The Federal Republic of Germany is situated in the heart of Europe. It has nine neighbours, more than any other European country: Denmark in the north, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France in the west, Switzerland and Austria in the south and the Czech Republic as well as Poland in the east...

Germany has a population of about 82,0 million, the largest in the European Union and the second largest in Europe after the Russian Federation. Of the approximately 82,0 million inhabitants, 7,3 million are foreigners most of whom came as working migrants from Turkey, South and South-East Europe since the 1960's and are staying now in the 2nd and 3rd generation...

After the end of World War II and the fall of the Nazi dictatorship the Federal Republic of Germany was founded in 1949 as a liberal democracy. Its constitutional bodies comprise the Federal President, the Bundestag (Federal German Parliament), the Bundesrat (Council of Federal States), the Federal Government led by the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Constitutional Court.

In terms of overall economic performance it is the third largest, and with regard to world trade it holds the second place. Germany is one of the most highly industrialised and economically powerful countries in the world...