ORBIS

Alliance · Political and economic union

European Union

The European Union is a union of 27 European countries with shared laws, a single market and its own parliament. Goods, services, money and people move freely between the members, and 21 use the euro. Nine countries are official candidates to join, including Ukraine and Turkey. The United Kingdom left in 2020, the only member state that ever has.

Updated October 2026 · Members and candidates from the European Commission

The round debating chamber of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, full of members during a session
The European Parliament in Strasbourg. Photo: David Iliff, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Members
27
Croatia joined last, in 2013
Candidates
9
Kosovo has applied too
Use the euro
21
Bulgaria joined in January 2026
People
450 million
5.5% of the world
Economy
$21.2tn
18% of the world's, 2025

Which countries are in the EU?

Twenty-seven countries. Six founded the European Economic Community, which came into being on January 1, 1958. The EU itself dates from the Maastricht Treaty, in force since November 1, 1993. The biggest expansion came in 2004, when 10 countries joined, 8 of them formerly communist. Croatia joined last, in 2013. The United Kingdom left on January 31, 2020, after 47 years. Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and the microstates, such as Monaco and San Marino, stayed out.

Map of Europe. The 27 EU members are blue. The candidates, from Ukraine and Moldova to Turkey, Georgia and the western Balkans, are sand. The United Kingdom, which left, is rust. Norway, Switzerland and Iceland are not members.
  • Member
  • Wants to join
  • Left
  • Not a member

How the EU grew

Countries that joined in each year, and the total after

  1. BelgiumFranceGermanyItalyLuxembourgNetherlands19586 founders
  2. DenmarkIrelandUnited Kingdom19739
  3. Greece198110
  4. PortugalSpain198612
  5. AustriaFinlandSweden199515
  6. CyprusCzechiaEstoniaHungaryLatviaLithuaniaMaltaPolandSlovakiaSlovenia200425
  7. BulgariaRomania200727
  8. Croatia201328
  9. United Kingdom left202027, United Kingdom left

All 27 members and the year each joined

  • Austria1995
  • Belgium1958
  • Bulgaria2007
  • Croatia2013
  • Cyprus2004
  • Czechia2004
  • Denmark1973
  • Estonia2004
  • Finland1995
  • France1958
  • Germany1958
  • Greece1981
  • Hungary2004
  • Ireland1973
  • Italy1958
  • Latvia2004
  • Lithuania2004
  • Luxembourg1958
  • Malta2004
  • Netherlands1958
  • Poland2004
  • Portugal1986
  • Romania2007
  • Slovakia2004
  • Slovenia2004
  • Spain1986
  • Sweden1995

Is Turkey in the EU?

No. Turkey applied for association with the European Economic Community in 1959 and signed the Ankara Agreement in 1963. It applied for full membership on April 14, 1987, became a candidate in December 1999 and opened talks on October 3, 2005. Of 35 chapters of EU law, 16 are open and 1 is closed (science and research, in 2006). In December 2006 the EU froze 8 chapters because Turkey keeps its ports and airports closed to Cypriot ships and aircraft.

In June 2018 EU governments said the talks had "effectively come to a standstill." Turkey is still formally a candidate. Its customs union with the EU, in force since December 31, 1995, covers industrial goods and processed farm products but not services. Turkish citizens still need visas.

Turkey's road to the EU

  1. 1963Association agreement signed in Ankara
  2. 1987Applies to join
  3. 1995Customs union with the EU starts
  4. 1999Becomes an official candidate
  5. 2005Membership talks open
  6. 2006The EU freezes eight chapters in a dispute over Cyprus
  7. 2018Talks come to a standstill
Chapters of EU law16 of 35 opened, 1 closed
  • Closed
  • Opened
  • Not opened

Who else wants to join the EU?

