Southeast Europe or Southeastern Europe (SEE) is a geographical subregion of Europe, consisting primarily of the Balkans, as well as adjacent regions and archipelagos. Sovereign states and territories that are included in the region are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia (alternatively placed in Central Europe), Cyprus (alternatively placed in West Asia), Greece (alternatively placed in the broader region of Southern Europe), Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania (alternatively placed in Central Europe), Serbia, and the European part of Turkey (alternatively placed in the broader region of Southern Europe, also in West Asia with the rest of the country). Sometimes, Moldova (alternatively placed in Eastern Europe) and Slovenia (alternatively placed in Central Europe) are also included. The largest cities of the region are Istanbul, Athens, Bucharest, Sofia, and Belgrade. There are overlapping and conflicting definitions of the region, due to political, economic, historical, cultural, and geographical considerations. Definition The first known use of the term "Southeast Europe" was by Austrian researcher Johann Georg von Hahn (1811–1869) as a broader term than the traditional Balkans, a concept based on the boundaries of the Balkan Peninsula (the countries that have been described as being entirely within the Balkan region are: Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, and North Macedonia). Geographical Southeast Europe Countries that are geographically, at least partially, described to be within the region are as follows: Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Greece (North) Kosovo Moldova Montenegro North Macedonia Romania Serbia Slovenia Turkey (East Thrace) CIA World Factbook In the CIA World Factbook, the description of each country includes information about "Location" under the heading "Geography", where the country is classified into a region. The following countries are included in their classification "Southeast Europe": Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Kosovo Montenegro North Macedonia Romania Serbia Turkey (East Thrace) In this classification, Slovenia is included in Central Europe, Greece in Southern Europe, and Moldova in Eastern Europe. Notable views The Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (SPSEE) included Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania and Serbia as member partners. The South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey as member partners. The Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey as member partners.