Belgium is a small country with a surface area of 30,528 km2 in north-western Europe and 3 454 km² of the North Sea. It shares borders with the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg, France and has a coastline of 73.1 km along the North Sea. The Belgian GDP amounted to 421.611 billion euros in 2016. Although the population of Belgium (11.3 million in 2016) only represents about 2.2% of the total European population, its GDP at market prices represents 2.8% of the GDP of the European Union. Although Belgium is highly urbanized and is the third most densely populated country in Europe, forests and other natural areas have remained relatively stable (23% of the territory). Its latitude and the proximity of the sea warmed by the Gulf Stream give Belgium a temperate maritime climate characterized by moderate temperatures, prevailing southerly to westerly winds, abundant cloud cover and frequent precipitation. Summers are relatively cool and humid and winters relatively mild and rainy. Impact, vulnerability and adaptation assessments have been funded and piloted at the regional and federal level. Belgium also submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as an EU Member State in 2015 and the Seventh National Communication in 2017.