Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey are transcontinental countries, partially located in both Europe and Asia. The European Economic Area (EEA) Once an applicant country meets the conditions for membership, it must implement EU rules and regulations in all areas. It has been engaged extensively with EU institutions like NATO. Since 1985, it has gradually grown and encompasses today almost all EU countries and a few associated non-EU countries. 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. These countries are in the process of 'transposing' (or integrating) EU legislation into national law: Potential candidate countries do not yet fulfil the requirements for EU membership: Give feedback about this website or report a problem, Institutions, bodies & agencies – contact & visit details, Public contracts in the EU – rules and guidelines, Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), The European Data Protection Board (EDPB). In 1973, Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined. Click on each country to view current estimates (live population clock), historical data, and projected figures. Countries Integrating into the EU . These countries are collectively known as the Eurozone. The Schengen Area is one of the greatest achievements of the EU. English Speaking European Countries. VoteWatch.eu said in a statement: "Germany and Italy seem to exert the biggest level of influence in the European Parliament, more so than other big countries like France, the UK or Spain. The first batch of countries joined in 1957, including Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. In 2004, nine countries were added, two more in 2007, and finally Croatia in 2013 to bring the total to 28. The Schengen Area is one of the greatest achievements of the EU. Non-Eurozone countries. The European Union has 28 member countries. The EU was created by the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force on November 1, 1993. There were several enlargements from the 1980s till the 2010s, and the ECC was replaced by the EU in 1993. It also includes a few non-EU nations: Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. 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. New citizens’ rights in EU countries section added on how to get advice in the EU country where you live. Over time, more and more countries decided to join. What is the European Union? 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. Each member state is party to the founding treaties of the union and thereby shares in the privileges and obligations of membership. European countries that are not part of the European Union include Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Albania, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Macedonia and Montenegro. All EU Countries Current & Candidate Countries. This refers to the 19 EU countries which have adopted the Euro as their currency. It includes 22 EU members, plus the four EFTA countries. In subsequent years many other countries joined the Union. Countries in Europe: 44 There are 44 countries in Europe today, according to the United … Nineteen of the EU countries are also part of the Eurozone, a union of countries that have adopted the Euro as their official currency. These areas are: Aland Islands (Finland) Europe's continental union is probably most famous to outsiders for its euro currency and Schengen free travel area.But it's actually much more than that. 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. If the Commission’s opinion is positive, the Council must then agree upon a negotiating mandate. The EU’s common currency is the euro. European Union (EU), international organization comprising 27 European countries and governing common economic, social, and security policies. Its capital is Amsterdam and the official language is Dutch. The first agreement establishing the European Economic Community was signed in 1957 by six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. 28 countries are members of the European Union, including the UK which joined in 1973.Since its foundation by six countries in 1957, what is now known as the EU has grown in a series of expansions.The largest was in 2004 with ten new members, including many central and eastern European … Unlike members of other international organisations, the member states of the EU have agreed by treaty to shared sovereignty through the institutions of the European Unionin some (but by no means all) aspects of government. In line with the electoral act of 1976, EU countries have to notify the names to the European Parliament before the … Negotiations are then formally opened on a subject-by-subject basis. The candidates are supported financially, administratively and technically during this pre-accession period. Despite being within the EU territories, Albania is not part of the European Union. Many English speaking European countries have an extremely high level of English throughout the population due to having studied it from an early age, for example, across Scandinavia, at least 67% of the population speak English and even as high as 71% in Denmark. The areas listed below are also considered by Customs to be a non-EU country. Countries of Europe for kids, kindergarten, children, and toddlers. Armenia and Cyprus politically are considered European countries, though geographically they are located in the West Asia territory. The Schengen Area includes 22 of the 28 EU countries and entitles citizens of participating nations to travel freely between them. There are currently 28 countries in the European Union. Foreign policy co-operation between member states dates from the establishment of the Community in 1957, when member states negotiated as a bloc in international trade negotiations under the EU's common commercial policy. Becoming a member of the EU is a complex procedure which does not happen overnight. Steps for a more wide-ranging co-ordination in foreign relations began in 1970 with the establishment of European Political Cooperationwhich created an informal consultation process between member states with the aim of forming common foreign policies. The game Europe: Countries is available in the following languages: Seterra is an entertaining and educational geography game that lets you explore the world and learn about its countries, capitals, flags, oceans, lakes and more! The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is €678,572 billion, as per 2015. Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey are candidate countries. Source: Worldometer (www.Worldometers.info) Elaboration of data by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Countries that belong to the EEA include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. In 1973, Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined. Greece joined in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986 and Austria, Finland and Sweden in 1995. Twenty-seven of the UK's 73 seats have been redistributed to other countries, while the remaining 46 seats will be kept in reserve for potential future enlargements. The area operates as a single nation with a uniform visa policy for purposes of international travel. 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. The euro (€) is the official currency of 19 out of 27 EU countries. All other countries are considered by Customs to be a non-EU country. Exceptional areas within the EU countries. Here is an educational video to learn names of European countries in English on a map. Since June 2014 it has been an official candidate for European Union accession. Now Europe includes 51 independent states. Of these, two countries, Russia and Turkey, straddle Europe and Asia. Negotiations are held with each candidate country to determine their ability to apply EU legislation (acquis) and examine their possible request for transition periods. The European Union (EU) is a group of 28 nations in Europe, formed in the aftermath of World War II. The European Union gets mostly favorable marks from the countries surveyed, but not everyone is happy with the Brussels-based institution. Capital: Sofia; Official EU language(s): Bulgarian EU member country: since 1 January 2007; Currency: Bulgarian lev BGN.Bulgaria has committed to adopt the euro once it fulfils the necessary conditions. The European Union (EU) is a group of 28 nations in Europe, formed in the aftermath of World War II. Notably, support for the EU was higher in the UK, the country about to hold a vote on EU membership, with 44 percent of the British viewing the EU favorably, including 53 percent of the Scottish. The EU countries are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, The Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom. In 1987 the Europea… Overview of the EU countries. Bulgaria. Which countries have an opt-out? 26 countries in Europe are part of the Schengen free travel area. The countries hosting the largest number of refugees are Turkey, Colombia, Pakistan, Uganda and Germany. The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on 31 January 2020. Member states must agree unanimously for the EU to adopt some policies; for others, coll… Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined in 1973, Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986. ; Schengen: Bulgaria is currently in the process of joining the Schengen area. European Union: Countries (before Brexit) - Map Quiz Game: The European Union has 28 states, 24 official languages, and a population of over 500 million. The Netherlands is a member country of the EU since January 1, 1958 with its geographic size of 41,542 km², and population number 16,900,726, as per 2015. After all, the UK ("Britain"), which left the EU in 2020, was never part of the Schengen Area or euro currency zone to begin with. However, it has been a “potential candidate country” since 2000 when it was recognized. What's the Eurozone? Learn more about the EU … When European countries started to cooperate economically in 1951, only Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands participated. Due to the huge volume of EU rules and regulations each candidate country must adopt as national law, the negotiations take time to complete. Netherlands’ currency is Euro (€) since it became a member of the Eurozone on January 1, 1999. Membership in the EU is a long and difficult process, it also requires a free-market economy and a stable democracy. The ECSC evolved into the EU and grew to 28 members. It has expanded as recently as 2007 and may enlarge further in the future. Check out our infographic above for the latest Eurostat figures on asylum applications in the EU as well as UNHCR figures on the number of refugees in EU countries. The Dutch comprise 3.3% of the total EU population. The EU was not always as big as it is today. The list of all EU countries has more than quadrupled since its humble origins in 1951 when 6 members founded the European Coal and Steel Community to help avoid any further wars in Europe. Using this map quiz game, you will be able to increase your geography trivia prowess and prepare for any may quiz that may be coming your way. Seven more members will do, in theory, at some point in the future. Several countries are in the process of integrating or transitioning into the European Union. Only 15% of the world’s refugees are hosted by developed countries. 23 September 2020. New information on using UK banks if you live in an EEA country. Any country that satisfies the conditions for membership can apply. The first batch of countries joined in 1957, including Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands. In 1957, the EEC was formed amongst France, Italy, West Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Sales of veterinary antimicrobial agents in 31 European countries in 2018 2 Tenth ESVAC report About the European Medicines Agency The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a decentralised body of the EU, located in Amsterdam. The European Union (EU) consists of 27 member states. European countries have started immunising people against COVID-19 in earnest but huge discrepancies in the pace of vaccination exist. 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