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'''Eastern Europe''' is a region that roughly includes the countries of [[Poland]], [[Hungary]], [[Czechia]], [[Slovakia]], [[Romania]], [[Bulgaria]], the [[Baltic states]], [[Russia]] (European part), [[Belarus]], the [[Ukraine]] and others. These countries are about 50% of European landmass. It is the region where two world wars erupted in the 20th century.

'''Eastern Europe''' is a region that roughly includes the countries of [[Poland]], [[Hungary]], [[Czechia]], [[Slovakia]], [[Romania]], [[Bulgaria]], the [[Baltic states]], [[Russia]] (European part), [[Belarus]], [[Ukraine]] and others. These countries make up about 50% of Europe's landmass. It is the region where both World Wars erupted in the 20th century.

==History==

==History==

Eastern Europe is often confused or referred as a shortcut to in the media with the [[Eastern Bloc]] that consisted of the [[Soviet Union]] - especially Baltic states in Northern Europe(Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia), and those that weren't a part of it - Balkan states in Southern Europe ([[Albania]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Moldova]], [[Romania]], [[Yugoslavia]]), and [[Central Europe]]an nations ([[Czechoslovakia]], [[East Germany]], [[Hungary]] and [[Poland]]).

Eastern Europe is often confused with, or referred to in the media as a shorthand for, the [[Eastern Bloc]] that consisted of the [[Soviet Union]] — especially the Baltic states in Northern Europe (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia), and those that weren't a part of it — Balkan states in Southern Europe ([[Albania]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Moldova]], [[Romania]], [[Yugoslavia]]), and [[Central Europe]]an nations ([[Czechoslovakia]], [[East Germany]], [[Hungary]] and [[Poland]]).

Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, while Yugoslavia has splintered into several countries in early 1990s. [[East Germany]] has been reunited with [[West Germany]] to form [[Germany]]. The Soviet Union broke up in 1990s into Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, while Yugoslavia splintered into several countries in the early 1990s. [[East Germany]] was reunited with [[West Germany]] to form [[Germany]]. The Soviet Union broke up in the 1990s into Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia are members of the [[European Union]]. Croatia will be the first state to join it in 2013.<ref>http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/index_en.htm</ref>

Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia are members of the [[European Union]]. Croatia will be the first state to join it in 2013.<ref>http://europa.eu/abc/european_countries/index_en.htm</ref>

==Contemporary use and developments==

==Contemporary use and developments==

Borders of European regions have been shifted back to the pre-Cold War, hence European Russia is also equal to pre-Cold War terms.

Borders of European regions have been shifted back to the pre-Cold War ones, hence European Russia is also equal to pre-Cold War terms.

Relating to Central European states as Eastern Europe is seen in Europe as ignorance or a provocation revoking the Cold War divide of Europe.

Referring to Central European states as Eastern Europe is seen in Europe as ignorance or a provocation, reviving the Cold War divide of Europe.

It is a common mistake to label all Slavic or the former Warsaw Pact (also called the Eastern Bloc) states in the region as located in Eastern Europe.

It is a common mistake to label all Slavic or the former Warsaw Pact (also called the Eastern Bloc) states in the region as located in Eastern Europe.

East and West Germany were countries, so better to call it eastern and western Germany. Reunification is all but a thing of the past and seen in a more or less positive light by most there and in all of Central Europe so try to avoid labeling Germans by their recent past.

East and West Germany were countries, so it's better to call them eastern and western Germany. Reunification is all but a thing of the past and is seen in a more or less positive light by most people there and in all of Central Europe, so try to avoid labeling Germans by their recent past.

==References==

==References==