Member States of the European Union

Member States of the European Union
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Name	European Union
Membership	Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden

Member States of the European Union are the sovereign states that have joined the European Union (EU) and have agreed to abide by its Treaty of Rome, Treaty of Maastricht, and other laws and policies. The EU is a supranational organization that was established through the Maastricht Treaty and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The European Commission, led by the President of the European Commission, is responsible for proposing and enforcing EU laws, while the European Parliament, composed of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) elected by the citizens of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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, provides democratic oversight. The European Council, comprising the Heads of state or government of the EU Member States, sets the overall direction and priorities of the EU.

Introduction

The European Union (EU) is a unique economic and political partnership between Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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. The EU's single market allows for the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people between Member States, while its common currency, the euro, is used by Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. The EU's Schengen Area enables passport-free travel between Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The EU's common agricultural policy (CAP) provides subsidies to farmers in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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.

History of Enlargement

The EU has undergone several rounds of enlargement since its establishment, with the first enlargement occurring in 1973 when Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community (EEC). The Single European Act of 1986 aimed to create a single market among Member States, while the Maastricht Treaty of 1992 established the EU and laid the groundwork for the introduction of the euro. The EU's fifth enlargement, which occurred in 2004, saw the accession of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. The Treaty of Lisbon of 2007 introduced significant changes to the EU's institutions and decision-making processes, while the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) was established in 2010 to provide financial assistance to Greece, Ireland, and Portugal. The EU's most recent enlargement occurred in 2013 when Croatia joined the EU, following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania in 2007.

List of Member States

The EU currently consists of 27 Member States, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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. These Member States are represented in the European Parliament by MEPs elected by the citizens of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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. The European Commission is headed by the President of the European Commission, who is currently Ursula von der Leyen, while the European Council is chaired by Charles Michel.

Member State Territories

The EU's Member States have several territories that are not part of the EU, including Greenland, which is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and the Azores and Madeira, which are autonomous regions of Portugal. The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU, commonly known as Brexit, has resulted in the Gibraltar becoming a British Overseas Territory outside the EU. The EU's outermost regions, which include the French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, and Mayotte, are part of the EU and are subject to EU law. The European Union's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is the largest in the world, covering over 25 million square kilometers and including the EEZs of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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.

Withdrawal from the European Union

The United Kingdom's withdrawal from the EU, commonly known as Brexit, occurred on January 31, 2020, following a referendum held in 2016 in which a majority of UK voters chose to leave the EU. The UK's withdrawal has resulted in significant changes to the EU's institutions and policies, including the European Parliament and the European Commission. The Withdrawal Agreement between the EU and the UK sets out the terms of the UK's withdrawal, including the transition period during which the UK will continue to be subject to EU law. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 is a UK statute that implements the Withdrawal Agreement in UK law, while the European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020 sets out the framework for the UK's future relationship with the EU. The UK's withdrawal from the EU has also resulted in the Gibraltar becoming a British Overseas Territory outside the EU.

Current and Future Enlargement

The EU is currently in the process of negotiating accession agreements with several countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey. The Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) is a framework for the EU's relations with the Western Balkans countries, which includes Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia. The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is a framework for the EU's relations with its neighboring countries, including Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, and Armenia. The Eastern Partnership is a framework for the EU's relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, while the Union for the Mediterranean is a framework for the EU's relations with the countries of the Mediterranean region, including Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, and Tunisia.