen will, muss sich ihr zuerst einmal schonungslos stellen"
_________________________________________
- "Weizsäcker war für viele das ideale Staatsoberhaupt. Er blieb der intellektuelle, scharfzüngige Mahner"
_________________________________________
- "und redete den Deutschen auch 1990, anlässlich der Wiedervereinigung, ins Gewissen:"
_________________________________________
- "sich zu vereinen, heißt teilen lernen"
Weizsäcker setzte richtungsweisende Akzente - der Standard: LINK ¤ der STANDARD
_________________________________________
- EU-Kommissionspräsident Jean-Claude Juncker: "von Weizsäcker hat sich um Deutschland und um ganz Europa hohem Maße verdient gemacht"
_________________________________________
- "seine Rede zum 40. Jahrestag des Kriegsendes 1985 ist prägend für eine Generation"
_________________________________________
- "und das Selbstbild Deutschlands als integrierende Kraft in der Mitte des Kontinents gewesen"
bundesweiter Mindestlohn für Anfang 2017 - der Standard: LINK ¤ der STANDARD
_________________________________________
- "die deutsche Arbeitsministerin Andrea Nahles (SPD) hat zugesichert"
_________________________________________
- "dass der Mindestlohn spätestens 2017 in ganz Deutschland gilt"
_________________________________________
- "ohne gesetzlichen Mindestlohn gäbe es keine Große Koalition"
_________________________________________
- "deshalb kann ich garantieren: ab 1. Jänner 2017 wird niemand in Deutschland weniger als 8,50 Euro pro Stunde verdienen"
… und Merkel akzeptierte ihn doch - der Standard: LINK ¤ der STANDARD
_________________________________________
- "Joachim Gauck wird als Nachfolger von Christian Wulff neuer deutscher Bundespräsident"
_________________________________________
- "Merkel bezeichnete den 73-jährigen früheren DDR-Bürgerrechtler als "wahren Demokratielehrer""
_________________________________________
- "der wichtige Impulse für Globalisierung, die Lösung der Schuldenkrise und mehr Demokratie geben kann"
______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________
- "der deutsche Bundespräsident Wulff hat persönlich massiven Druck auf Journalisten ausgeübt, um Enthüllungen zu verhindern"
_________________________________________
- "Wulff hat in einem Anruf bei "Bild"-Chefredakteur Diekmann dem verantwortlichen Redakteur mit strafrechtlichen Konsequenzen gedroht"
_________________________________________
- "sollte ein Beitrag über seinen umstrittenen Kredit veröffentlicht werden"
Austrian Chancellor: Merkel's economic Policy too timid - Reuters: LINK ¤ REUTERS
_________________________________________
- "Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann criticised German leader Angela Merkel's "wait-and-see" approach"
_________________________________________
- "to tackling Europe's economic problems"
_________________________________________
- "and demanded a more aggressive push to combat unemployment in Europe"
_________________________________________
- "Faymann was critical of the European Union's approach to fighting unemployment"
_________________________________________
- "which he described as too timid because"
_________________________________________
- "everything German Chancellor Merkel supports is a bit late"
_________________________________________
- "Germany was underestimating the mid-term impact of consumers losing purchasing power"
_________________________________________
- "a raft of measures was needed to tackle Europe's economic problems"
_________________________________________
- "fighting tax fraud, taxing the wealthy more"
_________________________________________
- "and issuing "joint bonds""
_________________________________________
- "asked if job-boosting measures were failing because of Germany"
_________________________________________
- "they are failing due to Merkel's wait-and-see plan"
_________________________________________
- "if Germany took the offensive more, it would be ideal"
______________________________________________________________________________
Alpbach Economic Forum - US cable - 2005: LINK ¤ 05VIENNA3025_________________________________________
- "politicians, academics, and experts called for more democracy"
_________________________________________
- "and closer political and economic policy coordination within the EU"
_________________________________________
- "many participants touted the "Scandinavian model" as the best blueprint"
_________________________________________
- "for enhanced labor market and social reforms throughout the EU"
_________________________________________
- "a common message was that the EU needs more democracy"
_________________________________________
- "closer political coordination"
_________________________________________
- "common fiscal and economic policies"
_________________________________________
- "and renewed "bonding" with its citizens"
_________________________________________
- "several economists criticized the lack of EU-wide, growth-oriented economic policies"
_________________________________________
- "as well as inflexible fiscal policies, which in most member states just focused on deficit reduction"
