The EU was not always as big as it is today. When European countries started to cooperate economically in 1951, only Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands participated.

Over time, more and more countries decided to join. The Union currently counts 27 EU countries. The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on 31 January 2020.

The 27 member countries of the EU

By alphabetical order Countries Austria Italy Belgium Latvia Bulgaria Lithuania Croatia Luxembourg Cyprus Malta Czechia Netherlands Denmark Poland Estonia Portugal Finland Romania France Slovakia Germany Slovenia Greece Spain Hungary Sweden Ireland By year of entry Year of entry Countries 01/01/1958 Belgium France Germany Italy Luxembourg Netherlands 01/01/1973 Denmark Ireland United Kingdom (left on 31 January 2020) 01/01/1981 Greece 01/01/1986 Portugal Spain 01/01/1995 Austria Finland Sweden 01/05/2004 Cyprus Czechia Estonia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Malta Poland Slovakia Slovenia 01/01/2007 Bulgaria Romania 01/07/2013 Croatia

All EU member countries in brief

Countries using the euro

The euro (€) is the official currency of 19 out of 27 EU countries. These countries are collectively known as the Eurozone.

Which countries use the euro?

Members of the Schengen border-free area

The Schengen Area is one of the greatest achievements of the EU. It is an area without internal borders, an area within which citizens, many non-EU nationals, business people and tourists can freely circulate without being subjected to border checks. Since 1985, it has gradually grown and encompasses today almost all EU countries and a few associated non-EU countries.

While having abolished their internal borders, Schengen States have also tightened controls at their common external border on the basis of Schengen rules to ensure the security of those living or travelling in the Schengen Area.

List of countries in Schengen area

Austria

Belgium

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Italy

Latvia Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

More about the Schengen area

Joining the EU

Becoming a member of the EU is a complex procedure which does not happen overnight. Once an applicant country meets the conditions for membership, it must implement EU rules and regulations in all areas.

Any country that satisfies the conditions for membership can apply. These conditions are known as the ‘Copenhagen criteria’ and include a free-market economy, a stable democracy and the rule of law, and the acceptance of all EU legislation, including of the euro.

A country wishing to join the EU submits a membership application to the Council, which asks the Commission to assess the applicant’s ability to meet the Copenhagen criteria. If the Commission’s opinion is positive, the Council must then agree upon a negotiating mandate. Negotiations are then formally opened on a subject-by-subject basis.

Due to the huge volume of EU rules and regulations each candidate country must adopt as national law, the negotiations take time to complete. The candidates are supported financially, administratively and technically during this pre-accession period.

Candidate countries

These countries are in the process of 'transposing' (or integrating) EU legislation into national law:

Potential candidates

Potential candidate countries do not yet fulfil the requirements for EU membership:

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Kosovo*

* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.

More about enlargement

Other European countries

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