European microstates

Under the name of European micro states (including micro-states ) one summarizes the states together, which have emerged from European history with particular smaller land area whose originality is however fully recognized: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican City State.

The six European micro-states

Summary table:

  • The Vatican City is the reincarnation of the rest of the former Papal States in central Italy that lands which reported directly to the Pope until 1870. It was founded in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy, in which the Pope recognized the Italian state and in return sovereignty over a tiny area within the city of Rome guarantees given, which consists of a walled Vatican Hill with St. Peter's Square. However, further extraterritorial areas such as the Roman patriarchal and Castel Gandolfo not belong to the Vatican City, but are in the possession of non-identical with the Vatican City subject of international law of the Holy See.
  • The Principality of Andorra is a feudal remnant high in the Pyrenees, a fief, which was controversial at first, to be managed jointly by the then Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix, as co- princes. Later the place of the Counts of Foix joined the French king, and finally the French President. The Principality has been independent since 1278.
  • The Principality of Liechtenstein became independent in 1806 after the abolition of the Holy Roman Empire, with continuing strong domestic and foreign policy after the Holy Roman Empire and later Austria Austria - Hungary. From 1919, it focused heavily on Switzerland (inches contract and Monetary Union) and increased since about 1970 its external action ( accession to euro Europe, the UN and EEA). It was created between 1699 (acquisition of the first areas ) and 1719 ( survey of Imperial Principality ) as a fief for the wealthy House of Liechtenstein from the dominions of Vaduz and Schellenberg. Thanks to its geographical position between Switzerland and Austria, it did not sink in the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire and in later times during the upheavals in Germany.
  • The Republic of San Marino is the last survivor of a large number of self -governed Italian communities of the Middle Ages. She survived the consolidation of Italy in medium-sized states in the 15th century and the unification of Italy in the 19th century, thanks to its position on the time hard to reach a high Apennine ridge. At least formally, they also survived the Napoleonic period and the time of fascism in Italy, although the latter is also affected domestic politics in San Marino.
  • The Principality of Monaco on the French Riviera is ruled by the House Grimaldi since the 13th century. It reached its full independence after the cession of Nice area by the Piedmont to France in 1860.
  • The Republic of Malta is a southern European island country in the Mediterranean. Malta became independent from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1964. On 1 May 2004 Malta joined the European Union and has since its area and population standard smallest state.

It is due to the small size of the mini-states, which limits their natural resources and their population that most of them have taken special, tailored to their small size, economic measures - usually by reducing taxes and attracting investment. Many of the dwarf states have customs unions with its large neighbors closed to improve their economic situation ( Vatican City and San Marino with Italy, Liechtenstein with Switzerland and Monaco with France). Thanks to these unions Monaco, Andorra, San Marino and the Vatican come partly in the enjoyment of benefits of the European Union without being joined her. These mini-states, for example, use all the euro as their currency and mint their own euro coins. As with neighboring countries, there are no border controls, indirectly they are also part of the Schengen area. Liechtenstein has formal ties with the European Union. The country participates via the EEA Agreement on the European Economic Area and is also Schengen member. Malta, however, is a full EU member.

Limited sovereign small states

Furthermore, there are some areas in Europe, although, for example, Take not even foreign policy and defense, but of domestic policy largely autonomous:

  • Channel Islands Guernsey and Jersey ( directly connected to the crown, no part of the United Kingdom, but remnants of the former Duchy of Normandy )
  • Isle of Man (like the Channel Islands since time immemorial, no part of the United Kingdom, but directly connected to the crown)
  • Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. It has its own government, which shall fulfill the duties of self-government.
  • Faroe Islands ( an autonomous group of islands in the North Atlantic under Danish sovereignty )
  • Åland ( belonging to Finland archipelago, far-reaching autonomy )

Games for the Small States of Europe

There is a regular sporting event among European small and micro states, the Games of the Small States of Europe ( GSSE ). The usual participants are Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco and San Marino.

Mini-states in history

In many European countries there was in the history of entities that were to be regarded nowadays as a dwarf States. The Germany before Napoleon consisted of a number of small geographic units with each other enclaves and exclaves had.

Other European mini-states that have existed in the 20th century for some time:

History of Europe Roman Catholic Diocese of Urgell County of Foix Apennine Mountains
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