_________________________________________
- "Christoph Leitl, Chamber of Commerce called for more development of an EU social model"
_________________________________________
- "which would spur economic growth and fight unemployment"
_________________________________________
- "globalization required global institutions and social partnerships"
_________________________________________
- "to ensure minimum labor standards"
Biotech - US cable - 2005: LINK ¤ 05VIENNA3496
_________________________________________
- "following the European Court of Justice ruling against the state of Upper Austria's complete ban against GMOs"
_________________________________________
- "the state government is considering alternative strategies to keep Upper Austria "biotech free""
_________________________________________
- "in a draft law, the state of Upper Austria completely banned the cultivation of seeds and plants containing GMOs"
_________________________________________
- "the Upper Austrian government took this action on a precautionary basis"
_________________________________________
- "GMO crops could damage ecosystems"
_________________________________________
- "and organic and conventional crops could not co-exist in the region's agricultural landscape"
_________________________________________
- "the EU commission said that the Upper Austria law violated the EU's internal market rules"
_________________________________________
- "the Austrian state governments, and the Austrian public were extremely disappointed with the ruling"
_________________________________________
- "80% of the population opposes the use of biotechnology in agriculture"
_________________________________________
- "the Upper Austrian government hopes to forge a coalition of 32 like-minded regions"
_________________________________________
- "stretching from the Scottish highlands to Sardinia"
Neutrality - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09VIENNA1058
_________________________________________
- "imposed as a condition for the recovery of sovereignty in 1955"
_________________________________________
- "in the 1960s neutrality began to be seen as a virtue"
_________________________________________
- "that enabled Austria to do things which members of Nato or the Warsaw Pact could not"
_________________________________________
- "at the end of the Cold War, efforts by conservatives to promote Nato membership"
_________________________________________
- "could not overcome public attachment to the "perpetual neutrality""
_________________________________________
- "since then any questioning of neutrality has been taboo"
_________________________________________
- "Austrians are often skeptical of the benefits of the US as a single superpower"
_________________________________________
- "this skepticism is reinforced by rejection of many GW Bush administration policies"
_________________________________________
- "but it goes farther, reflecting discomfort with US policies in the Mideast"
_________________________________________
- "they also have a sense that the US society"
_________________________________________
- "is not as socially just, democratic, and ruled-by-law"
_________________________________________
- "as it should be"

- Capital: Bern | Population: 8.2 million
_________________________________________
UBS - US cable - 2009: LINK ¤ 09BERN350
_________________________________________
- "President and Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz, Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey"
_________________________________________
- "praised the UBS agreement as the only possible solution and a "Peace Treaty""
_________________________________________
- Widmer-Schlumpf: "the bilateral agreement as the only possible solution"
_________________________________________
- "it was necessary to preserve the Swiss legal system against the unilateral enforcement of US regulations"
_________________________________________
- "which could include freezing UBS' US-based assets"
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
- "the UBS case was a dark cloud over bilateral relations"
______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________
- "the quintessential element of Switzerland's foreign policy"
_________________________________________
- "is its centuries-old tradition of neutrality"
_________________________________________
- "this, alongside the country's unique system of direct democracy"
_________________________________________
- "is considered by the Swiss to be one of the two main factors in the country's remarkable historical success"
_________________________________________
- "in a turbulent Europe, the Swiss were at peace"
_________________________________________
- "the infrastructure was slowly perfected, and the country's banks"
_________________________________________
- "thrived on its proven track record as a safe haven"
_________________________________________
- "the Swiss foreign policy establishment is at heart convinced"
_________________________________________
- "that Switzerland's well-being and success is of its own making"
