Tuning an Enlarged Europe: Introduction

Tuning an Enlarged Europe Facts & figures Projects

In East and Central Europe the focus on emancipation of disabled people and rehabilitation is rather new or less developed than in the rest of Europe. In several countries occupational therapy service is hardly or not provided while client groups are asking for it. Several Centres in Central and Eastern Europe (like Minsk in Belarus, Penza in Russia, Tiblisi in Georgia and Zagreb in Croatia) have approached ENOTHE (European Network of Occupational Therapy in Higher Education) for support in starting Occupational Therapy education. In 1999, during the TEMPUS project in Prague, ENOTHE devoted a first meeting to the developments of occupational therapy in Eastern and Central Europe in order to learn from each other. Two smaller workshops have taken place in Ljubljana; one about elderly care and another one about activity analysis and occupational therapy. At the meeting in Warsaw (April 2001) all (potential starting) Occupational Therapy Educational Institutes were present in order to start an East and Central European Network as a liaison to ENOTHE/SOCRATES. At the meeting in Romania (Oradea, 2002) was discussed the potential development of OT module and also the promotion of Occupational therapy in East and Central Europe.

Background information about countries

Armenia
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenia attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Armenia is located south-western from Asia, east of Turkey, with the total area of 29,800 sq km and population of 2,991,360. Capital city is Yerevan.

Belarus
After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. It is located in Eastern Europe, east of Poland, with the total area of 207,600 sq km and population of 10,310,520. Capital city is Minsk.

Bulgaria
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. Bulgaria regained its independence in 1878 from Ottoman Turks but, having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, it fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990. Bulgaria is located south-eastern of Europe, bordering by the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey. Total area is 110,910 sq km, with population 7,517,973. Capital is Sofia.

Croatia
The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Croatia is located south-eastern of Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia. Total area is 56,542 sq km, with population of 4,496,869. Capital is Zagreb.

Czech Republic
Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom. On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Since 1st May 2004 Czech republic is EU member. It is located in Central Europe, southeast of Germany, with total area of 78,866 sq km and population of 10,246,178. Capital city is Prague.

Estonia
After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, it regained its freedom in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since May 2004 is EU member. It is located in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia. Total area is 45,226 sq km, with population of 1,341,664. Capital city is Tallinn.

Georgia
Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. It was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Ethnic separation poor governance, and Russian military bases deny the government effective control over the entirety of the state's internationally recognized territory. Since November 2003 some progress on reforms and democratization has been made. Georgia is located south-western of Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia. Total area is 69,700 sq km, with population of 4,693,892. Capital is Tbilisi.

Hungary
Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990. In May 2004 became EU member. Hungary is located in Central Europe, northwest of Romania, with total are of 93,030 sq km and population 10,032,375 inhabitants. Capital is Budapest.

Latvia
After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It re-established its independence in 1991 following the break-up of the Soviet Union. Latvia joined the EU in May 2004. Is located in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania. Total area is 64,589 sq km, with population of 2,306,306 inhabitants. Capital is Riga.

Lithuania
Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence; Lithuania is EU member since May 2004. Is located in Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia. Total area is 65,200 sq km, with population of 3,607,899. Capital is Vilnius.

Romania
The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist republic in 1947 and the abdication of the king. Romania is located southeastern of Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine. Total area is 237,500 sq km; with population of 22,355,551.Capital is Bucharest.

Russia
Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the 300-year old Romanov Dynasty. The Communists seized power soon after and formed the USSR. In December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15 independent republics. It is located in Northern Asia, bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean. Total area is 17,075,200 sq km, with population of 143,782,338 inhabitants. Capital is Moscow.

Slovenia
The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. In 1991 Slovenia succeeded in establishing their independence and since May 2004 is EU member. Slovenia is located in Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia. Total area is 20,273 sq km, with population of 2,011,473 inhabitants. Capital is Ljubljana.