The European Union is an economic and political partnership between 28 European countries. It was originally founded in 1957 by 6 countries to foster cooperation and prevent future conflicts. Some key points:
- It has expanded over time to now include 28 member states across Europe.
- Members work together through common institutions to create policies on trade, agriculture, immigration and other issues.
- The EU has a single market with no internal borders, a common currency (euro) used by 19 members, and citizens have the right to live and work anywhere in the EU.
- New countries can apply for membership if they meet economic and political criteria including stable institutions, rule of law, and a functioning market economy. Several countries
2. “Ode to Joy” from
“The Ninth Symphony”
by Ludwig van Beethoven
(Poem: Friedrich von Schiller)
9th May United in diversity
3. (EN) United in diversity
(BG) Обединен в многообразието
(DA) Forenet i mangfoldighed
(ET) Ühinenud mitmekesisuses
(ES) Unida en la diversidad
(GA) Aontaithe san éagsúlacht
(LV) Vienota dažādībā
(HU) Egység a sokféleségben
(PL) Zjednoczona w różnorodności
(SK) Zjednotení v rozmanitosti
(FI) Moninaisuudessaan yhtenäinen
(CS) Jednotná v rozmanitosti
(DE) In Vielfalt geeint
(EL) Eνωμένη στην πολυμορφία
(FR) Unie dans la diversité
(IT) Unita nella diversità
(LT) Suvienijusi įvairovę
(NL) In verscheidenheid verenigd
(PT) Unida na diversidade
(SL) Združena v raznolikosti
(SV) Förenade i mångfalden
MOTTO :
(RO) Unită în diversitate
(HR) Ujedinjeni u različitosti
4. Founding member states
- 25 March 1957 -
1. Belgium
2. France
3. Germany
4. Italy
5. Luxembourg
6. The Netherlands
5. 1. AUSTRIA
2. BELGIUM
3. BULGARIA
5. CYPRUS
6. CZECH REPUBLIC
7. DENMARK
8. ESTONIA
9. FINLAND
10. FRANCE
11. GERMANY
12. GREECE
13. HUNGARY
14. IRELAND
15. ITALY
16. LATVIA
17. LITHUANIA
18. LUXEMBOURG
19. MALTA
20. NETHERLANDS
21. POLAND
22. PORTUGAL
23. ROMANIA
24. SLOVAKIA
25. SLOVENIA
26. SPAIN
27. SWEDEN
28. UNITED KINGDOM
4. CROATIA
6. Austria [AT]
Year of EU entry: 1995
Political system: federal republic
Capital city: Vienna
Total area: 83 870 km²
Population: 8.3 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU language: German
The Belvedere
Palace, Vienna
http://www.austria.gv.at
http://www.austria.info
Hofburg Palace, Vienna
Hohensalzburg
Fort, Salzburg
7. Belgium [BE]
Year of EU entry: founding member
Political system: constitutional monarchy
Capital city: Brussels
Total area: 30 528 km²
Population: 10.7 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU languages: German, French, Dutch
Belgian beer and mussels
http://www.belgium.be
http://www.opt.be
http://www.visitflanders.com
City Hall, BrusselsAtomium, Brussels
8. Bulgaria [BG]
Year of EU entry: 2007
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Sofia
Total area: 111 910 km²
Population: 7.6 million
Currency: Bulgarian lev [BGN]
Official EU language: Bulgarian
Rila monastery
http://www.government.bg
http://www.bulgariatravel.org
Queen Mary’s Palace,
Balchik
St Sofia Statue, Sofia
9. Croatia [HR]
Year of EU entry: 2013
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Zagreb
Total area: 87 661 km²
Population: 4.3 million
Currency: Croatian kuna [HRK]
Official EU language: Croatian
Amphitheatre, Pula
Zagreb Cathedral
Dubrovnik
https://vlada.gov.hr/en
http://www.visit-croatia.co.uk
10. Cyprus [CY]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: presidential republic
Capital city: Nicosia
Total area: 9 250 km²
Population: 0.8 million
Currency: euro (2008) [EUR]
Official EU languages: Greek, English
The 4th century
Stavrovouni
monastery
http://www.cyprus.gov.cy
http://www.visitcyprus.com
The Temple of Aphrodites,
Paphos
The Presidential Palace, Nicosia
11. Czech Republic [CZ]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Prague
Total area: 78 866 km²
Population: 10.3 million
Currency: Czech koruna [CZK]
Official EU language: Czech
Municipal House, Prague
http://portal.gov.cz
http://www.czechtourism.com
