Southeast Europe

Europe defined by cultural proximities

Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe is a relatively recent political designation mostly for the states of the Balkans.^[1]^[2] Writers such as Maria Todorova and Vesna Goldsworthy have suggested the use of the term Southeastern Europe to replace the word Balkans for the region, to minimize potential misunderstandings about the term Balkans having negative connotations.^[3]

Definition [edit]

The first known use of the term "Southeast Europe" was by Austrian researcher Johann Georg von Hahn (1811–1869) as a broader term than the traditional "Balkans".^[4] Unlike the United Nations definitions of Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Southern Europe and Northern Europe, there are no clear and universally accepted geographical or historical divisions that delineate this region.^[5] However, if United Nations definitions of bordering macroregions are done, the rest can be considered as Central Europe.^[6]

Four possible definitions of "Southeastern Europe" are: the Balkan Peninsula south of the River Danube-River Sava-River Kupa line; the European territories of the former Ottoman Empire; the substantially larger space with a northern delineation that respects actual borders, promoted by the European Union from 1999; a European Union co-funded regional development model that adds Austria, the eastern Regions of Italy and southwestern Ukraine.^{[original research?]}

Balkans model [edit]

Main article: Balkans

The Balkan Peninsula, as defined by the Danube-Sava-Kupa line

This concept is based on a geographic argument, that is, on the boundaries of the Balkans (which is considered a synonym by the supporters). The countries located fully in the peninsula are the following: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, and Montenegro.

The geographic definition may also include countries which are significantly located in the peninsula: Croatia (49%) and Serbia (60%) and some countries which are located mostly outside the peninsula as defined by the rivers: Romania (6%) and Turkey (3%).

Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe model [edit]

Stability Pact member states

The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe was an institution aimed at strengthening peace, democracy, human rights and economy in the countries of South Eastern Europe from 1999 to 2008. It was replaced by the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) in February 2008. The RCC replaced the Stability Pact, which was driven more by outside partners such as the EU, USA, Japan and Turkey, and the countries included were: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia. The RCC is more regionally owned and its membership list can be found in the relevant article.