European Microstates

[Avahi1057]

Re: European Microstates

I honestly don't get where you're coming from with this one. Why exactly in your opinion should these microstates merge with larger countries? Whilst you've made it clear that you are not in favour of microstates you don't appear to have given any reason (apart from the already apparent fact that they are small countries) as to why you feel this way and more importantly haven't suggested why it would be anyone's interest (either for the microstate or the country absorbing) for these mergers to occur?

[Star Attraction]

Re: European Microstates

OK folks, here are three more European Microstates. Each of the following is bigger than Vatican City and Monaco put together, but they are all still very tiny.

San Marino
At just over 61 square kilometres (24 square miles), San Marino is the fifth smallest country in the world. Is it really worth it being a standalone country in its own right? Although it claims to be the world's oldest surviving sovereign state, that's still no reason why it should remain independent. The world is not a museum, isn't it time to move on?

Why not just make San Marino part of Italy? By all means keep its existing border and name (San Marino), but make the resulting area either a Region of Italy or a Province of Italy?.

Liechtenstein
A tiny landlocked country between Switzerland to the west and Austria to the east. With a geographical area of just over 160 square kilometres (62 square miles), it's the 6th smallest country in the world. Is there really any point in an area so small as Liechtenstein being a country in its own right? Just like I've already said about Monaco, in order to be a standalone country Liechtenstein needs its own Government and Prince, which seems pointless for such a small land area with a population of just 35,000.

According to Wikipedia, Liechtenstein tried to enter the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976, with Biggi Bachman - "Little Cowboy". Unfortunately Liechtenstein could not take part as it didn't have its own TV broadcaster. Well that was hardly surprising, how could such a small country justify having its own TV broadcaster, especially as (according to Wikipedia) Liechtensteiners were able to watch the Eurovision Song Contest (and presumably other programmes too) on Swiss, Austrian or German television channels. It was only in summer 2008 that Liechtenstein got its first national TV broadcaster 1FLTV.

My suggestion: merge Liechtenstein with Austria. By all means keep the currrent name Liechtenstein and its border, but make the area a state (Bundesland) of Austria. Then Liechtenstein (state of Austria) would be ruled by the Austrian Government and President.

Andorra
Located in the eastern Pyrenees between Spain and France. Granted it's one of the larger European microstates (bigger than Vatican City, Monaco, San Marino and Liechtenstein). Nonetheless, Andorra's area of just 468 square kilometres (181 square miles) still makes it the 6th smallest country in Europe and 16th smallest country in the world. In which case it still needs its own Government (separate from France and Spain) to be a standalone country. So how can Andorra justify being a country in its own right? I notice they didn't take part in the Eurovision Song Contest until 2004, from when they entered six consecutive years 2004 to 2009 inclusive. In that time they never qualified to the final, their best placing was 12th (80 points) in the 2007 semi-final. Interestingly they didn't enter 2010 to 2012 inclusive, and aren't in it this year.

My suggestion: being as the official language of Andorra is Catalan, with Spanish commonly spoken (what's the difference between Spanish and Catalan?), Andorra rightfully belongs with Spain. Merge Andorra into Spain. I notice Spain is divided into autonomous communities, and Andorra lies next-door to the Spanish autonomous community Catalonia. Catalonia is itself divided into four Provinces, therefore make Andorra the fifth Province of Catalonia. That way Andorra would keep its existing name and boundary, it's just it would be a Province of Catalonia (i.e. part of Spain) rather than a pointless standalone tiny country.

[HG]

Re: European Microstates

Bit of random one this one, I guess the answer is, it's up to their people.

[Star Attraction]

There are five European microstates. In alphabetical order they are Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City. Just one question: is it really worth having such small areas of land as countries in their own right?

Vatican City
Let's start with Vatican City. It's the smallest officially recognised independent state in the world by both area and population. According to Wikipedia, its area is just 44 hectares (110 acres). That's equivalent to 0.44 square km (0.17 square miles) and its population is just over 800.

How can such an infinitesimal plot of land justify being a country in its own right? It's a mickey taker really, the joker in the pack. Vatican City must be smaller than some English villages (possibly even hamlets). It's certainly only a fraction the size of Alton Towers 800 acres (3.2 square km), and Thorpe Park 500 acres (2.0 square km). Although you have to pay to go in them they're not countries in their own right separate from the UK.

Being as Vatican City is situated in the heart of Rome, and thus surrounded by Rome, why not just make it part of Rome? I'm aware that Rome is divided into administrative areas called municipi (singular municipio). Why don't they just make Vatican a municipio of Rome?

Is it true that, as I've been led to believe, you don't need a passport to cross from Rome to Vatican City or vice versa? Someone told me that it's difficult to tell exactly where the border is even. Is that true?

Monaco
The second smallest country in the world. On Google Maps, you have to zoom in close to find it! According to Wikipedia, its area is 2.02 square km (0.78 square miles), and population is 36,371, making it the most densely populated country in the world. The Franco-Monacoan land border is just 4.4 km (2.7 miles), its coastline is 4.1 km (2.5 miles). It would probably take me less than an hour to walk its entire coast length, and about an hour to walk the said land border. Monaco is long and narrow, its width ranges from 1.7 km (1.1 miles) at the widest point to 349 metres (382 yards) at the narrowest point. What a comical joke it is to call that a country!

It's hardly surprising the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place on a road circuit, requiring road closures, not a race track circuit like most other F1 venues. It must take most of Monte Carlo's roads, if not the entirety of Monaco! I doubt if Monaco has enough land space there to build a permanent racing circuit like some other countries have. Likewise, when Monaco won the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest, it's no wonder the 1972 ESC came from Edinburgh, UK instead of Monaco.

To be an independent country, Monaco needs its own Government and economy, and has its own prince. Is it really worth having all that just to be a separate country? Do you need a passport to cross the border from France into Monaco and vice-versa?

Monaco has its own TV service TMC (Télé Monte Carlo). Apart from being a prerequisite to enter the Eurovision Song Contest, does such an infinitesimal country really need its own TV service? Surely it must be broadcast from a very low power terrestrial transmitter to cover such a tiny area and not leak too much into France; just like a low power relay transmitter here in the UK. I bet most Monacoan residents are also able to get French TV from a French transmitter even if that needs a second aerial.

Monaco doesn't have its own train service, all trains running along its 1.7 km (1.1 miles) of track, and calling at Monte-Carlo station, are provided by SNCF (French Railways).

Why don't they just merge Monaco into France? Such a pathetically infinitesimal country is way too small to be a standalone country! If it wants to retain its name, and remain the land unit it is, within its current land borderline as part of France, make it a French department, but even then it would surely be the smallest department in France. Monte Carlo would then be just another French Riviera town.