Europe’s tiny territories keep their identity regardless of the drive towards EU unity

Date: 02/10/1997

By Mark Turner

Despite its seemingly unstoppable march towards integration, Europe is still replete with strange hangovers from its stormy past. Colonies, disputed islands and minute principalities are scattered throughout the continent, all with various degrees of involvement in the Union.

These anachronisms have acquired a special kind of glamour all of their own, reminiscent of an age of lost kingdoms and fairy-tale castles. Their reputation as a playground for the rich and famous has added to that mystique, although the reality is often far more mundane.

From duty free shop to racing track, the territories' existence stands as a sharp reminder of Europe's medieval and fragmented past.

Andorra: Nestling in the Pyrenees between Spain and France, Catalan-speaking Andorra suggests ancient smuggling routes and romantic vistas.

In reality, it is used by many as a glorified duty free shop and a pleasant skiing destination. It is likely to emerge as a very big winner if duty free is abolished in the rest of the EU. Responsibility for Andorra is shared between its two big neighbours on a rotating basis. In 1995, EU leaders called on the Commission to submit 'appropriate proposals' for developing new areas of cooperation.

San Marino: Best known as the other squad in warm-up football matches for UEFA World Cup contenders, the tiny republic is surrounded by Italy but remains firmly independent from its larger cousin. In fact, the 25,000-odd Sammarinense have boasted independence since 301 AD - far longer than most EU members in their current form.

San Marino signed a customs union with the EU in 1991, but it is not fully in force yet. The country is split into nine 'Castle councils', and prides itself on being a haven for political refugees. Garibaldi sheltered here during his campaign to unify Italy.

Liechtenstein: One of the last remaining European Economic Area countries (alongside Iceland and Norway), this 160-square-kilometre country of about 30,000 people is actually very close to the EU when it comes to economic policy.

Nonetheless, it seems unlikely to apply for membership in the medium term. Whether that would change if Switzerland, with which is has a customs union, joined the Union is open to debate. Although ruled by Prince von Liechtenstein, the German-speaking principality is a democracy, with a one-chamber, 25-member parliament.

Monaco: Who hasn't dreamt of arriving in Monaco on a palatial yacht, popping into its casino to win a cool million and then leaping into a Formula 1 racing car and winning the Grand Prix? Monaco is the archetypal glamorous European anomaly and shows few intentions of changing that by joining the EU. Nonetheless, agreements between France and Monaco guarantee that its produce can be sold throughout Europe.

Monaco is ruled by the Grimaldi dynasty (which celebrates its 700th anniversary this year), is under 2.6 square kilometres in size and has just under 30,000 inhabitants. People living in the principality speak Italian, French and English, although Monaguesques also have their own language known as 'le Monegu'.

The Vatican/Holy See: Perhaps the strangest relic of all Europe's pre-nation-state past, the Vatican is all that remains of the vast Papal States which used to dominate much of central Italy.

Relations with the Union are conducted along the same lines as any other third country - it has been represented in Brussels since the early 1970s and has had a separate mission (nunciature) since summer 1996. Yet clearly the relationship goes beyond normal state-to-state diplomacy. Since the Pope and the Holy See claim to speak for the entire Christian world, the Vatican's positions on gender equality or population control are crucial, and have often brought it into conflict with the Union during United Nations conferences. On the other hand, the EU institutions and the Vatican have developed a fruitful dialogue over development issues in southern Africa. And there is growing contact on issues such as European integration, social welfare and enlargement to eastern Europe.

Channel Islands, Isle of Man: Although part of the UK, the islands are not actually part of the EU. Nonetheless, they were assured free movement of agricultural and industrial goods in the UK's 1972 accession treaty. They are all exempt from EU rules on free movement of labour, competition, right of establishment and value added tax.

Faroe Islands, Greenland: Both are autonomous parts of the Kingdom of Denmark, but stand largely outside the Union. Greenland, in fact, voted to leave the EC in the early 1980s - cutting the community's territory in half. Nevertheless, both have fishing agreements with the Union, allowing them single market access for their most important export. The Faroe Islands have the additional honour of being Europe's oldest democracy.