Keskieuroopan

Keski-Euroopan, or Central Europe in Finnish, is a transnational concept used to describe a region in Europe located between Western and Eastern Europe. There is no universally binding border, and definitions vary depending on whether the perspective is geographical, historical, or political. In practice, a core area commonly includes Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. Poland is often counted as central rather than eastern Europe in many references, while Liechtenstein and Slovenia are sometimes included in broader definitions; Croatia or parts of southern Poland may appear in some schemes.

Geographically, Central Europe encompasses a mix of landscapes, from the Alps and Carpathians to the Danube basin and inland plains. The region contains several major rivers, diverse climates, and a long history of cross-border interaction and trade. Its physical connections have helped shape economic and cultural exchange across national borders.

Historically, Central Europe has been influenced by forms of central authority and multi-ethnic empires, including the Holy Roman Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the 20th century, borders shifted and political alignments changed, contributing to a complex national development in the wake of World War II and the Cold War. Today many Central European countries are part of the European Union, with varying degrees of integration in regional cooperation initiatives and intra-regional networks.

Linguistically and culturally, the region is diverse, with Germanic, Slavic, and Romance language areas, as well as distinct traditions in art, architecture, and music. Central Europe remains a flexible, sometimes debated category used to discuss historical ties, economic linkages, and cultural similarities across national borders.