East-Central Europe (or Middle Europe, Median Europe, fr. Europe médiane) – a term defining the countries located between German-speaking countries and Russia. Those lands are described as situated “between two”: between two worlds, between two stages, between two futures. In the geopolitical sense, East-Central Europe may be opposed to the Western and Eastern Europe, as one of the “Three Europes”.
Differing from ideas of Central and Eastern Europe, the concept is based on different criteria of distinction and has different geographical spread. In addition, countries of Central and Eastern Europe belong to two different cultural and economic circles.
Famous quotes containing the word europe:
“Of all the errors which can possibly be committed to the education of youth, that of sending them to Europe is the most fatal. I see [clearly] that no American should come to Europe under 30 years of age.”
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826)