12 Europe (3)--- Eastern Europe东欧

Latvia (拉脱维亚)
Latvia is a small, open economy with exports contributing nearly a third of GDP. Due to its geographical location, transit services are highlydeveloped, along with timber and wood-processing, agriculture and food products, and manufacturing of machinery and electronics industries. Corruption continues to be an impediment to attracting foreign direct investment and Latvia’s low birth rate and decreasing population are major challenges to its long-term economic vitality.
Europe (3): Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Seven countries included: Estonia (爱沙尼亚) Latvia (拉脱维亚) Lithuania (立陶宛) Belarus (白俄罗斯)
Ukraine (乌克兰)
Latvia (拉脱维亚)
Ethnic groups:
Latvian 61.1%, Russian 26.2%, Belarusian 3.5%, Ukrainian 2.3%, Polish 2.2%, Lithuanian 1.3%, other 3.4% (2013 est.)
Languages:
Moldova (摩尔多瓦) Russia
Estonia (爱沙尼亚)
After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940—an action never recognized by the US—it regained its freedom in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with the West. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004, formally joined the OECD in late 2010, and adopted the euro as its official currency on 1 January 2011.
Latvia (拉脱维亚)
Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats) Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court; Constitutional Court subordinate courts: district (city) and regional courts
Latvia (拉脱维亚)
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Latvia Government type: parliamentary democracy
Capital (拉脱维亚)
Estonian (official) 68.5%, Russian 29.6%, Ukrainian 0.6%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.1% (2011 est.)
Religions:
Lutheran 9.9%, Orthodox 16.2%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 2.2%, other 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7% (2011 est.)
Estonia (爱沙尼亚)
Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Estonia Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital: name: Tallinn
Estonia (爱沙尼亚)
Latvian (official) 56.3%, Russian 33.8%, other 0.6% (includes Polish, Ukrainian, and Belarusian), unspecified 9.4% (2011 est.) Religions:
Lutheran 19.6%, Orthodox 15.3%, other Christian 1%, other 0.4%, unspecified 63.7% (2006)
Lithuania (立陶宛)
Lithuanian lands were united under MINDAUGAS in 1236; over the next century, through alliances and conquest, Lithuania extended its erritory to include most of present-day Belarus and Ukraine. By the end of the 14th century Lithuania was the largest state in Europe. An alliance with Poland in 1386 led the two countries into a union through the person of a common ruler. In 1569, Lithuania and Poland formally united into a single dual state, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This entity survived until 1795 when its remnants were partitioned by surrounding countries.
Estonia (爱沙尼亚)
Ethnic groups:
Estonian 68.7%, Russian 24.8%, Ukrainian 1.7%, Belarusian 1%, Finn 0.6%, other 1.6%, unspecified 1.6% (2011 est.)
Languages:
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October 2006) head of government: Taavi ROIVAS (since 26 March 2014) cabinet: Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (101 seats)
Latvia (拉脱维亚)
The name “Latvia” originates from the ancient Latgalians, one of four eastern Baltic tribes that formed the ethnic core of the Latvian people (ca. 8th-12th centuries A.D.). The region subsequently came under the control of Germans, Poles, Swedes, and finally, Russians. A Latvian republic emerged following World War I, but it was annexed by the USSR in 1940—an action never recognized by the US and many other countries. Latvia reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 28% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004; it joined the euro zone in 2014.
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Andris BERZINS (since 8 July 2011) head of government: Prime Minister Laimdota STRAUJUMA (since 22 January 2014) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by Parliament
Estonia (爱沙尼亚)
Estonia, a member of the European Union and the eurozone since 2004, has a modern market-based economy and one of the higher per capita income levels in Central Europe and the Baltic region. Estonia’s successive governments have pursued a free market, pro-business economic agenda and have wavered little in their commitment to pro-market reforms. The current government has followed sound fiscal policies that have resulted in balanced budgets and low public debt. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and strong trade ties with Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Germany.
Estonia (爱沙尼亚)
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court
subordinate courts: circuit (appellate) courts; administrative, county, city, and specialized courts