Countries and members of the European Union (review). Russia is a member of the European Union. Which countries are members of the European Union The executive power of the EU has two components

The countries of the European Union did not immediately have such a number in which they are represented today. The union expanded gradually due to common goals and worldviews.

EU countries - sounds proud

Europe, as a geographical location, has concentrated in itself quite a lot of countries, or rather, all the countries of the European Union, which differ from other states in their individual high development in absolutely all directions. At the moment, the countries of the European Union 2016 are 28 independent states with their own diversified orientation. Back in 1992, the countries of the European Union determined for themselves main goals, which should positively affect not only the growth rates of each EU country in 2016, but also other states in the world.

Full list of EU countries 2016:

Austria Italy Slovakia
Belgium Cyprus Slovenia
Bulgaria Latvia Finland
Great Britain Lithuania France
Hungary Luxembourg Croatia
Germany Malta Czech
Greece Netherlands Sweden
Denmark Poland Estonia
Ireland Portugal
Spain Romania

According to which countries are members of the European Union, one can roughly formulate the main positions of this union. But do not confuse the EU countries and the Schengen area, although most states can be found both there and there. For example, having a Schengen visa, it is impossible to cross the border of such an EU country as: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Great Britain, Romania and Ireland. BUT Schengen countries Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, in turn, are not included in the EU countries for 2016.

Why there was a goal to unite the countries of the European Union 2016

The idea to build a list of EU countries in 2014 was born immediately after the end of World War II. The countries of the European Union were supposed to be exclusively of a capitalist warehouse. The countries that are members of the European Union began to unite looking at the created NATO, the Soviet Union and the Council of Europe.

At first, the countries of the European Union pursued a purely economic goal and proclaimed themselves a coal and metallurgical association in 1951, in Luxembourg. But already 1957 presented the countries of the European Union as states nuclear powered. It was 1957 that became the root cause for the creation of the modern European Union.

Starting from 1951, today's EU countries in 2014 "grew up" gradually. With the entry of each state, the union became stronger and stronger. As a result, the countries of the European Union in 2013 began to play a significant role in foreign relations, they began to adopt laws and regulations common to themselves. The EU countries listed above have become powerful political and economic association with its unique strategy and views on the events taking place in the world.

1973 is the time when the UK decided to join the European Union, followed by Denmark and Ireland.

1981 was the year of the reunification of Greece with the union.

1986 became a landmark for the life of such countries as: Portugal and Spain.

1995 was the year of unification of the former European Union with Sweden, Austria and Finland.

2004 - the accession of Malta and Cyprus, as well as those countries that were former socialist camps and former Soviet republics: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia.

Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007, and Croatia joined in 2013.

Now knowing exactly Which countries are in the European Union today, we can say that the population here is 500 million people. Of the existing 28 states, 17 of them entered the Eurozone, where the euro is considered the formal sole currency.

EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES. LIST OF EUROSEU COUNTRIES 2016.

The main idea when creating the European Union (EU, European Union) in 1951 (then the European Coal and Steel Community) was to organize a single platform for trade and economic cooperation between 6 states without the risk of military action from each other. The European Union itself was legally fixed at the signing of the Maastricht Treaty by 12 states in 1992. The countries that are members of the EU are independent, but at the same time subject to common laws relating to education, health care, pensions, judicial and other systems.

Definition and objectives of the European Union

The European Union is a unique organization that integrates European states that have signed an accession treaty with the aim of improving the lives of their citizens in all spheres of public life.

The objectives of the EU activities in various fields:

  1. Human rights and freedoms:
  • promoting the preservation of peace and the well-being of peoples;
  • providing citizens with freedom, security and legality;
  • promotion and protection of their interests in relations with other countries.
  1. Economy:
  • creation of a common internal market;
  • maintaining healthy competition;
  • socially-oriented market economy;
  • promotion of employment of the population;
  • social progress;
  • improving the quality of the natural environment;
  • scientific and technical progress.
  1. Social sphere:
  • combating discrimination, including gender;
  • social protection of the population;
  • ensuring fairness;
  • protection of children's rights.

