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Austria, officially: Republik Österreich (The Austrian Republic) is a Federal Parlimentary Republic on the southern border of Western Europe (and the historical region of Central Europe). Austria's capital (and largest city) is Vienna, situated on the Danube. Austria is one of six European countries that have declared permanent neutrality and one of the few countries that includes the concept of everlasting neutrality in its constitution. Austria has been a member of the United Nations since 1955 and joined the European Union in 1995. Austria's history is complex.

Today, Austria is one of the 10 richest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita, has a well-developed social market economy, and a very high standard of living. Since its accession to the European Union the Austrian economy has become much more open and the country has benefited from considerable inward investment.

In the main, Austrian cuisine is derived from that of the Austro-Hungarian Empire overlaid on native traditions. There are also strong influences from Hungarian, Czech, Jewish, Italian and Bavarian cuisines. As such it can be argued that Austrian cuisin is one of the most natively trans-cultural in Europe.

The Czech Republic, offilicially: Česká republika (the Czech Republic) is a landlocked country in modern Eastern Europe (and the historical entity of Central Europe). The capital and largest city is Prague (Czech: Praha) and the official language is Czech. The country has been settled from Neolithic times, with the Celtic tribe of the Boii settling there in the 3rd century BCE, subsequently followed by the Germanic tribes of Marcomanni and Quadi during the first century BCE and Slavic populations arriving in the 5th century CE.

From 1991 the Czech Republic (originally as part of Czechoslovakia, and now in its own right) has been a member of the Visegrad Group and from 1995 of the OECD. The Czech Republic joined NATO on March 12, 1999 and the European Union on May 1, 2004.

Czech cuisine is very heavily meat-based, with pork being the prime meat. Czech cuisine has also both influenced and been influenced by the cuisines of surrounding countries. Indeed, many of the fine cakes and pastries that are popular in Central Europe originated in the Czech lands. Fish is rare, with the occasional exception of fresh trout, and carp, which is served at Christmas. Beer culture is also a large part of Czech life and many popular Czech dishes and cheeses are usually eaten as pub fare.

Germany, offilicially Bundesrepublik Deutschland (The Federal Republic of Germany) is a country in west-central Europe (Germany is part of Western Europe) but is also part of the historical entity of Central Europe. Germany is officially a Parlimentary Federal Republic with its main ideals expressed in the 1949 Grundgesetz (Basic Law). The German capital is Berlin, where the parliament resides in the Reichstag. German is the official laguage though Danish, Low German, Sorbian, Romani and Frisian are recognized as regional languages. Germany is Europe's most populour country, with an estimated population (2006) of 82,314,90.

Germany is the world's third largest economy, as measured by GDP and Germany is considered as a modern 'Great Power' and is a member state of the United Nations, NATO, the G8 and the G4 nations. Despite, or maybe, due, to its econiomic porsperity Germany has Europe and the World's lowest fertility rates at 1.39 childred per mother. As such Germany's working population is shrinking.

Hungary, offilicially: Magyar Köztársaság (the Republic of Hungary) is a Parlimentary Republic located on the western border of Eastern Europe and on the eastern border of the historical Celtral Europe, lying in the Carpathian basin. The capital (and largest city) is Budapest and Magyar (Hungarian) is the official language.

Hungary is a member of OECD, NATO, EU and a Schengen state. The official language is Hungarian (also known as Magyar), which forms part of the Finno-Ugric family.

Hungarian cuisine is a notable part of the country's culture, with dishes such as goulash (gulyás or gulyásleves) being a mainstay. Healthy brown bread is made from four to six different grains and is sprinkled with sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and rolled oats. Kifli is a wildly popular crescent roll made from reform dough. Beer and wine are also minastays and the Tokaj white wine is a Hungarian classic.