Bridges over the Vltava, Prague
The Church of
Our Lady of
Týn, Prague
12. Denmark [DK]
Year of EU entry: 1973
Political system: constitutional monarchy
Capital city: Copenhagen
Total area: 43 094 km²
Population: 5.4 million
Currency: Danish krone [DKK]
Official EU language: Danish
Copenhagen -
Little Mermaid
http://www.denmark.dk
http://www.visitdenmark.com
Copenhagen New Port
Denmark Castle
13. Estonia [EE]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Tallinn
Total area: 45 000 km²
Population: 1.4 million
Currency: euro (2011) [EUR]
Official EU language: Estonian
Winter in Tallinn
https://www.eesti.ee
http://www.visitestonia.com
Ice in Estonia
Tallinn
14. Finland [FI]
Year of EU entry: 1995
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Helsinki
Total area: 338 000 km²
Population: 5.3 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU languages: Finnish, Swedish
One of Finland’s
many thousand lakes
http://finland.fi
http://www.visitfinland.com Santa Claus’ Village, Rovaniemi
The Lutheran
Cathedral, Helsinki
15. France [FR]
Year of EU entry: founding member
Political system: semi-presidential republic
Capital city: Paris
Total area: 550 000 km²
Population: 63.7 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU language: French
Sacré Coeur, Paris
http://www.service-public.fr
http://www.franceguide.com
The Harbour, Nice
The Eiffel Tower,
Paris
16. Germany [DE]
Year of EU entry: founding member
Political system: federal parliamentary republic
Capital city: Berlin
Total area: 356 854 km²
Population: 82.5 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU language: German
Brandenburg Gate,
Berlin
http://www.bundesregierung.de
http://www.germany-tourism.de
Marienplatz,
Munich
Dom
Cathedral,
Cologne
17. Greece [EL]
Year of EU entry: 1981
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Athens
Total area: 131 957 km²
Population: 11.2 million
Currency: euro (2001) [EUR]
Official EU language: Greek
The Acropolis,
Athens
http://www.mfa.gr
http://www.gnto.gr Mikonos Island
Santorini Island
18. Hungary [HU]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Budapest
Total area: 93 000 km²
Population: 10.1 million
Currency: Hungarian forint [HUF]
Official EU language: Hungarian
Parliament Building, Budapesthttp://www.magyarorszag.hu
http://www.hungary.com
Freedom Bridge,
Budapest Lake Balaton
19. Ireland [IE]
Year of EU entry: 1973
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Dublin
Total area: 70 000 km²
Population: 4 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU languages: English, Irish
Leinster House, Dublin
http://www.gov.ie
http://www.tourismireland.com
Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary
Cliffs of Moher,
Co. Clare
20. Italy [IT]
Year of EU entry: founding member
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Rome
Total area: 301 263 km²
Population: 57.3 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU language: Italian
The Milan Cathedral
http://www.italia.gov.it
http://www.enit.it
The Colosseum, Rome
Doges' Palace, Venice
21. Latvia [LV]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Riga
Total area: 65 000 km²
Population: 2.3 million
Currency: euro (2014) [EUR]
Official EU language: Latvian
St. Nicholas's
Cathedral,
Karosta
http://www.am.gov.lv
http://www.latviatourism.lv
Riga – old town
University of Latvia, Riga
22. Lithuania [LT]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Vilnius
Total area: 65 000 km²
Population: 3.4 million
Currency: euro (2015) [EUR]
Official EU language: Lithuanian
Amber jewellery
from Lithuania
http://www.lrv.lt
http://www.travel.lt
Vilnius Cathedral Island Castle, Trakai
23. Luxembourg [LU]
Year of EU entry: founding member
Political system: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital city: Luxembourg
Total area: 2 586 km²
Population: 0.5 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU language: French, German
Luxembourghttp://www.gouvernement.lu
http://www.ont.lu
Le Marché-aux-Herbes
Fort Thüngen
