Lichtenstein

160square KM Neighbours are Switzerland and Austria (largest shared border) Speak German and are influenced by these countries civil laws Landlocked || Liechtenstein is a very small European country, wedged between Switzerland and Austria – not allowed into the League of Nations because it is too small. It is strongly influenced by Switzerland (where it has several economic and political agreements) and Austria. || Democratic, last constitutional amendment in 2003 Parliamentary – Prime minister (elected 2009): Klaus TSCHUETSCHER Cabinet Very stable govnt || The government is very stable, with little public unrest. Reforms and amendments are made with little difficulty. || Zero-tarif rate, so lots of trade “Foreign investment is welcome, and the overall investment environment encourages dynamic growth in the private sector. There are no restrictions on repatriation of profits or currency transfers. Liechtenstein is a major financial center, particularly in private banking. The banking sector remains stable under a prudent regulatory regime.” “The overall freedom to conduct a business is well protected under the efficient and transparent regulatory environment. Establishing a business is fairly easy. Administrative procedures are straightforward and applied consistently. The labor market is dynamic, and unemployment has traditionally been very low. Labor market policies have been focused on reducing youth unemployment. Monetary stability has been well maintained.” “…a vibrant free-enterprise economy with a stable financial sector. Low taxes and traditions (now relaxed) of strict bank secrecy have contributed significantly to the ability of financial institutions to attract funds. However, the worldwide financial crisis led to a sharp contraction in the banking sector. In 2009, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development removed Liechtenstein from its list of uncooperative tax havens. Liechtenstein’s economy is closely linked to Switzerland, whose currency it shares, and the European Union. Nearly two-thirds of its approximately 36,000 jobs are filled by commuters from Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Area.” []
 * Country Name
 * Liechtenstein ** || Information and Data || Interpretation ||
 * Location, Territory and Neighbours || Central Europe
 * Political environment Format of government || Hereditary Constitutional Monarchy. Prince Hans Adam II
 * Economic situation || Strong economy, lax tax plan

|| Lichtenstein is a strong financial centre, remaining stable and with good tax rates. The 2008 crash actually helped Lichtenstein re-organise itself, and in 2008/9 they signed a transparency agreement concerning their financial operations. Low unemployment, high GDP, but 2/3 of the jobs are held by Swiss, Austrian, and German commuters. Main areas of the economy are in tourism, industry and goods, and financial services. There is no military, as Lichtenstein is protected by Switzerland. ||
 * Natural resources, main trading partners, economic interests || “The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe. Since 2008, Liechtenstein has faced renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems. In December 2008, Liechtenstein signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement with the US. Upon Liechtenstein's conclusion of 12 bilateral information-sharing agreements, the OECD in October 2009 removed the principality from its "grey list" of countries that had yet to implement the organization''s Model Tax Convention. By the end of 2010, Liechtenstein had signed 25 Tax Information Exchange Agreements or Double Tax Agreements. In 2011 Liechtenstein joined the Schengen area, which allows passport-free travel across 26 European countries.”

(CIA Factbook) ||  || 15-64 years: 69.1% (male 12,680/ female 12,687) 65 years and over: 14.9% (male 2,440/ female 3,024) (2012 est.) ||
 * Social composition || |||||| 0-14 years: 16% (male 3,064/ female 2,818)
 * Median = 42years ||  ||   ||

14% urbanisation 100% literacy 2% GDP to education spending National education Free travel between EU states Roman Catholic Population: 360,713
 * High life expectancy and quality of life. Open borders with Switzerland, and free travel within EU ||
 * Recent history or history that defines current opinion and culture || The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719. Occupied by both French and Russian troops during the Napoleonic wars, it became a sovereign state in 1806 and joined the Germanic Confederation in 1815. Liechtenstein became fully independent in 1866 when the Confederation dissolved. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. In 2000, shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in concerns about the use of financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering legislation and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US that went into effect in 2003.

At the request of Liechtenstein's government in 1919, Switzerland safeguards Liechtenstein's interests and citizens abroad. An entry visa for Switzerland applies to Liechtenstein. [1] Swiss [|consular protection] is extended to citizens of Liechtenstein and Switzerland represents Liechtenstein abroad unless they choose otherwise || Switzerland and Liechtenstein are closely tied in many regards – social, economic, militia…

Liechtenstein’s neutrality and internal stability allow the country to focus on larger environmental/peace issues || NOT UNESCO
 * Recent conflicts or unresolved border disputes. Any other disputes? || Liechtenstein is Neutral, along with Switzerland ||  ||
 * Membership of various organizations || CD, CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, Schengen Convention (de facto member), UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WIPO, WTO

