Europe is changing – faced with financial crises, conflicts in its neighbourhood, and power shifts on the international scene.

Europe, the world’s second-smallest continent, consists of 48 states and one territory (Gibraltar). Its natural borders go along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea to the south; the Atlantic Ocean to the west; and the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea and the Kara Sea to the north. The eastern border with Asia is not clearly defined, but the Ural Mountains are often used as the dividing line. By that definition, some 115 million Russians are considered to be Europeans.

The EU is the dominant theme of NUPI’s research on Europe. Increased cooperation and the development of common institutions in Europe, EU foreign and defence policy, EU policy towards neighbouring states and adjacent regions, as well as the role of NATO in Europe are all important areas of study. Also central are questions of energy production in Europe and European energy security. Further priority areas for research at NUPI are the special position of Europe in Norwegian foreign policy, and the role of Europe in global geopolitics.

Learn more about NUPI's research on Europe on the webpage of NUPI Centre for European Studies.

Sources: Store Norske Leksikon and NUPI.