This yearbook provides a wealth of harmonised and comparable data on the European Union, the euro zone and the EU member states, with additional statistics for major non-European countries.

'Europe in Figures' is for and about Europeans. This edition provides a wealth of harmonised and comparable data on the European Union, the Euro zone and the EU member states, with additional statistics for major non-European countries.

This publication contains a wide range of comparable and up-to-date data for the European Union and its Member States, euro-zone countries, the European Economic Area and other global key players. Chapters cover: social statistics relating to population, health, education, the labour market, household and welfare issues; the economy including national accounts, prices and wages, balance of payments and international trade; the environment, including water resources and supply, waste treatment, air pollution and climate change; science and technology issues such as research and development, and the growth of the information society; business sectors and enterprises, including industry and construction, tourism, transport and energy; agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The yearbook contains all Structural indicators the European Commission and national governments have agreed to use to evaluate progress in the EU.

The definitive survey of the countries and territories of Western Europe, comprising expert analysis and commentary, up-to-date economic and socio-political data and extensive directory information. New for 2015: new essays examining energy security in Western Europe and mainstream parties and immigration, and fully revised essays on the European Union, the economies of the eurozone, the region's defence policies, Western Europe and emerging economies, the environment, and parties of the populist right analysis of recent elections in the region, including Belgium and Sweden details of cabinet reorganizations and new heads of state in the region General Survey Essays by leading experts on the area cover issues of regional importance. Country Surveys Individual chapters on each country, comprising: an introductory survey, containing essays on the geography, history and economy of each country, including a chronology and map. an extensive statistical survey of economic and demographic indicators, including area and population, health and welfare, agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, industry, finance, trade, transport, tourism, communications media and education. a comprehensive directory of names and contact details covering the most significant political and commercial institutions. Regional Information a directory of research institutes specializing in the region bibliographies of books and periodicals covering the region.

There is now a wide spread interest in regions as a key focus in the organization and governance of economic growth and wealth creation. This important book considers the factors that influence and shape the competitive performance of regions. This is not just an issue of academic interest and debate, but also of increasing policy deliberation and action. However, as the readings in this book make clear, the very idea of regional competitiveness is itself complex and contentious. Many academics and policy makers have used the concept without fully considering what is meant by the term and how it can be measured. Policy formulation has tended to rush ahead of understanding and analysis, and the purpose of this book is to close this important gap in understanding. This book was previously published as a special issue of Regional Studies.

Agriculture, forestry and fi shery statistics provides a selection of recent, topical data. Information is presented for the European Union (EU) and its Member States, and is supplemented (when available) with data for the United Kingdom, EFTA members, candidate countries to the EU and potential candidates. This publication aims to cover some of the most popular data within the domain of agriculture, forestry and fi shery statistics as well as some of the wider food chain. It may be viewed as an introduction to European statistics in this area and provides a starting point for those who wish to explore the broad range of data that are freely available on Eurostat's website.