The 2010 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
Court of First Instance - 27 justices appointed for a six-year term
Political parties and leaders:
Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left or
GUE/NGL [Lothar BISKY]; Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group or EFD
[Nigel FARAGE and Francesco SPERONI]; European Conservatives and
Reformists Group or ECR [Michael KAMINSKI]; Group of Greens/European
Free Alliance or Greens/EFA [Rebecca HARMS and Daniel COHN-BENDIT];
Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE
[Guy VERHOFSTADT]; Group of the European People's Party or EPP
[Joseph DAUL]; Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and
Democrats in the European Parliament or S&D [Martin SCHULZ]
International organization participation:
European Union: ARF (dialogue member), ASEAN (dialogue member), FAO, G-8, G-20, IDA, OAS (observer), PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), UN (observer), WTO
European Commission: Australian Group, CBSS, CERN, EBRD, FATF, G-10,
IEA, LAIA WTO, ZC (observer)
European Central Bank: BIS
European Investment Bank: EBRD
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao P. Castanheira do VALE DE ALMEIDA
chancery: 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 862–9500
FAX: [1] (202) 429–1766
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Christopher MURRAY
embassy: 13 Zinnerstraat/Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: same as above
telephone: [32] (2) 508–2111
FAX: [32] (2) 508–2063
Flag description:
a blue field with 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle in the center; blue represents the sky of the Western world, the stars are the peoples of Europe in a circle, a symbol of unity; the number of stars is fixed
National anthem:
name: "Ode to Joy""
lyrics/music: none/Ludwig VON BEETHOVEN, arranged by Herbert VON KARAJAN
note: adopted 1972, not in use until 1986; according to the European Union, the song is meant to represent all of Europe rather than just the organization; the song also serves as the anthem for the Council of Europe
Economy ::European Union
Economy - overview:
Internally, the EU has abolished trade barriers, adopted a common currency, and is striving toward convergence of living standards. Internationally, the EU aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic power. Because of the great differences in per capita income among member states (from $7,000 to $78,000) and in national attitudes toward issues like inflation, debt, and foreign trade, the EU faces difficulties in devising and enforcing common policies. In the wake of the global economic crisis, the European Commission projected that the EU's economy would shrink by 4% in 2009 and 0.1% in 2010. The EU has recovered from the crisis faster than expected, however, and the Commission estimates 2010 growth at 1.8%. Significant risks to growth nevertheless remain, including, high official debts and deficits, aging populations, over-regulation of non-financial businesses, and doubts about the sustainability of European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). In June 2010, prompted by the Greek financial crisis, the EU and the IMF set up a $1 trillion bailout fund to rescue any EMU member in danger of default, but it has not calmed market jitters that have diminished the value of the euro. Eleven established EU member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999 (Greece did so two years later), but the UK and Denmark have 'opt-outs' that allow them to keep their national currencies, and Sweden has not taken the steps needed to participate. Between 2004 and 2007, the EU admitted 12 countries that are, in general, less advanced economically than the other 15. Of the 12 most recent member states, only Slovenia (1 January 2007), Cyprus and Malta (1 January 2008), Slovakia (1 January 2009), and Estonia (1 January 2011) have adopted the euro; the remaining states other than the UK and Denmark are legally required to adopt the currency upon meeting EU's fiscal and monetary convergence criteria.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$14.89 trillion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 1 $14.64 trillion (2009 est.)
$15.27 trillion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$15.9 trillion (2010 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 160 −4% (2009 est.)
0.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$32,900 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $32,400 (2009 est.)
$33,900 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 25.2%
services: 72.9% (2010 est.)
Labor force:
225.2 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 5.6%
industry: 27.7%
services: 66.7% (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate:
9.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 104 9% (2009 est.)
Population below poverty line:
note - see individual country entries of member states
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.6% (2002 est.)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
31 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 31.2 (1996 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
18.6% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 1.8% (2009 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
1.75% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 121 3% (31 December 2008)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
7.52% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 8.58% (31 December 2008 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$5.542 trillion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 2 $5.649 trillion (31 December 2007)
note: this is the quantity of money, M1, for the euro area, converted into US dollars