ABSTRACT
From a geographical point of view Southern Europe can be considered as the three major peninsulas that are washed by the Mediterranean Sea. In addition to these, the Mediterranean region includes Mediterranean France and European Turkey, which do not belong to the Mediterranean peninsulas, and Portugal, though it is not washed by the Mediterranean Sea. The area of the peninsulas of Southern Europe is about 1.5 million sq km, with a population of 153 million inhabitants, giving a population density of 107 inhabitants per sq km. The most important countries are Portugal, Spain, Italy, the former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria and Greece. However, these countries are quite dissimilar socially, economically and politically. While sharing the geographical characteristics noted below, some now have to contend with very serious problems of identity and development.