If the founding countries of the EU were aimed mainly at creating a common market for steel and coal, which would solve the problems of employment in these industries and increase production efficiency, today the aspirations of the European Union have expanded significantly.

The European Union is called upon to ensure maximum cohesion and solidarity among the countries of the Commonwealth in terms of economic development, territorial organization and social order.

EU member states are obliged to respect the richness and diversity of each other's national cultures, as well as to ensure the protection of objects of common European cultural heritage.

List of EU countries for 2020

Since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, the process of active development of the European Union has been going on: the number of member countries is increasing, a single European currency is being introduced, and changes are being made to agreements. To find out how many countries are in the EU for 2020, you need to analyze the number of countries that joined the 12 EU states after 1992:

  • 1995 - plus 3 countries (Austria, Finland, Sweden);
  • 2004 - plus 10 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Malta);
  • 2007 - plus 2 countries (Bulgaria, Romania);
  • 2020 - plus 1 country (Croatia).

Thus, the number of countries in the EU in 2020 is 28.

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Speaking about which countries are part of the EU, in addition to those listed above, we will name the following:

  • Germany;
  • Belgium;
  • Italy;
  • Luxembourg;
  • Netherlands;
  • France;
  • Great Britain;
  • Denmark;
  • Ireland;
  • Greece;
  • Spain;
  • Portugal.

A standardized system of laws has been adopted on the territory of the EU countries, a common market has been created, passport control has been abolished within the Schengen area, which also includes some other European countries that are not members of the EU.

All EU member states are obliged to coordinate their political decisions with other members of the union. The currency of the European Union is the euro. To date, 19 EU countries have introduced the euro into circulation, thereby forming a single eurozone.

Economy of the European Union: features and principles of functioning

The economy of the European Union is made up of the economic systems of all 28 member countries, the level of which varies significantly. At the same time, weaker states are supported by the effective redistribution of funds and resources between countries. This happens through the common treasury, into which each state contributes its share of funds, depending on the volume of the gross domestic product (GDP). Such a policy is one of the main principles of the functioning of the EU (the principle of cohesion or cohesion).

On the one hand, such coordination of the economy contributes to social integration in the labor market, prevents and reduces unemployment, and eliminates regional imbalances in the European Union; on the other hand, it can lead to aggravation and mutual recriminations of donor and recipient countries.

Thus, the most developed EU donor countries, that is, those who invested more funds in the treasury than received from there, which in 2020 were Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Cyprus, were unhappy that the new members of the Union actually live off them. This fact, as well as the increase in cheap labor coming from the countries of Eastern Europe, were one of the main reasons for the UK's intention to leave the EU.

UK exit from the EU: the situation for 2020

Brexit (from two words: Br - Britain - Britain, exit - exit), which was activated by the UK during a referendum regarding the country's membership in the European Union in 2020, is expected in 2019-2020. Two years have been set aside for the transition period, so in 2020 Britain is still listed as an active member of the EU.

Possible consequences of Brexit

On a global scale, Brexit could negatively affect the filling of the official development assistance (ODA) fund, as Britain's contribution to the EU budget will decrease, and the EU is the fourth largest donor in the world in ODA.

Due to restrictions on freedom of movement and trade, after the UK leaves the EU, the British financial sector will be damaged. The predicted reasons for this are problems in the tourist industry and the outflow of qualified personnel. Brexit could also result in a significant decline in the income of the working population - according to experts, the loss of British families will amount to almost one and a half thousand euros annually.

Another possible consequence of Brexit is the separation of Scotland from the UK. As you know, back in 2020, the Scots raised the issue of secession from Britain, and the votes for and against were then divided almost equally - 44.7% and 55.3%, respectively. And since Scotland, unlike England, intends to remain in the EU, Brexit may speed up the process of obtaining its independence.

Causes and consequences of the 2017 referendum in Catalonia

The main reason for modern separatism in Catalonia, one of the richest and most developed regions of Spain, lies in the dissatisfaction of the local government and the population with the distribution of state budget funds. The catch is that Catalonia pays much more to the country's general treasury than it receives back.

