Map of the railways of Siberia and the Far East. Schemes of Russian railways. Central and southern regions

The idea of ​​forming a community of European countries appeared after the Great Patriotic War. At the official level, the countries of the European Union came together in 1992, when the corresponding agreement was signed.

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The list of EU member states has regularly expanded, and today it has about 28 countries. Let us consider in more detail the members of the EU and the system as a whole.

What is the European Union

The European countries that have joined the Union have state sovereignty and independence.

Moreover, each has:

• personal national language communication;
• personal executive authorities, not only local, but also central.

Despite this, they have a lot in common. In particular, there are specific requirements that countries must comply with, including the adoption of key political issues in strict agreement with other EU states.

Countries that have expressed a desire to become a full member of the European Union will be forced to prove their adherence to the basic principles of the treaty and European values, in particular:

• democracy;
• providing protection for human rights;
• principles of free market trade in a modern economy.

The European Union also has personal self-government bodies, in particular:

• common parliament - it includes representatives of all states;
• general judiciary;
• a general commission to resolve various issues;
• spending control coalition.

Thanks to the general norms of the legislation of those countries that are included in the European Union, we can confidently talk about the formation of a single market.

Most of them use in the process of their life a single monetary unit - the euro.

Moreover, many countries of the European Union are part of the Schengen area, which provides an opportunity civilian population without any difficulties to travel to all EU countries.

The entire list of states today (table)

In 2020, the list of EU countries that are included at the official level looks like this:

These countries are part of the European Community. In addition, there are several other countries that only claim to join the community.

Among them are:

1. Serbia.
2. Montenegro.
3. Macedonia.
4. Turkey.
5. Albania.

Recently, Ukraine also claims to join the EU, but taking into account the political and economic situation, full membership is out of the question.

It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that a special map of the European Union has been developed, thanks to which you can visually study geography.

The economic activities of the powers that are included in the European Union contain much in common.

In particular, we are talking about the fact that the economy of each individual country is completely independent, but at the same time, all of them must contribute specific shares, from which the total GDP is formed.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the implementation of the Customs Union policy in the European Union.

This allows us to say that full members of the EU may well trade with other participants without any specific restrictions and at the same time without duties.

It is important to remember that in the case of other states that are not full members of the EU, uniform customs tariffs are established.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that for the entire period of the association agreement, no one has yet broken the agreement.

The only exception is Greenland. This Danish autonomy with significant powers, back in 1985, decided to exclude itself from membership in the Union.

In many ways, this was the result of a decrease in quotas for fishing. One of the latest sensational world events was the holding of a referendum on leaving the EU of Great Britain back in June 2016, when most of the local population voted for it.

However, in fact. The UK remains a full member of the EU, and this has become an occasion to start solving the many existing problems.

Requirement for candidates to join

In order to be able to become a full member of the Union in question, it is extremely important to fully comply with the stated criteria, which are reflected in international law, referred to as the “Copenhagen Requirements”.

The so-called etymology of documentation is dictated by the place of its formation. Requirements for potential applicants were developed and adopted in Copenhagen back in 1993 during the meeting of the European Council.

The main list of requirements that are extremely important to comply with, it is customary to include:

In most cases, potential applicants for accession to the European Union are subject to an impressive check, based on the results of which an appropriate decision is made.

In this situation, it becomes necessary to eliminate the identified inconsistencies as soon as possible.

Only in this case is it possible to re-apply and count on full members of the European Union.

As practice shows, it can take years and even decades to correct the identified inconsistencies.

Acceptance prospects

The process of globalization every year covers more and more spheres of life. Moreover, there are no exceptions for both large and small countries.

Thanks to the enhanced interaction of peoples and continents as a whole, it allows us to talk about the maximum intensification of competition.

This is very difficult to achieve if you act alone, because of which territorial associations have always been formed and are being formed, and some of them become major players at the global level.

By indicators economic development states that are full members of the European Union are considered to be such players.

In particular, we are talking about the 19th century, when some European countries made repeated attempts to form such unions.

But the presence at that time of numerous contradictions and the lack of a sufficient level of competition among other countries did not make it possible to realize such plans.

Video: initial aspects

Using the experience of the past years, modern world the countries of Asia, as well as the direct competitor of the EU America, have significantly strengthened, because of which the issue of connection and unity was again raised among the leaders of European states.

Today, the unstable military and political situation around the world only says that many countries have plans to become full members of the EU, since in this case one can count on increasing the personal defense capability and integrity of their state.

The European Union is an association of 28 European states. They created a common economic and political space. The motto of the European Union is "Concord in Diversity", which implies common work for the common good and prosperity of Europe. At the same time, a wide variety of cultural traditions and languages ​​has a positive effect on this process.