24. Malta [MT]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Valletta
Total area: 316 km²
Population: 0.4 million
Currency: euro (2008) [EUR]
Official EU languages: Maltese, English
Vallettahttp://www.gov.mt
http://www.visitmalta.com
Ggantija Temples
St. Paul's Cathedral, Mdina
25. Netherlands [NL]
Year of EU entry: founding member
Political system: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital city: Amsterdam
Total area: 41 526 km²
Population: 16.4 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU language: Dutch
18th century
windmills
http://www.postbus51.nl
http://us.holland.com
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Dutch clogs from
Keukenhof
26. Poland [PL]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Warsaw
Total area: 312 679 km²
Population: 38.1 million
Currency: Polish złoty [PLN]
Official EU language: Polish
Royal Castle Square, Warsaw
http://www.poland.gov.pl
http://www.poland.travel
St. Mary's Basilica,
Cracow
Neptune's Fountain,
Gdansk
27. Portugal [PT]
Year of EU entry: 1986
Political system: semi-presidential republic
Capital city: Lisbon
Total area: 92 072 km²
Population: 10.4 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU language: Portuguese
Belem Tower, Lisbon
http://www.portugal.gov.pt
http://www.visitportugal.com
The Roman Temple of
Diana, Évora The Castle of Guimarães,
Guimarães
28. Romania [RO]
Year of EU entry: 2007
Political system: semi-presidential republic
Capital city: Bucharest
Total area: 237 500 km²
Population: 21.5 million
Currency: Romanian leu [RON]
Official EU language: Romanian
Royal Court, Târgoviștehttp://www.gov.ro/main/index/l/2
http://www.romaniatourism.com
Bran Castle
Romanian Athenaeum
Bucharest
29. Slovakia [SK]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Bratislava
Total area: 48 845 km²
Population: 5.4 million
Currency: euro (2009) [EUR]
Official EU language: Slovak
Spirit Hotel, Bratislavahttp://www.government.gov.sk
http://www.slovakia.travel
Apollo’s Bridge, Bratislava
Slavia House, Košice
30. Slovenia [SI]
Year of EU entry: 2004
Political system: parliamentary republic
Capital city: Ljubljana
Total area: 20 273 km²
Population: 2 million
Currency: euro (2007) [EUR]
Official EU language: Slovenian
The village of Bled
http://www.slovenia.si
http://www.slovenia.info
The Triple Bridge, Ljubljana
Maribor
31. Spain [ES]
Year of EU entry: 1986
Political system: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital city: Madrid
Total area: 504 782 km²
Population: 45.3 million
Currency: euro (1999) [EUR]
Official EU language: Spanish
Queen Sofia Palace of Arts,
Valenciahttp://www.la-moncloa.es
http://www.spain.info
Santa Eulalia
Cathedral, Barcelona Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid
32. Sweden [SE]
Year of EU entry: 1995
Political system: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital city: Stockholm
Total area: 449 964 km²
Population: 9.2 million
Currency: Swedish krona [SEK]
Official EU language: Swedish
Riddarholmen, Stockholm
http://www.sweden.se
http://www.visitsweden.com Church in Kiruna
Turning Torso,
Malmö
33. United Kingdom [UK]
Year of EU entry: 1973
Political system: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Capital city: London
Total area: 244 820 km²
Population: 60.4 million
Currency: pound sterling [GBP]
Official EU language: English
The Houses of
Parliament,
London, England
http://www.direct.gov.uk
http://www.visitbritain.co.uk
Pacific Quay,
Glasgow, Scotland
St. David's
Cathedral ,
Pembrokeshire,
Wales.
Donaghadee Harbour,
Northern Ireland
36. On the road to EU membership
Candidate countries
Iceland (applied in 2009) Serbia (applied in 2009)
Montenegro (applied in 2008) The Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia (applied in 2004)
Turkey (applied in 1987)
Potential candidates
Albania (2009, formal application) Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kosovo*
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/99 and
the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.