_________________________________________
- "and the country owes a debt to no one"
President Calmy-Rey - US cable - 2007: LINK ¤ 07BERN171
_________________________________________
- "the US ambassador expressed his concern that the US is constantly criticized"
_________________________________________
- "in the Swiss media"
_________________________________________
- "Calmy-Rey noted that Switzerland relies on international law"
_________________________________________
- "and that is often the source of its differences with the US"
_________________________________________
Human Rights Council - US cable - 2006: LINK ¤ 06GENEVA2030
_________________________________________
- "it appears that Geneva-based missions have a certain liberty of action, or their governments"
_________________________________________
- "fail to recognize that the US"
_________________________________________
- "does take note of their actions in the Human Rights Council"
______________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________
- "the Human Rights Council concluded its first special session with the passage of the resolution:"
_________________________________________
- "human rights situation in the "Occupied Palestinian Territory" (Gaza)"
_________________________________________
- "the resolution demands that Israel end its military operations"
_________________________________________
- "abide by international humanitarian law and human rights law"
_________________________________________
- "and refrain from imposing collective punishment on Palestinian civilians"
_________________________________________
- "the session opened with the presentation of the report by John Dugard, the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights"
_________________________________________
- "Israel's conduct is "morally indefensible""
_________________________________________
- "he criticized the "economic sanctions" on the Palestinian people"
_________________________________________
- "and called for the withdrawal of the EU and the UN from the Quartet"
_________________________________________
- "so that they could serve as "honest brokers" in a possible resumption of peace talks"
USA knacken die Bankenfestung Schweiz - der Standard: LINK ¤ der STANDARD
_________________________________________
- "Bern und Washington haben ein Steuerabkommen unterzeichnet, mit dem sich"
_________________________________________
- "die Schweizer Banken vor einer Strafverfolgung in den USA freikaufen können (wegen Beihilfe zur Steuerhinterziehung)"
_________________________________________
- "das Abkommen unterteilt die Schweizer Banken in mehrere Kategorien"
_________________________________________
- "die wichtigste Gruppe sind Institute, die Schwarzgelder von US-Bürgern entgegengenommen haben, gegen die aber noch kein Strafverfahren eröffnet wurde"
_________________________________________
- "die Strafzahlungen betragen zwischen 20 und 50 Prozent des von US-Amerikanern angelegten Kundenvermögens"
_________________________________________
- "die Strafzahlung trifft alle US-Konten, lediglich wenn eine Bank nachweisen kann, dass die Kundengelder voll versteuert wurden, entfällt die Buße"
_________________________________________
- "zudem müssen Schweizer Kreditinstitute die von Schwarzgeldkonten wissen, Informationen über ihr Geschäftsmodell in den USA an die Behörden in Washington abliefern"
_________________________________________
- "zu den Infos zählen laut Abkommen etwa die Namen der Vermögensverwalter, die US-Kunden betreut haben"
_________________________________________
- "aber auch interne Kommuniqués des Managements über das Überseegeschäft"
_________________________________________
- "Schweizer Kreditinstitute, die glauben, keine US-Schwarzgelder entgegengenommen zu haben, bilden eine eigene Kategorie"
_________________________________________
- "sie können einen "non-target letter" beantragen, also eine Garantieerklärung, dass gegen sie in den USA keine Ermittlungen eröffnet werden"
_________________________________________
- "dafür müssen die Institute allerdings einen unabhängigen Prüfer beantragen"
_________________________________________
- "der akribisch nachweist, dass keine unversteuerten Gelder akzeptiert wurden"
______________________________________________________________________________
Bern fordert von Brüssel Steuerfrieden - der Standard: LINK ¤ der STANDARD
_________________________________________
- "Brüssel kritisiert seit Jahren, die kantonal geregelten Sondersteuern für ausländische Unternehmen"
_________________________________________
- "gut über die Verhandlungen informierte Kreise, reden nun von einem "tax peace", den Bern von Brüssel fordert, wenn die Kantone auf diese Praktiken verzichten"
_________________________________________
- "dass die Schweiz Brüssel entgegenkommen muss, ist inzwischen weitgehend anerkannt"
_________________________________________
- "neben dem Sondersteuersatz für ausländische Firmen sollen auch Briefkastenfirmen abgeschafft werden"