History of creation

The idea of ​​creating a "United States of Europe" postwar period voiced by Winston Churchill. The founding fathers of the European Union are also considered the first German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, Luxembourg politician Joseph Beha, Italian Prime Minister Alcide De Gasperi and other well-known European politicians.

The year of creation of the prototype of the European Union is considered to be 1951, when, according to the plan of Schuman (French Foreign Minister), the “European Coal and Steel Community” was created. The agreement was signed by Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The positive experience of joint regulation of the two industries led to the creation in 1957 of the "European Economic Union". The name "European Union" (abbreviated as the European Union or EU) appeared after the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 by 12 countries. Gradually, other states of Western, and later Eastern Europe joined him.

What is the Eurozone? Who is included in it?

In 1999, the EU entered the fourth stage of economic integration. After a free trade zone, a common market, a customs union, a monetary union began to operate. It included 19 EU countries, which formed a zone with a single euro currency.

The non-EU Vatican, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino officially joined the Eurozone under the agreement. Without a treaty, the euro is used by Kosovo and Montenegro. At the same time, Great Britain and Denmark have so far abandoned the euro, and 7 EU countries (Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden) have promised to introduce a common currency in the future.

List of EU member states for 2018

The following countries are currently members of the EU:

• Austria
• Bulgaria
• Belgium
• british kingdom
• Germany
• Hungary
• Greece
• Italy
• Spanish Kingdom
• Denmark
• Ireland
• Lithuania
• Latvia
• Republic of Cyprus
• Malta
• Kingdom of the Netherlands
• Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
• Slovenia
• Slovakia
• Poland
• Finland
• French Republic
• Portugal
• Romania
• Croatia
• Sweden
• Czech
• Estonia

Seventeen EU countries received EC assistance to support farmers due to drought

Seventeen of the 28 EU states took advantage of the European Commission's assistance, requesting the possibility for farmers to receive in advance a series of payments from the EU budget to support them due to the severe drought this summer, said the European Commissioner for agriculture Phil Hogan at a press conference after the EU Agriculture Ministerial Council.

"Seventeen EU countries took advantage of this opportunity," he said, specifying that it was about direct payments received in advance and funds for rural development.

The media named the three EU countries in which Ukrainians most often asked for asylum

According to the Statistical Institute of the European Union, in the first eight months of 2018, the authorities of Italy, Spain and Germany received the most new asylum applications from citizens of Ukraine.

According to UNN, in Italy, only in the first six months of this year, 1,515 new applications from Ukrainians were registered.

At the same time, Spain and Germany received 1205 and 715 new applications from January to August 2018, respectively.

Also, Ukrainians submitted 180 applications to Poland in eight months.

The history of the formation of the European Union began in 1951 with the formation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which included six countries (Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Germany). Within countries, all tariff and quantitative restrictions on trade in these goods were lifted.

March 25, 1957 signed the Treaty of Rome establishing European Economic Community(EEC) on the basis of the ECSC and the European Community for atomic energy.

In 1967, three European communities (the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community) merged to form the European Community.

On June 14, 1985, the Schengen Agreement on the free movement of goods, capital and citizens was signed - an agreement providing for the abolition of customs barriers within the European Union while simultaneously tightening control at the external borders of the EU (entered into force on March 26, 1995).

On February 7, 1992 in Maastricht (Netherlands) an agreement on the establishment of the European Union was signed (entered into force on November 1, 1993). The agreement completed the work of previous years on the settlement of monetary and political systems European countries.

In order to achieve higher form economic integration between the EU countries was created by the euro - the single monetary unit of the EU. In a non-cash form in the territory of the EU member states, the euro was introduced from January 1, 1999, and cash banknotes - from January 1, 2002. The euro replaced the ECU - the conventional unit of account of the European Community, which was a basket of currencies of all EU member states.

The jurisdiction of the European Union includes matters relating, in particular, to the common market, the customs union, the single currency (with the preservation of its own currency by some of the members), the common agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy.

The organization includes 27 European states: Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Estonia. On January 1, 2007, Bulgaria and Romania officially joined the European Union.

Institutions of the European Union:

The highest political body of the European Union is European Council. Like a meeting of heads of state highest level, the Council actually determines the tasks of the Union and its relations with the member states. Sessions are presided over by the President or Prime Minister of the country presiding over governing bodies EU alternately within six months.

The highest executive body of the European Union - European Commission (CES, Commission of the European Communities). The European Commission consists of 27 members, one from each member state. The Commission plays a major role in ensuring the day-to-day activities of the EU. Each commissioner, like the minister of the national government, is responsible for a specific area of ​​work.

European Parliament is an assembly of 786 deputies directly elected by the citizens of EU member states for a term of five years. Deputies unite in accordance with political orientation.