On October 1, 2020, the Catalan authorities organized and held a referendum on the secession of Catalonia from Spain. However, the authorities of the country, this procedure was recognized as illegal. Despite the actions of the Spanish police aimed at blocking the vote, the poll still took place. 43% of voters managed to vote, of which 90.2 were in favor of secession, and 7.8% were against.

Official recognition of the results of the referendum by the Spanish authorities did not happen. Instead, the current Catalan Parliament was dissolved, the Generalitat, headed by leader Carles Puigdemont, was removed, and early parliamentary elections were scheduled for December.

To date, it has not been precisely determined which party will form the government. However, according to experts, Madrid is set for an uncompromising solution to the conflict in favor of preserving the integrity of Spain.

Copenhagen Criteria for EU Accession

Accession to the European Union is not available for all countries. Only states that clearly comply with the Copenhagen criteria adopted in 1993 at the EU meeting in Copenhagen can count on EU membership. So, inside the applicant country must:

  1. Observe the principles of a democratic constitutional state.
  2. To have a market economy capable of competing in the European market.
  3. Recognize the rules and standards of the European Union.

Negotiations are carried out with the candidate country for EU accession, then checks are carried out for compliance with the above criteria. Based on a thorough analysis of the data, a decision is made on the possibility (or impossibility) of membership in the Union.

Countries applying for EU membership

Among those wishing to join the EU are not only developed countries, but also countries with developing economies. In 2020, the following official EU candidate countries have been identified:

  1. Turkey - application since 1987.
  2. Macedonia - 2004.
  3. Montenegro - 2008.
  4. Albania - 2009.
  5. Serbia - 2009.

Accession talks are already underway with three of these countries - Turkey, Montenegro and Serbia. All candidates, except Turkey, have signed an association agreement, which usually precedes accession to the EU.

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Since the fifties of the twentieth century, the European Union has existed, uniting today 28 countries of Western and Central Europe. The process of its expansion continues, but there are those who are dissatisfied with the common policy and economic problems.

Map of the European Union showing all its member states

Most of the states of Europe are economically and politically united in a union called "European". Within this zone, there is a visa-free space, a single market, and a common currency is used. In 2020, this association includes 28 European countries, including regions subordinate to them, but located autonomously.

List of European Union countries

Britain is currently planning to leave the European Union (Brexit). The first prerequisites for this began back in 2015-2016, when it was proposed to hold a referendum on this issue.

In 2016, the referendum itself was held and a little more than half of the population voted for leaving the European Union - 51.9%. At first it was planned that the UK would leave the EU at the end of March 2019, but after discussions in Parliament, the exit was postponed to the end of April 2019.

Well, then there was a summit in Brussels and the exit of Britain from the EU was postponed until October 2019. Travelers who are planning to go to England should keep an eye on this information.

History of the EU

Initially, the creation of the union was considered only from an economic point of view and was aimed at connecting the coal and steel industries of the two countries - and. This was stated by the head of the French Foreign Ministry back in 1950. In those years, it was difficult to imagine how many states would later join the union.

In 1957, the European Union was formed, which included such developed states as Germany, and. It is positioned as a special international association, including the features of both an interstate organization and a single state.

The population of the EU countries, having independence, follows the general rules regarding all spheres of life, domestic and international politics, education, health care, social services.

Map of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg, members of the European Union

Since March 1957, this association has included and. In 1973 the Kingdom of Denmark joined the EU. In 1981, she joined the union, and in 1986 - and.

In 1995, three countries became members of the EU at once - and Sweden. Nine years later, ten more countries joined the single zone -, and. Not only is the process of expansion going on in the European Union, so, in 1985, the EU left after gaining independence, joining it automatically in 1973 as part of, since its population expressed a desire to leave the union.

Together with some states of Europe, the EU also included a number of territories located outside the mainland, but related to them politically.

Detailed map of Denmark showing all cities and islands

For example, along with France, Reunion, Saint Martin, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Mayotte and French Guiana also joined the association. At the expense of Spain, the organization was enriched by the provinces of Melilla and Ceuta. Together with Portugal, the Azores and Madeira joined the union.

On the contrary, those that are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but having greater political freedom, did not support the idea of ​​joining a single zone and are not part of the EU, despite Denmark itself being a member of it.

