When it comes to describing countries in the region of Europe to the east of Germany, the term "Eastern European" has long been used as a short-hand. However, there are alternative words that can be used to describe these nations, whether to add specificity or to avoid any perceived negative connotations associated with the term "Eastern". One term is "Central and Eastern European", which refers to the nations that emerged from the dissolution of the Soviet bloc and includes countries like Poland, the Czech Republic and the Baltic states. Additionally, terms like "Balkan", "Slavic", and "Eurasian" can be used more regionally to describe the countries and cultures of this region.