European Union Countries List 2022 Members List and Powers The Talks Today

August 2024 · 4 minute read

Europe’s European Union (EU) comprises 27 countries formed after World War II. The first batch of nations joined the EU in 1957, including Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. After the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland joined in 1973. The ten countries joined in the mid-1980s after Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined in 1981, 1986 and 1995, respectively.

European Union Countries List 2022

Governing economic, social, and security policies in 27 European countries, the EU is global. Beginning in the 21st century, Central and Eastern Europe became part of the EU. The United Kingdom, one of the founding members of the EU, quit the Union in 2020. Twenty-eight countries have been added to the United Nations since 2004, including two in 2007, Croatia in 2013, and nine in 2004. On June 23 2016, the United Kingdom left the European Union.

It is a fact that the European Union came into being thanks to the Maastricht Treaty of November 1, 1993. A single currency (the Euro), a standard foreign and security policy, and a much greater level of cooperation in matters of immigration, asylum, and judicial affairs. In 2012, the EU won the Nobel Peace Prize to promote peace and democracy in Europe.

European Union Countries Powers

CountryAccession Date
AustriaJanuary 1, 1995
BelgiumMarch 25, 1957
BulgariaJanuary 1, 2007
CroatiaJuly 1, 2013
CyprusMay 1, 2004
Czech RepublicMay 1, 2004
DenmarkJanuary 1, 1973
EstoniaMay 1, 2004
FinlandJanuary 1, 1995
FranceMarch 25, 1957
GermanyMarch 25, 1957
GreeceJanuary 1, 1981
HungaryMay 1, 2004
IrelandJanuary 1, 1973
ItalyMarch 25, 1957
LatviaMay 1, 2004
LithuaniaMay 1, 2004
LuxembourgMarch 25, 1957
MaltaMay 1, 2004
NetherlandsMarch 25, 1957
PolandMay 1, 2004
PortugalJanuary 1, 1986
RomaniaJanuary 1, 2007
SlovakiaMay 1, 2004
SloveniaMay 1, 2004
SpainJanuary 1, 1986
SwedenJanuary 1, 1995

In 1957, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and other countries joined the European Union, a group of 27 nations formed after World War II. In 1973, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Ireland joined the Union. EC membership was first achieved by Greece in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986 and Austria, Finland and Sweden in 1995. It was joined by nine countries in 2004, two more in 2007, and Croatia in 2013 to become 28 in all. The United Kingdom left the EU on June 23, 2016.

AzoresPortugalAtlantic Ocean
Canary Islands SpainAtlantic Ocean
French Guiana FranceSouth America
Guadeloupe FranceCaribbean
Madeira PortugalAtlantic Ocean
Martinique FranceCaribbean
Mayotte[13]FranceIndian Ocean
 Réunion FranceIndian Ocean
 Saint-Martin FranceCaribbean

Besides the EU, 19 countries share a currency union with the Eurozone, which uses the Euro as its official currency. Citizens of those 22 countries can travel freely within the Schengen Area. The EU also includes a few countries, not members of the EU, such as Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland. There is a uniform visa policy for international travel in the area operated as a single nation.

Europeon Countries Members Full List 2022

As a political and economic union based on the founding treaties, the European Union, with 27 member states, shares the benefits and responsibilities of membership. According to their treaties, some of the duties of their government are shared with the European Union, but not all of them. The state government and union must vote unanimously for some union policies; a qualified majority is required for others.

The EU is unique among other international organizations due to its obligations and shared sovereignty. The ECJ ruled in 1964 that the member states are subject to its legal order, as the founding treaties provide for a legal binding and supreme order. The subsidiarity principle is one of the union’s founding principles, which stipulates that decisions can only be made collectively if they cannot be taken individually.

In addition to the European Commission commissioners, membership in the European Union has other noteworthy features. These groups are comprised of members appointed by member states; however, the members do not represent the interest of their states; instead, they represent the interests of all states participating in the process.

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