Also, the accession of the GDR to the European Union occurred automatically with the unification of both Germany, since the Federal Republic of Germany at that time was already part of it. The last of the countries to join the association - (in 2013), became the twenty-eighth EU member state. At the time of 2020, the situation did not change either in the direction of increasing the zone or in the direction of decreasing it.

Criteria for joining the European Union

Not all states are suitable for joining the EU. How many and what criteria exist can be found in the relevant document. In 1993, the experience of the existence of the association was summarized and uniform criteria were developed that are used when considering the issue of the entry of the next state into the association.

At the place of adoption, the list of requirements is called the Copenhagen Criteria. Topping the list is the presence of the principles of democracy. The main attention is paid to freedom and respect for the rights of each person, which follows from the concept of the rule of law.

Much attention is paid to the development of the competitiveness of the economy of a potential member of the Eurozone, and the general political course of the state should follow from the goals and standards of the European Union.
EU member states before making any significant political decision are obliged to coordinate it with other states, as this decision may affect their public life.

Each European state that wants to add to the list of countries that have joined the association is carefully checked for compliance with the "Copenhagen" criteria. Based on the results of the survey, a decision is made on the country's readiness to join the Eurozone, in case of a negative decision, a list is drawn up, according to which it is necessary to bring the deviating parameters back to normal.

After that, regular monitoring of compliance with the requirements is carried out, based on the results of which a conclusion is made about the readiness of the country to join the EU.

In addition to the general political course, there is a visa-free regime for crossing state borders in the common space, and they use a single currency - the euro.

This is what the money of the European Union looks like - the euro

For 2020, 19 countries out of 28 that are members of the European Union supported and accepted the circulation of the euro on the territory of their state, recognizing it as the state currency.

It is worth noting that not in all EU countries the national currency is the euro:

  • Bulgaria - Bulgarian lev.
  • Croatia - Croatian kuna.
  • Czech Republic - Czech crown.
  • Denmark - Danish krone.
  • Hungary - forint.
  • Poland - Polish zloty.
  • Romania - Romanian leu.
  • Sweden - Swedish krona.

When planning trips to these countries, you should take care to buy local currency, as the exchange rate in tourist places can be very high.

Good day, dear readers! Ruslan welcomes you, and today I will tell you which countries are included in the European Union. We will also look at the history of its creation, development trends, and what it means in general.

I think this is a rather interesting topic, because we are all interested in politics, we go on vacation to different countries, and quite often we hear about the European Union on TV, in the media.

The states that are part of it are independent, have their own state language, local and central governments, but they have a lot in common.

They meet certain criteria, which are called "Copenhagen", the main of which are democracy, protection of human rights and freedoms, as well as adherence to the principle of free trade in a market economy.

All important policy decisions must be coordinated by the EU Member States. There are also common governing bodies - the European Parliament, the court, the European Commission, the audit community that controls the budget of the European Union, and the common currency - the euro.

Basically, all countries that are members of the EU are also members of the Schengen zone, which means that border crossings within the European Union are unimpeded.

How did it all start?

In order to understand in more detail what are the trends in the development of the EU and which powers are included in it, let's turn to history.

The first proposals for such integration were made at the Paris Conference in 1867, but due to the then great contradictions between the countries, these ideas were postponed for a long time, and only after the Second World War they were returned to them.

In the post-war period, only united efforts and resources could restore the affected economies of states.

In 1951, in Paris, France, Germany, Luxenburg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy signed the first treaty, the ECSC, thus pooling natural resources.

In 1957, the same states signed agreements on the founding of the European communities of EuroAtom and the EEC.

In 1960, the EFTA association was created.

In 1963, the foundation was laid for the community's relationship with Africa in terms of finance, technology, and trade.

In 1964, a single agricultural market was created and the organization FEOGA, supporting the agricultural sector.

In 1968, the formation of the Customs Union was completed, and in 1973, Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland entered the list of EU countries.

In 1975, the Lo Mei Convention on Trade Cooperation was signed between the EU and 46 countries around the world.

Then, in 1981, Greece joined the European Union, and in 1986, Spain and Portugal.

