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Countries (or regions) occasionally included in Central Europe for geographical and/or cultural reasons are also: [[Croatia]], [[Romania]] (including geographical regions of Transylvania and Bukovina), [[Serbia]] (Northern and Central Serbia), western [[Ukraine]], western [[Belarus]], [[Russia]] (Kaliningrad Oblast), eastern [[France]] and north-eastern [[Italy]].

Countries (or regions) occasionally included in Central Europe for geographical and/or cultural reasons are also: [[Croatia]], [[Romania]] (including geographical regions of Transylvania and Bukovina), [[Serbia]] (Northern and Central Serbia), western [[Ukraine]], western [[Belarus]], [[Russia]] (Kaliningrad Oblast), eastern [[France]] and north-eastern [[Italy]].

Some of the world's greatest cities – [[Berlin]], [[Budapest]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Prague]], [[Vienna]], [[Warsaw]] and [[Zurich]] are situated in Central Europe, and it is the home of the [[German language]], the [[Polish language]] and the [[Hungarian|Hungarian language]].  

Some of the world's greatest cities – [[Berlin]], [[Budapest]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Prague]], [[Vienna]], [[Warsaw]] and [[Zurich]] – are situated in Central Europe, and it is the home of the [[German language]], the [[Polish language]] and the [[Hungarian|Hungarian language]].  

==History==

==History==

As elements of unity for Western and Central Europe were considered the Roman Catholicism and Latin. Eastern Europe that remained Orthodox Christian, was the area of [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] cultural influence, splitting the West into two flanks. Central Europe was the heart of [[Protestant Reformation]], starting in Czech lands with prominent reformers such as Jan Hus, a professor at the Prague University and Martin Luter from Saxony, Germany. Thanks to a scholar Paweł Włodkowic, Poland became a state of religious tolerance.

Elements of unity for Western and Central Europe were considered to be Roman Catholicism and Latin. Eastern Europe, which remained Orthodox Christian, was the area of [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] cultural influence, splitting the West into two flanks. Central Europe was the heart of the Protestant Reformation, starting in the Czech lands with prominent reformers such as Jan Hus, a professor at the Prague University, and Martin Luther from Saxony, Germany. Thanks to the scholar Paweł Włodkowic, Poland became a state of religious tolerance.

Central Europe was always a region full of tensions and almost constant wars which often erupted there. The last war, [[World War II]], was the most violent. The [[European Union]]'s initial goal was to integrate European countries so that they will stop fighting, though it soon began attempting to push its [[open borders]] policies on Central European countries.

Central Europe has always been a region full of tensions and almost constant wars, which often erupted there. The last war, [[World War II]], was the most violent. The [[European Union]]'s initial goal was to integrate European countries so that they would stop fighting, though it soon began attempting to push its [[open-borders]] policies on Central European countries.

==Contemporary Central Europe==

==Contemporary Central Europe==

Since the come back of democracy in most countries of the region after the fall of communism, Central Europe has been going through a "strategic awakening", with initiatives like the Central European Initiative, Centrope or V4. Region's economy shows high disparities with regard to income, however, all Central European countries are listed by the Human Development Index as very highly developed countries.

Since the comeback of democracy in most countries of the region after the fall of communism, Central Europe has been going through a "strategic awakening", with initiatives like the Central European Initiative, Centrope or V4. The region's economy shows high disparities with regard to income; however, all Central European countries are listed by the Human Development Index as very highly developed countries.

Currently, Central European countries are among the most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index 2012.

Currently, Central European countries are among the most peaceful countries in the world, according to the Global Peace Index 2012.

Several Central European countries, including Hungary and Poland, politically and culturally lean [[conservative]], and they challenged the left-wing social and immigration policies of the European Union.<ref>Multiple references:

Several Central European countries, including Hungary and Poland, politically and culturally lean [[conservative]], and they have challenged the left-wing social and immigration policies of the European Union.<ref>Multiple references:

*Friedman, Victoria (January 1, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/01/01/not-blackmailed-10-times-central-europe-defied-eu/ ‘We Won’t Be Blackmailed’: 10 Times in 2017 Central Europe Defied the EU]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2018.

*Friedman, Victoria (January 1, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/london/2018/01/01/not-blackmailed-10-times-central-europe-defied-eu/ ‘We Won’t Be Blackmailed’: 10 Times in 2017 Central Europe Defied the EU]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 1, 2018.

*Lane, Oliver JJ (October 23, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/10/23/1956-hungarian-revolution-central-europecare-more-freedom-than-west/ 1956 Hungarian Revolution: Why Central Europe Seems to Care More About Freedom Than the West]. ''[[Breitbart News]]''. Retrieved October 23, 2019.

*Lane, Oliver JJ (October 23, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2019/10/23/1956-hungarian-revolution-central-europecare-more-freedom-than-west/ 1956 Hungarian Revolution: Why Central Europe Seems to Care More About Freedom Than the West]. ''[[Breitbart News]]''. Retrieved October 23, 2019.