EBRD = European bank for reconstruction and development (held by 63 countries) EFTA = European Free-Trade Agreement (Swiss, Liechtensteiners, Norwegian, Icelanders) IAEA = International Atomic Energy Agency (Safe nuclear energy) ICRM = Institute Certified Records Management IFRCS = Worldwide humanitarian organization (providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions) Interpol=International Criminal Police Organization ITSO = International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. OPCW = Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons OSCE = Security and Cooperation in Europe Shengen Convention = open borders within Schengen area WIPO = World Intellectual Property Organisation || Very peaceful, and largely concerned with the environment and energy concerns. ||
 * Treaties and Agreements || || [|Agreement between the European Union and the Principality of Liechtenstein on security procedures for exchanging classified information] || Bilateral || 06/07/2010 ||
 * [|Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on supplementary rules in relation to the External Borders Fund for the period 2007 to 2013] (*) || Bilateral || 19/03/2010 ||
 * [|Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Principality of Liechtenstein concerning the provisional application of the Agreement on the participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the European Economic Area and the provisional application of four related Agreements] || Bilateral || 25/07/2007 ||
 * [|Agreement between the European Community, and the Principality of far-sighted Liechtenstein of the measures equivalent to those provided for in Council Directive 2003.48.CE on taxation of the incomes of the saving in the form of payments of interests - Memorandum of understanding] || Bilateral || 07/12/2004 ||
 * [|Agreement on the European Economic Area - Final Act - Joint Declarations - Declarations by the Governments of the Member States of the Community and the EFTA States - Arrangements - Agreed Minutes - Declarations by one or several of the Contracting Parties of the Agreement on the European Economic Area] || Bilateral || 02/05/1992 ||
 * [|Agreement between the European Union, Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Kingdom of Norway on an EEA Financial Mechanism 2009-2014] (*) || Multilateral || 28/07/2010 ||
 * [|Arrangement between the European Community, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein, of the other part, on the modalities of the participation by those States in the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union] || Multilateral || 30/09/2009 ||
 * [|Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)] || Multilateral || 26/01/2009 ||
 * [|Protocol between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Community, and the Swiss Confederation concerning the criteria and mechanisms for establishing the State responsible for examining a request for asylum lodged in a Member State or in Switzerland] (*) || Multilateral || 28/02/2008 ||
 * [|Protocol between the European Union, the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein on the accession of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the Agreement between the European Union, the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on the Swiss Confederation's association with the implementation, application and development of the Schengen acquis] (*) || Multilateral || 28/02/2008 ||
 * [|Additional Agreement between the European Community, the Swiss Confederation and the Principality of Liechtenstein extending to the Principality of Liechtenstein the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products] || Multilateral || 27/09/2007 ||
 * [|Agreement on the participation of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the European Economic Area] (*) || Multilateral || 25/07/2007 ||
 * [|Amendment to the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal] || Multilateral || 25/10/2004 ||
 * [|European Convention for the Protection of Animals during International Transport (revised) (No 193, Council of Europe)] || Multilateral || 25/06/2004 ||
 * [|United Nations Convention against Corruption] || Multilateral || 31/10/2003 ||
 * [|Agreement on the participation of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the European Economic Area] || Multilateral || 14/10/2003 ||
 * [|Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants] || Multilateral || 22/05/2001 ||
 * [|Protocol Against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime] || Multilateral || 12/12/2000 ||
 * [|Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children,supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime] || Multilateral || 12/12/2000 ||
 * [|United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime] || Multilateral || 15/11/2000 ||
 * [|Protocol on the implementation of the 1991 Alpine Convention in the field of transport] || Multilateral || 31/10/2000 ||
 * [|Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer] || Multilateral || 03/12/1999 ||
 * [|Protocol to the 1979 Convention on long-range transboundary air pollution to abate acidification, eutrophication and ground-level ozone] || Multilateral || 30/11/1999 ||
 * [|Geneva Act of 2 July 1999] || Multilateral || 02/07/1999 ||
 * [|Protocol on the implementation of the Alpine Convention of 1991 in the field of energy] || Multilateral || 16/10/1998 ||
 * [|Protocol on the implementation of the Alpine Convention of 1991 in the field of soil conservation] || Multilateral || 16/10/1998 ||
 * [|Protocol on the implementation of the Alpine Convention of 1991 in the field of tourism] || Multilateral || 16/10/1998 ||
 * [|Rotterdam Convention on the prior informed consent procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade] || Multilateral || 10/09/1998 ||
 * [|Convention on access to information, public participation in decision making and access to justice in environmental matters] || Multilateral || 24/06/1998 ||
 * [|Protocol on Heavy Metals to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution] || Multilateral || 24/06/1998 ||
 * [|Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)] || Multilateral || 24/06/1998 ||
 * [|Amendment to the trade-related provisions of the Energy Charter Treaty] (*) || Multilateral || 24/04/1998 ||
 * [|Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change] || Multilateral || 11/12/1997 ||
 * [|Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, adopted at the ninth meeting of the Parties] || Multilateral || 17/09/1997 ||
 * [|WIPO Copyright Treaty] || Multilateral || 23/12/1996 ||
 * [|WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty] || Multilateral || 20/12/1996 ||
 * [|Protocol of Accession of the Principality of Monaco to the Convention on the Protection of the Alps] || Multilateral || 20/12/1994 ||

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 * Any interesting or fun facts about the country or culture ||  ||   ||
 * Any interesting or fun facts about the country or culture ||  ||   ||