In 1990 the Schengen Agreement was adopted, in 1992 the Maastricht Treaty was signed.

Officially, the union began to be called the "European Union" in 1993.

Sweden, Finland and Austria joined in 1995.

The non-cash euro was introduced in 1999, and cash payments on it - in 2002.

The EU expanded significantly in 2004, after the accession of Cyprus, Malta, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. Then, in 2007, Romania and Bulgaria joined, and in 2013, Croatia, which became 28 countries included in the EU.

However, not everything is as smooth in the development of the European Union as it might seem. Greenland left the EU in 1985 after gaining independence.

And more recently, in 2016, 52% of the UK population voted in a referendum to leave the union, in connection with which early parliamentary elections will be held in the country on June 8, 2017, after which specific negotiations will begin within a month on England's withdrawal from the Union. European Union.

If you look at the map of the Eurozone, you will notice that it also includes territories (mostly islands) that are not part of Europe, but are part of the EU member states.

It should be noted that now there is an ambiguous situation in the world, many countries of the union have different views on the prospects for its development, especially after the decision of England.

Who claims to be included in the EU?

If powers that are not part of the European Union wish to be included in its list, then they must comply with the "Copenhagen criteria". They undergo a special check, based on the results of which a decision is made on joining the EU.

At the moment there are 5 official contenders - Montenegro, Macedonia, Turkey, Serbia and Albania.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is a potential contender.

The Association Agreement was previously signed by countries located on other continents - Egypt, Jordan, Chile, Israel, Mexico and others - all of them are also contenders.

Eastern partners of the European Union are Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, Moldova and Georgia.

Basic principles of economic activity of countries

The activity of the European Union consists of the economies of its member countries, which are independent elements in international trade.

The undoubted advantage of the EU for citizens of any of its members is that they have the right to live and work in any country within the Union. For example, it is much easier for Germans to move to France than for us.

Spain, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy bring the largest part of the EU's income. The strategic resources include gas, oil and coal, in terms of the reserves of which the European Union occupies 14th place in the world, which, you see, when taking into account its territory, is not so much.

The European Union receives large incomes from tourism, which is facilitated by a single currency, the absence of visas, and the expansion of trade and partnerships between states.

Now various forecasts are being made about how many more countries will join the EU, but according to experts, states from other continents will join the integration of economies the fastest.

Attention! Attention check:

  1. How many countries are in the EU in total?
  2. Which country is leaving the EU?
  3. Which EU country is not listed below?

Write in the comments.

Thus, we have examined with you the history of the emergence and development of the European Union, the list of participating countries, as well as what it implies to join and what advantages it gives.

This is where our article ends.

I want to wish you a good day! See you soon!

Sincerely, Ruslan Miftakhov.

The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political association 27 European countries which formed the "common market", primarily ensuring the free movement of goods and people.

Within the EU, there is a single currency - the euro, which, as of 2020, is used 19 participating countries, and has its own parliament, empowered to make decisions in a wide range of areas - from issues related to environmental protection to the setting of tariffs for mobile communications.

MAP OF EU COUNTRIES

EU countries

The current list of countries that are members of the European Union in 2020 (today) is as follows.

EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES 2019

MEMBER STATE DATE OF ENTRY
1. Germany March 25, 1957
2. Belgium
3. Italy
4. Luxembourg
5. Netherlands
6. France
7. Denmark January 1, 1973
8. Ireland
9. Greece January 1, 1981
10. Spain January 1, 1986
11. Portugal
12. Austria January 1, 1995
13. Finland
14. Sweden
15. Hungary May 1, 2004
16. Cyprus
17. Latvia
18. Lithuania
19. Malta
20. Poland
21. Slovakia
22. Slovenia
23. Czech
24. Estonia
25. Bulgaria January 1, 2007
26. Romania
27. Croatia July 1, 2013
* Great Britain January 1, 1973 (formal exit - February 1, 2020)

On Thursday, June 23, 2016, a referendum was held in the UK, known throughout the world as Brexit. More than 30 million human. The final turnout was 71.8%. As a result, 51.9% of the British expressed their desire to leave the European Union. At the same time, the majority of citizens of England and Wales supported the exit from the EU, while the inhabitants of Scotland and Northern Ireland were against it.