The highest judicial body of the EU is European Court (official name- Court of Justice of the European Communities). The Court is composed of 27 judges (one from each of the Member States) and nine Advocates General. The Court regulates disagreements between Member States, between Member States and the European Union itself, between EU institutions, gives opinions on international agreements.

In 2018, talks about the withdrawal of some countries from the European Union became more frequent, due to political situation in the world. In this article, we will analyze which countries are included in the European Union for 2019.

Today, the European Union includes 28 countries.
In addition to the major powers, the list also includes a number of autonomous regions that are subordinate to larger states. Among the autonomous territories are the Aland Islands, the Azores and others.

Which countries are in the EU, list in 2019

EU map with countries and capitals, EU borders

IMPORTANT: EU countries are pursuing a customs union policy. Within the Union there is a system of duty-free trade, while the amount of goods plying between countries does not matter, and therefore is not taxed. Those powers that were not lucky enough to enter the Union trade at a single customs tariff.

It should be noted that each segment of the EU retains its own economy and has all the powers to conduct economic activity independently. BUT obligatory monetary influence in the treasury. From the investments of 28 states, the GDP of the entire Union is formed.

Accession to the EU

All current members of the European Union have gone through certain stages that must be passed in order to join the Union. The so-called Copenhagen criteria.

What are the requirements for candidates to join

1. "Any European State may apply to become a member of the Union."

REFERENCE: What does "European state" mean is not entirely clear. Despite the fact that the phrase is used as a term, its clear definition has not yet been given. In practice, "European" is interpreted as a state belonging to Europe geographically, as well as culturally, historically and politically close to the values ​​of the Union.

2. The country applying for membership is obliged to respect the values , that form the basis of the European Union, share them and ensure the maintenance of these values ​​within their own state.

IMPORTANT: Basic requirements: "respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities."

The Treaty on European Union also includes secondary requirements for candidates for accession. They are named in Art. 49 "eligibility criteria"
The terms of the TEU are set by the heads of EU member states.

Candidates for EU membership in 2019

Several countries submitted their candidacy for membership in the European Union:

• Republic of Albania.
• Montenegro.
• Republic of Macedonia.
• Republic of Serbia.
• Turkish Republic.

REFERENCE: Serbia and Montenegro even has an estimated entry date of 2025.

There are also potential candidates:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Republic of Kosovo

They are not candidates yet. There is a fundamental difference between legal status candidate country and potential candidate country.

Which countries were the first to join the European Union?

The first echelon included only 6 countries (all Western European): Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, France. This composition is relevant for the period of the 50s - 60s of the twentieth century.

Already in 1793, there was an increase in the number of allied countries. The so-called expansion, which ended with the accession of Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland.

The year 1981 became the date of signing the agreement also with Greece, and 1986 with Spain and Portugal.

REFERENCE: The Treaty on the European Union was signed only in 1992 (it entered into force on November 1, 1993). Only from that moment did the European Union appear in the format in which it exists to this day. Since the 93rd year, he has been living according to the rules of the DES and the entry is made according to strictly established regulations.

Austria, Finland and Sweden became the first countries entering the EU according to all official procedures and established stages.

Only in the twenty-first century did the further expansion of the union (to the East) begin.
On May 1, 2004, the EU accepted Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and the islands of Cyprus and Malta.

In 2005, an agreement was signed, and in 2007, Eastern European Bulgaria and Romania became EU members.

Which country was the last to join the EU

Not so long ago, Croatia joined the European Union. On this moment it is the last country to move from candidate status to EU member status.

The Croats applied for membership back in 2003, for ten years they went through the procedure for joining the union. In 2004, the European Commission approved the initiative, allowing Croatia to become a candidate.

The process was delayed due to the intervention of Slovenia, officials which was made clear that they have a number of objections to Croatia's accession to the EU.
In 2009, the situation was resolved with the help of international representatives.

The signing of the accompanying agreements took place in 2012, and in 2013 they entered into force, making Croatia full members European Union.

European countries outside the EU

• Liechtenstein
• Monaco
• Switzerland
• Russia
• Belarus
• Moldova
• Ukraine
• Norway
• Andorra
• Vatican
• San Marino
• Albania and Macedonia (cannot become candidates for membership, because they are in a state of territorial disputes)
• Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan (partially located in European territory)
• Kosovo (cannot join the Union, as not all countries recognize it as an independent state)
• Transnistria (the issue of secession from Moldova has not been fully resolved)

REFERENCE: Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican are EU partners, actively cooperating with the countries of the Union, and the official currency of these states is the euro.

The European Union has been in existence for almost 90 years, during which time only one country (Greenland) left it, which in 1985 expressed outrage at the reduction in fishing quotas.

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, common currency. 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, should general rules regarding all spheres of life, domestic and international politics, education, healthcare, social service.

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, as 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 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, a visa-free regime for crossing state borders, and 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.