_________________________________________
- "dem Vernehmen nach stehen weitere Zugeständnisse zur Diskussion. So sollen etwa Holdinggesellschaften nicht mehr operativ tätig sein dürfen"

- Capital: Warsaw | Population: 38.4 million
EU takes unprecedented Step against Poland over Rule of Law - EurActiv: LINK ¤ EURACTIV
_________________________________________
- "the European Commission announced on Sunday (3 January) that it would discuss the state of the rule of law in Poland"
_________________________________________
- "after the country's hard-right government pushed through changes to the judiciary and media over the Christmas break"
_________________________________________
- "the unprecedented move by the European Commission is the first step in a potentially-punitive process aimed at buttressing democracy and rights in the 28 EU states"
_________________________________________
- "Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has placed a first debate on the rule of law in Poland on the agenda of the Commission's meeting on 13 January"
_________________________________________
- "the move comes on the heels of legal moves giving Poland's conservative government the power to directly appoint the heads of public broadcasters"
_________________________________________
- "and a controversial law reforming the country's constitutional court"
_________________________________________
- "the changes have triggered an outcry from civil rights watchdogs and prompted escalating warnings from the European Commission that it could intervene"
_________________________________________
- "including two letters from its First-Vice President, Frans Timmermans, asking Warsaw for information"
_________________________________________
- Commissioner Günther Oettinger: "many reasons exist to activate the "Rule of Law mechanism" and for us to place Warsaw under monitoring"
_________________________________________
- "the mechanism was set up in March 2014 to tackle "systemic threats" to the rule of law and other cherished European values"
_________________________________________
- "if there is no satisfactory response, the European Commission can propose invoking Article 7 of the Treaty"
_________________________________________
- "under this, a member can be stripped of its voting rights in EU institutions"
_________________________________________
- "the media bill was approved on Wednesday (30 December), just two days after it was submitted to parliament, which since October's elections has been dominated by the Law and Justice (PiS) party of Jaroslaw Kaczynski"
_________________________________________
- "it would mean that senior figures in public radio and television would be appointed - and sacked - by the treasury minister, and no longer through contests by the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT)"
_________________________________________
- "the law would also see the current managers and supervisory board members of Poland's public broadcasters fired with immediate effect"
_________________________________________
- "it would effectively bring public service television and radio under the direct control of the government"
Poland's Government threatens Constitutional Court - the Guardian: LINK ¤ the GUARDIAN
_________________________________________
- "hardline conservatives use numbers to push through widely condemned reforms"
_________________________________________
- "that water down judges’ power to rule on legality of government policies"
_________________________________________
- "Poland’s ruling conservative party has passed a law that will paralyse the country’s highest legislative court and remove important checks on the government’s power"
_________________________________________
- "following an avalanche of criticism at home and abroad, the approval of the new law raises the bar for constitutional court rulings from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority"
_________________________________________
- "the Law and Justice party (PiS), led by staunch conservative ex-premier Jaroslaw Kaczynski, has already plunged the country into a political crisis"
_________________________________________
- "since being elected in October, partly over controversial nominations to the constitutional court"
_________________________________________
- "it has attempted to install five judges of its own choosing in the 15-member court"
_________________________________________
- "the European Parliament chief, Martin Schulz, has compared the political situation in Poland to a "coup""
_________________________________________
- "Poland’s supreme court has said the new law interferes with the court’s independence and aims to hinder its proper functioning"
_________________________________________
- "the law introduces obligatory waits of three to six months between the time a request for a ruling is made and a verdict, compared with two weeks currently"
_________________________________________
- "this presages huge potential delays and, in fact, the paralysis of the court"
______________________________________________________________________________

- Capital: Ljubljana | Population: 2.1 million