According to Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force in 2009, any EU country has the right to leave this association. This article regulates the procedure for leaving the EU, in particular, a maximum of 2 years is provided for the final agreement of the conditions. The official start of the process of separation of the UK from the European Union was scheduled for March 29, 2019. This was followed by a six-month extension to October 31, 2019.

Important. At midnight between 31 January and 1 February 2020 CET, the UK formally left the European Union. The country lost representation and the right to vote in the EU authorities, but at the same time remained part of the single economic space until the end of 2020. Within 11 months, the UK and the EU must agree on new terms of trade and cooperation.

The list of EU countries in 2020, unlike 2019, includes not 28, but 27 states.

Creation of the European Union

The idea of ​​creating the European Union arose against the backdrop of the horrific aftermath of World War II. In order to avoid the repetition of such events and to connect the countries with each other as much as possible economically, in 1950, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman proposed to unite the coal and steel industries of Europe.

As a result, in 1951, six states - France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg - signed Treaty of Paris and created the European Coal and Steel Community. The rapid growth of trade relations over 6 years led to the conclusion Rome Accords 1957, which led to the formation of the European Economic Community - foundation of the modern EU.

The European Union in its current form was created on the basis of Maastricht Treaty, effective from November 1, 1993, which led to the emergence of a single European currency - Euro. Subsequently, changes were made to the main EU agreements in accordance with the agreements signed in Amsterdam (1997), Nice (2001) and Lisbon (2009).

Accession of countries to the European Union

The first wave of EU enlargement took place in 1973, after the UK, Ireland and Denmark joined the union. In 1981, Greece joined, and 5 years later (1986) - Portugal and Spain. In 1995, Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the European Union.

The largest expansion took place in 2004, when the EU received 10 new members - Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Estonia. Romania and Bulgaria joined in 2007, while Croatia was the last country to join the EU in 2013.

Functioning of the EU

The combined population of EU member states exceeds 510 million people. Previously, an exclusively economic union over the years of its existence has turned into a powerful political association, jointly solving the problems of security, migration, climate change, healthcare, education and much more. The fundamental principles of the European Union are based on a single internal market that ensures the free movement of goods, services, money and people, including labor.

The core values ​​of the EU include the rule of law, freedom, democracy, equality, respect for human rights and dignity. The functioning of the European Union is ensured 7 main institutions:

    European Council.

    Council of the European Union.

    Court of the European Union.

    European Court of Accounts.

    European Central Bank.

Despite the nominal independence of each member of the EU and the collective decision-making, individual countries occupy a dominant position in this association. For example, over 60% Contributions to the general budget of the European Union are accounted for by 4 states - Germany, France, Great Britain and Italy. For comparison, the total share of the Baltic countries - Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia - does not exceed 1%.

Many EU member states receive significant funds from the general budget to support the economy and social development, which significantly exceed the amount of initial contributions. Thus, sovereignty and the ability to significantly influence important decisions made within the European Union are partially lost. Germany has been considered the political and economic leader of the EU for many years.

Candidates for EU membership

As already mentioned, the list of EU countries in 2020 includes 27 members. The last replenishment took place in 2013, when Croatia joined the association. Four Western European states - Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein - are not members of the EU, but are closely integrated into the single economic market and are members of the Schengen area.

To join the European Union, a candidate country must meet the so-called Copenhagen criteria which are based on democratic government, respect for human rights, the functioning of a market economy and commitment to the goals and intentions of the EU. The right to join the European Union on a geographical basis is fixed in Article 49 Maastricht Treaty.

As of 2020, there are 5 candidates for EU accession:

    Turkey - application dated 1987

    Macedonia - application dated 2004

    Montenegro - application from 2008

    Albania - application from 2009

    Serbia - application from 2009

Negotiations on accession to the EU are conducted by all countries except Albania and Macedonia. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are considered potential candidates. In 2014, the European Union signed association agreements with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova, which is not a basis for applying for EU membership, but membership is possible in the future. According to the statements of high-ranking European officials, it can be concluded that in in the coming years, the replenishment of the European Union with new countries should not be expected.