Nine countries are official candidates, and Kosovo is a potential candidate. A country applies, becomes a candidate, then negotiates more than 30 chapters of EU law. Every existing member must agree at each step. Montenegro is furthest along, with 18 of 33 chapters closed. Montenegro's government aims to finish talks by the end of 2026 and join in 2028. Ukraine and Moldova opened their first clusters of chapters in June 2026. Hungary's government, led by Prime Minister Péter Magyar since May 2026, is blocking Ukraine's next clusters over the rights of the Hungarian minority. On August 29, 2026, Iceland's voters rejected resuming EU membership talks in a referendum.

CountryAppliedCandidateTalks openedWhere it stands
Montenegro 2008 2010 2012 Furthest along, 18 of 33 chapters closed. Aims to join in 2028.
Albania 2009 2014 2022 Every chapter open since 2025. Aims to finish talks in 2027.
Ukraine 2022 2022 2024 Opened its first clusters in 2026. Hungary blocks the next ones.
Moldova 2022 2022 2024 Moving in step with Ukraine. Aims to be ready by 2028.
Serbia 2009 2012 2014 Stalled over the rule of law and its refusal to sanction Russia.
North Macedonia 2004 2005 2022 Stalled by a dispute with Bulgaria over its constitution.
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2016 2022 Talks approved in 2024 but not yet started.
Georgia 2022 2023 FrozenThe EU halted its bid in 2024.
Turkey 1987 1999 2005 FrozenTalks at a standstill since 2018.
Kosovo 2022 Not yet a candidate. Five EU members do not recognize it.
As of October 1, 2026. The years are when each country applied, became a candidate and held its first round of talks.

What is the difference between the EU, the eurozone and Schengen?

The EU, the eurozone and the Schengen area are three different groups. The EU is the political and economic union of 27 countries. The eurozone is the 21 that use the euro. Bulgaria became the 21st on January 1, 2026. Of the 6 that do not, only Denmark has a legal opt-out. The others are expected to adopt it once they meet the conditions. The Schengen area is 29 countries with no passport checks at their shared borders: 25 EU members plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Ireland has an opt-out. Cyprus is not yet in.

European Union

27
Map of the 27 countries in the European Union
One market, shared laws and a parliament.

Eurozone

21
Map of the 21 countries in the Eurozone
Six EU members keep their own money. Only Denmark has a legal opt-out.

Schengen area

29
Map of the 29 countries in the Schengen area
Includes Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Ireland and Cyprus are outside.

Is it in the EU?

Short answers for the countries people ask about most.

Is the UK in the EU?

No

The United Kingdom left on January 31, 2020, after 47 years. In the June 23, 2016 referendum, 51.9% voted Leave.

Is Switzerland in the EU?

No

Swiss voters rejected the European Economic Area in 1992. Switzerland has more than 100 bilateral agreements with the EU and is in Schengen.

Is Norway in the EU?

No

Norwegian voters said no in 1972 and 1994. Norway is in the single market through the European Economic Area, and in Schengen.

Is Ukraine in the EU?

No

Ukraine applied on February 28, 2022, four days after Russia's full-scale invasion. It has been a candidate since June 2022 and opened its first talks in June 2026.

Is Iceland in the EU?

No

Iceland applied in 2009 and dropped its bid in 2015. On August 29, 2026, its voters rejected resuming talks, 52.84% to 47.16%.

Is Greenland in the EU?

No

Greenland is a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Its voters chose to leave the European Communities in 1982, and it left in 1985.

Is Croatia in the EU?

Yes

Croatia joined on July 1, 2013, the most recent country to join. It adopted the euro and joined Schengen on January 1, 2023.

Is Cyprus in the EU?

Yes

Cyprus joined on May 1, 2004. EU law is suspended in the north, which Turkish troops have held since 1974.

Other alliances

All alliances →
NATO 32 members · since 1949 32 countries in Europe and North America. An attack on one counts as an attack on all. G7 7 members · since 1975 Seven rich democracies with 45% of the world's economy. Russia was in it from 1998 to 2014. All alliances Who belongs to what Which alliances each country is in, and how big each one is. See every country →
7 days free cancel anytime
Get the app