______________________________________________________________________________

- Capital: Prague | Population: 10.5 million
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
- "I am pleased to inform you that the United States government recognizes the Czech Republic as an independent state"
_________________________________________
- "we have welcomed your commitment to move rapidly"
_________________________________________
- "toward the creation of a free market economy"
_________________________________________
- "and have offered our assistance in that process"


- Capital: Bratislava | Population: 5.4 million
_________________________________________
Slovak Republic - US cable - 1992: LINK ¤ 92STATE417667
_________________________________________
- "I am pleased to inform you that the United States government recognizes the Slovak Republic as an independent state"
_________________________________________
- "we have welcomed your commitment to move rapidly"
_________________________________________
- "toward the creation of a free market economy"
_________________________________________
- "and have offered our assistance in that process"

- Capital: Budapest | Population: 9.8 million
_________________________________________
ex-Ally Oligarch against Orban - American Post: LINK ¤ AMERICAN POST
_________________________________________
- "Hungary gained an illuminating insight into the internal conflicts raging within the governing Fidesz party"
_________________________________________
- "as one of Hungary’s wealthiest oligarchs and former treasurer of the ruling block"
_________________________________________
- "Lajos Simicska, gave a series of angry interviews"
_________________________________________
- "the elusive Simicska used to be one of the oldest comrades of Orban"
_________________________________________
- "he was the mastermind behind Fidesz’s finances during the early nineties"
_________________________________________
- "leaving behind a trail of dubious transactions"
_________________________________________
- "he started to build a media empire loyal to Fidesz"
_________________________________________
- "he owns the only dedicated news channel of the country, one radio station, two daily and one weekly newspaper"
_________________________________________
- "in 2010, state-owned companies all diverted their advertising budgets to Simicska’s media empire"
_________________________________________
- "after the second consecutive landslide victory of Fidesz, something went wrong between Orban and his oldest ally"
_________________________________________
- "the tax rules were changed"
_________________________________________
- "all the burden was divided equally between media companies - Simicska’s empire included"
Oligarch Simicska wendet sich gegen Orbán - der Standard: LINK ¤ der STANDARD
_________________________________________
- "das Ende einer langen Freundschaft mit Oligarch Lájós Simicska könnte Ungarns Premier Viktor Orbán auch politisch in Bedrängnis bringen"
_________________________________________
- "Simicska-Medien hatten begonnen, die Orbán-Regierung punktuell zu kritisieren, den Premier selbst aber weiter unterstützt"
_________________________________________
- "offenbar gab Simicska nun Weisung, Orbán nicht mehr zu schonen"
_________________________________________
- "Simicska und Orbán kennen sich seit 35 Jahren, seit der gemeinsamen Gymnasialzeit in Székesfehérvár. Die beiden haben die heutige Regierungspartei Fidesz aufgebaut"
_________________________________________
- "Orbán brachte Machtinstinkt und Populismus mit, Simicska den Geschäftssinn"
_________________________________________
- "die Ambition, auch mit fragwürdigen Methoden große Mengen Geldes aufzutreiben"
_________________________________________
- "daneben baute er ein riesiges Geschäftsimperium auf"
_________________________________________
- "seine Medien-Holding half entscheidend mit, dass Orbán acht Jahre nach seiner Wahlniederlage 2002 wieder an die Macht zurückkehrte"
_________________________________________
- "doch der einstige Schulfreund wurde dem Premier zu mächtig. Nach der Wiederwahl 2014 ließ er ihn nicht mehr an die Futtertröge der staatlichen Aufträge. Seine Medien drohte er mit höheren Steuern zu belasten"
_________________________________________
- "Simicska dürfte sich als jahrzehntelanger Finanzier im Besitz vieler schmutziger Geheimnisse Orbáns befinden"
______________________________________________________________________________
Kahlschlag im Staatsfunk - der Standard: LINK ¤ der STANDARD_________________________________________
- "bei den bereits geknebelten ungarischen Staatsmedien hat ein massiver Personalabbau begonnen"
_________________________________________
- "bei dem wohl die letzten verbliebenen kritischen Journalisten ihren Job verlieren dürften"
CENTRAL EUROPE - Wikipedia EN: LINK ¤ CENTRAL EUROPE
_________________________________________
- "Central Europe (archaically "Middle Europe") is a region lying between the areas of the Eastern and Western parts of the European continent"
Central Europe - Map: LINK ¤ WIKIMEDIA

