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Scandinavia
The western side of the Baltic Sea is dominated by the descendants
of a group of Germanic peoples who settled there. The languages,
Danish, Swedish and Norwegian are related and mutually intelligible,
making a cultural area. Some settled on Iceland. Finland is included
though the main language is different (a minority also speak
Swedish). There is a Nordic Council for mutual cooperation and
at one time it was possible that a Scandinavian Common Market
might have been formed. The main division is between those which
are members of NATO: Norway, Denmark
and Iceland; and those which are neutral: Sweden and Finland.
Following the end of the Cold
War, this distinction becomes less important. Denmark, Sweden
and Finland are members of the European Union.
A previous Norwegian government negotiated entry but the people
rejected entry in a referendum. Norway re-applied to join but
many Norwegians disputed the right of other members to fish in
its waters under the Common Fisheries Policy and voted against.
Sweden and Finland voted to join. The Danes voted reluctantly
for the Maastricht Treaty in 1993. Norway and Iceland are associated
with the EU in the European Economic Area.
In Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland there is a common
political culture of social democracy: good education and welfare
services paid for by relatively high taxation levels (much higher
than in the United States). Traditionally the difference between
rich and poor has been narrower than in the unrestricted free
market, low taxation, countries. The Scandinavians see a danger
that they will compelled by the EU to dismantle their welfare
systems (much as Canadians fear the North American Free Trade
Area.)
Baltic States
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were part of the Soviet Union,
independent during 1919-39, part of the Russian Empire and previously
occupied by Sweden. Now they may evolve towards the Scandinavian
model, following their regained independence and membership of
the EU from 2004.
Baltic Council
In 1992 all the Baltic countries plus Norway and Iceland formed
a Baltic Council for consultation.
There is potential confrontation with Russia over the minorities in the Baltic States.
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