The European microstates are those microstates located in Europe. The microstates are all independent states of a very small geographic area, and one of them, the Vatican, is the smallest state in the world. Due to their size, and therefore few resources and a small population, most microstates have adopted special economic measures in order to prosper, usually by lowering taxes and encouraging financial investment. It is for these special protected economic policies that no microstate is ever likely to join the European Union, although they all have special agreements with it.
There are also several crown dependencies and one overseas territory of the United Kingdom and two semi-autonomous regions within northern Europe that would be microstates if they were independent.
Microstates
Crown dependencies
UK overseas territory
Semi-autonomous regions of northern European countries
See also