Liechtenstein, officially: Fürstentum Liechtenstein (The Principality of Liechtenstein) is a Western-European microstate, but is also part of the historical entity of Central Europe. Liechtenstein is officially a Parlimentary Democracy and a Constitutional Monarchy. The Liechtensteiner capital is Vaduz and it's largest city is Schaan. German is the official laguage and it is the smallest German-speaking country in the world and the only alpine country to lie entirely within the Alps. Liechtenstein is entirely land-locked and is bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. At one time, the territory was part of the ancient Roman province of Raetia. For centuries this territory, geographically removed from European strategic interests, had little impact on European history. Prior to the reign of its current dynasty, the region was enfeoffed to a line of the counts of Hohenems.

The country has a strong financial sector located in the capital, Vaduz, and has been identified as a tax haven. It is a member of the European Free Trade Association and part of the European Economic Area but not of the European Union.

Poland, offilicially: Rzeczpospolita Polska (the Republic of Poland) is a Parlimentary Republic located on the western border of Eastern Europe and on the eastern border of the historical Celtral Europe.

Labour turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" ("Solidarność"), which over time became a political force. Despite persecution and imposition of martial law in 1981, it eroded the dominance of the Communist Party and by 1989 had triumphed in parliamentary elections. Lech Wałęsa, a Solidarity candidate, eventually won the presidency in 1990. The Solidarity movement heralded the collapse of communism across Eastern Europe.

Polish cuisine represents an almost archetypical mix of Slavic traditions. The traditional Polish form of cookery rich in meat, especially chicken and pork, and winter vegetables (cabbage in the dish bigos), and spices, as well as different kinds of noodles the most notable of which are the pierogi. It is related to other Slavic cuisines in usage of kasza and other cereals. Generally speaking, Polish cuisine is substantial. The traditional cuisine generally is demanding and Poles allow themselves a generous amount of time to prepare and enjoy their festive meals, with some meals (like Christmas eve or Easter Breakfast) taking a number of days to prepare in their entirety.

Slovakia, officially: Slovenská republika; (The Slovak Republic) is a landlocked Eastern European country in Eastern Europe (and also the historical region of Central Europe). The capital and largest city is Bratislava and the official language is Slovakian.

Slovakia became a member of NATO on March 29, 2004 and of the European Union on May 1, 2004. On January 1st, 2009, Slovakia adopted the Euro as its national currency.

Slovakian cuisine shares many similarities with that of its neighbours. Meat is poular with peork, beef and poultry predominating. Game meats, especially boar, rabbit, and venison, are also widely available around the year. A traditional Christmas dish is a fish and potato salad served with mayonnaise and vegetables. Slovakia is also an important wine-producing region with Tokaj wine being one of the best-known varieties.

Slovenia, officially: Republika Slovenija (the Republic of Slovenia) is a country bordering the Adriatic Sea that lies in Southern Europe and forms part of the historic Central Europe. It separates Italy from Croatia and forms the border of the Balkan region. The capital, and largest city is Ljubljana and the official language is Slovene.

Slovenia joined NATO on 29 March 2004 and the European Union on 1 May 2004. Slovenia was the first post-Communist country to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, for the first six months of 2008. Currently, Slovenia is a member of the European Union, the Eurozone, the Schengen area, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and NATO.

Slovenian cuisine is an admixture of Mediterranean and Slavic influences along with Austrian influences (particularly in terms of cakes and desserts). Other dishes originate in the Ottoman Empire and come to Slovenia by way of its Yugoslav heritage. The country has a diverse culinary heritage, which is demonstrated in the range of dishes available.

Switzerland, officially: Confoederatio Helvetica (Latin); Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confédération suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian) and Confederaziun svizra (Romansh) (The Swiss Confederation) is a Direct Democracy and a Federal Parliamentary Republic. It's capital is Berne and the largest city (and financial centre) is Zürich. The country has four official languages: German; French; Italian and Romansh which reflect Switzerland's position as a land-locked country in the heart of Europe. Switerland lies at the southern border of Western Europe and the historical entity of Central Europe.

Today, Switzerland is one of the world's richest countries and Switzerland ranks 15th in the world (when GDP is adjusted for purchasing power parity).

Swiss cuisine has strong influences from German, French and Italian cookery and much of Swiss cooking is related to the cuisines of the countries neighbouring the cantons.