Presentation realised by Costea Camelia Adina, student at Avram Iancu College, Cimpeni. Class X SNE

Historical connections with Holland, France, Italy, Hungary, Turkey Events, influence, historical personalities

Europe is the world's second-smallest continent by surface area, covering about 10,180,000 square kilometres History is an important tool not only for increasing knowledge of the human past, but also for enhancing the awareness and the identity of human social and political communities, of which the European Union is one. In order to achieve a better understanding of what the European Union is and what it means to be a European citizen it is essential to improve the knowledge and understanding of both the history of the European integration process and the history of the European Union itself. The European Union (EU) is an economic and political union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe’ The 12 stars from EU flag in a circle symbolise the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony among the peoples of Europe. United in diversity" is the motto of the European Union.

Romania Romania, in southeast Europe, is mountainous in the north while the main feature in the south is the vast Danube valley. The river forms a delta as it approaches the Black Sea, which is a wildlife reserve for countless native and migratory birds. The Romanian language, like a number of others in southern Europe, is directly descended from Latin, although Romania is separated from other Romance- language countries by Slav speakers. Romania has considerable natural resources – oil, natural gas, coal, iron, copper and bauxite. Metal-working, petrochemicals and mechanical engineering are the main industries.

Romanian speciality dishes include grilled meatballs, meat wrapped in cabbage leaves, pork stew with garlic and onions and doughnuts made with cream and cheese. The spine-chilling tale of Dracula was inspired by the 15 th century Romanian Count Vlad Dracul whose son was famous in wartime for impaling captured enemies. Less notorious Romanians include the writer Eugene Ionesco, the gymnast Nadia Com ă neci and the composer George Enescu. Romania is one of the most important country from Europe and from EU. Tourism is one of the most dynamic and fastest developing sectors of the economy of Romania and is characterized by a huge potential for development. Voronet Monastery Bran Castle near Brașov, sometimes advertised as "Dracula's castle".

HOLLAND The Netherlands, as the name indicates, is low-lying territory, with one-quarter of the country at or below sea level. Many areas are protected from flooding by dykes and sea walls. Industrial activity in the Netherlands predominantly consists of food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining as well as electrical and electronic machinery. It has a dynamic agricultural sector and is well known for its plants and cut flowers. The port of Rotterdam is the busiest in Europe, serving a vast hinterland which stretches into Germany and central Europe.

The Netherlands has a history of great painters. The 17th century was the age of the Dutch Masters, such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer and Jan Steen. The 19th and 20th centuries were no less remarkable for their high-calibre artists like Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondriaan. Well-known Dutch specialities include raw herring, smoked eel and pea soup, as well as a wide variety of cheeses such as Edam and Gouda.

FRANCE France is an independent nation in Western Europe and the center of a large overseas administration. It is the third-largest European nation. It is a beautiful country with many architectural icons such as: Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedrall, Palace of Versailles. The Louvre Museum in Paris is among the world’s largest museums and is home to many famous works of art, including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. The French believe in "égalité," which means equality, and is part of the country’s motto: "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité." Some of the finest wine is made in France. The French are also famous for their wonderful food.

ITALY The centre of the vast Roman Empire which left a huge archaeological, cultural and literary heritage, the Italian peninsula saw the birth of medieval humanism and the Renaissance. This further helped to shape European political thought, philosophy and art via figures like Machiavelli, Dante, Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo. The list of famous Italian artists is long and includes Giotto, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Tintoretto and Caravaggio. The Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum are two important icons of Italy. Italian cuisine is one of the most refined and varied in Europe, from the piquant flavours of Naples and Calabria to the pesto dishes of Liguria and the cheese and risotto dishes of the Italian Alps.

HUNGARY Hungary is a landlocked state with many neighbours – Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria. It is mostly flat, with low mountains in the north. Lake Balaton, a popular tourist centre, is the largest lake in central Europe. Hungary is one of the 15 most popular tourist destinations in the world, with a capital regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world. The capital city, Budapest, was originally was two separate cities: Buda and Pest. It straddles the River Danube, is rich in history and culture and famed for its curative springs. Hungarian wines are enjoyed throughout Europe. Hungary is a highly musical country whose traditional folk music inspired such great national composers as Liszt, Bartók. Other famous Hungarians include Albert Szent- Györgyi, who discovered the existence of Vitamin C, writer and Nobel Prizewinner Imre Kertész.

TURKEY Turkey is often called "the cradle of civilization," as it has been home to a rich variety of tribes and nations of people since 6500 B.C. Turkey is considered to be one of the richest countries in terms of archaeology and is by far the biggest "open air museum" of the world. It has always been a bridge between the East and West and has been noted by scholars as the "melting pot" of various cultures where classical culture was shaped.Turkey has become a major tourist destination in Europe. The most spectacular findings from this time are those of Alaca Hoyuk in the Kızılırmak region and of Horoztepe near Tokat, in the Black Sea region. They are contemporary with the royal tombs of Mycenae in Greece. Turkish tea in these special cups has a very important place in daily life in Turkey.

Conections in Europe International conections is the study of relationships among countries, the roles of sovereign states, inter-governmental organizations The scope of International Relations comprehends globalization, state sovereignty, and international security, ecological sustainability, nuclear proliferation, and nationalism, economic development and global finance, terrorism and organized crime, human security, foreign interventionism, and human rights. Sixteen European countries use the single European currency known as the euro. Europe has made commitments in the field of transparency of professional qualifications. The aim is that diplomas awarded in one country will be recognised in other European countries in order to enhance workers' mobility within the EU. Another complex relationships between countries in Europe,and not only, is made by the Eurovision Song Contest.