examples:
Balkans
the Balkan countries collectively
Czech Republic
a landlocked republic in central Europe; separated from Slovakia in 1993
Slovak Republic
a landlocked republic in central Europe; separated from the Czech Republic in 1993
Federal Republic of Germany
a republic in central Europe; split into East Germany and West Germany after World War II and reunited in 1990
German Democratic Republic
a republic in north central Europe on the Baltic; established by the Soviet Union in 1954; reunified with West Germany in 1990
Federal Republic of Germany
a republic in north central Europe on the North Sea; established in 1949 from the zones of Germany occupied by the British and French and Americans after the German defeat; reunified with East Germany in 1990
Italian Republic
a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD
Roumania
a republic in southeastern Europe with a short coastline on the Black Sea
Yugoslavia
a former country of southeastern Europe bordering the Adriatic Sea; formed in 1918 and named Yugoslavia in 1929; controlled by Marshal Tito as a communist state until his death in 1980
Republic of Croatia
a republic in the western Balkans in south-central Europe in the eastern Adriatic coastal area; formerly part of the Habsburg monarchy and Yugoslavia; became independent in 1991
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
a mountainous republic in southeastern Europe bordering on the Adriatic Sea; formed from two of the six republics that made up Yugoslavia until 1992; Serbia and Montenegro were known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 2003 when they adopted the name of the Union of Serbia and Montenegro
Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
a mountainous republic of south-central Europe; formerly part of the Ottoman Empire and then a part of Yugoslavia; voted for independence in 1992 but the mostly Serbian army of Yugoslavia refused to accept the vote and began ethnic cleansing in order to rid Bosnia of its Croats and Muslims
Republic of Slovenia
a mountainous republic in central Europe; formerly part of the Habsburg monarchy and Yugoslavia; achieved independence in 1991
Republic of Austria
a mountainous republic in central Europe; under the Habsburgs (1278-1918) Austria maintained control of the Holy Roman Empire and was a leader in European politics until the 19th century
Flanders
a medieval country in northern Europe that included regions now parts of northern France and Belgium and southwestern Netherlands
Kingdom of Belgium
a monarchy in northwestern Europe; headquarters for the European Union and for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
England
a division of the United Kingdom
Northern Ireland
a division of the United Kingdom located on the northern part of the island of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
a republic consisting of 26 of 32 counties comprising the island of Ireland; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1921
Scotland
one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; located on the northern part of the island of Great Britain; famous for bagpipes and plaids and kilts
French Republic
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
Republic of Iceland
an island republic on the island of Iceland; became independent of Denmark in 1944
Principality of Liechtenstein
a small landlocked principality (constitutional monarchy) in central Europe located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
a grand duchy (a constitutional monarchy) landlocked in northwestern Europe between France and Belgium and Germany; an international financial center
Republic of Poland
a republic in central Europe; the invasion of Poland by Germany in 1939 started World War II
Portuguese Republic
a republic in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; Portuguese explorers and colonists in the 15th and 16th centuries created a vast overseas empire (including Brazil)
Republic of San Marino
the smallest republic in the world; the oldest independent country in Europe (achieved independence in 301); located in the Apennines and completely surrounded by Italy
Republic of Moldova
a landlocked republic in eastern Europe; formerly a European soviet but achieved independence in 1991
Kingdom of Spain
a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power
State of the Vatican City
the smallest sovereign state in the world; the see of the Pope (as the Bishop of Rome); home of the Pope and the central administration of the Roman Catholic Church; achieved independence from Italy in 1929