List of southern countries that are not members of the European Union. How is Schengen different from the European Union? List of all participating countries
This state association includes: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia , Finland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Sweden and Estonia.
At the very beginning of the intra-European unification, back in the 90s of the last century, the first members European Union There were six states: Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France. Then the remaining 22 joined them.
The main factors or rules for joining the organization are compliance with the criteria established in 1993 in Copenhagen and approved at a meeting of the Union members in Madrid two years later. States must observe the basic principles of democracy, respect freedom and rights, as well as the foundations of a law-based state. A potential member of the organization must have a competitive market economy and recognize the common rules and standards already adopted in the European Union.
The European Union also has its own motto - “Harmony in Diversity”, as well as an anthem “Ode to Joy”.
European countries that are not members of the European Union
European countries that are not members of the organization include the following:
- Great Britain, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Switzerland in Western Europe;
- Belarus, Russia, Moldova and Ukraine in Eastern Europe;
- Northern European Iceland, Norway;
- Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Vatican City, Macedonia, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro in Southern Europe;
- Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Türkiye, partially located in Europe;
- as well as the unrecognized states of the Republic of Kosovo and Transnistria.
Currently, Turkey, Iceland, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro are potential candidates for membership in the European Union.
The Western Balkan countries - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo - are already included in this expansion program. However, the latter state is not yet recognized by the European Union as independent due to the fact that the separation of Kosovo from Serbia is not yet recognized by all members of the organization.
Several so-called “dwarf” states - Andorra, Vatican City, Monaco and San Marino, although they use the euro, still maintain relations with the European Union only through partial cooperation agreements.
The increased number of conflicts in the international arena creates an urgent need to update information on composition international organizations.
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The article provides a history of the European Union, as well as a list of countries that are official candidates for membership in the EU as of 2020.
What it is
The European Union is an international, integrating 28 European countries and special territories under their control located outside Europe.
The purpose of creating the association is the formation of a single regional space with a similar political and economic structure.
EU member states are committed to maintaining their commitment to democratic values.
The political basis consists of the following institutions:
| The European Council is the highest political body of the Union, consisting of the heads of government or member states of the EU | Also, the Council includes the Chairman of the European Commission and the Chairman of the Council itself. Since 2014, the position of Chairman of the Council has been held by former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Determines the main directions of the Union’s integration policy, and also has the authority to change international treaties, concluded within the framework of integration. Council decisions are binding on all countries that support their adoption |
| The European Commission is the highest executive body of the Union | The Commission consists of commissioners - each EU member state appoints one representative to this position. One Chairman is selected from among them - since 2014, he has been Jean-Claude Juncker, a representative of Luxembourg. The European Commission implements decisions of the EU legislative bodies, and also considers bills and monitors compliance with treaties |
| The Council of the European Union (Council, Council of Ministers) is the legislative body of the Union, consisting of 28 ministers (one from each state) | The Council is divided into 10 formations that consider a specific range of issues. In addition, he is vested with a number of executive powers on foreign policy and security issues. |
| The European Parliament is the legislative and representative body of the Union | Which consists of 751 deputies elected by citizens of the participating countries. Deputies are divided according to the principle of belonging to a certain faction, of which there are 8 in Parliament. The Chairman controls the actions of Parliament during meetings. The European Parliament not only performs a legislative function, sharing it with the Council, but also controls the Commission. Also, the powers of this body include determining budget policy |
| The Court of Justice of the European Union is the highest judicial authority | Consists of 11 judges, advocates general, including 6 permanent and 5 rotating, chambers and plenums, as well as the Chairman |
| The European Court of Auditors is a body that controls the income and expenses of EU institutions. | Financial management, and performing some executive functions. The Chamber consists of 28 members |
| European Central Bank – the central banking authority of the EU | Led by 28 executives. The Bank's task is to maintain price stability. The Bank is authorized to develop the EU monetary policy, determine interest rates, issue euros |
In addition, the EU:
- It is not a supranational entity.
- Acts as a subject of public international law.
- Represented in the UN, WTO, G7 and G20.
- Has 24 official languages
History of the creation of the European Union
The EU dates back to 1951, when Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg signed the Paris Agreement, which became the beginning of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
It is believed that the institutions of this association became the prototype of the existing EU bodies.The next stage in the unification of states was the signing by the same “six” of the Treaty of Rome in 1957, which established the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom).
The EEC gave signatory countries the opportunity to unite internal markets and remove obstacles to economic integration.
In 1965, in Brussels, the Six signed a “merger treaty” that consolidated the European Coal and Steel Community, the Economic Community and the Atomic Energy Community.
Thus, the executive bodies of all three entities merged into a single institution - the European Commission, and the organizations themselves - into the European Community.
Since 1973, the Community begins to grow - Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland join the “six”, then Greece (1981).
By 1986, following the accession of Spain and Portugal, the European Community had 12 members.
The Maastricht Treaty, signed in 1992 by all member states of the European Community, establishes the European Union.
Three directions of integration are emerging - economic, foreign policy and domestic policy.
By that time, the EU was expanding - in 1995, Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the organization.
In 2004, the EU added 10 new members (Hungary, Cyprus, the Baltic countries, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic), but faced a problem - the level of the economy of the new members was significantly lower than that of the “six” and the states that had joined earlier.
This also applied to Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the EU in 2007. By 2013, after Croatia joined the European Union, a list of 28 countries participating in the integration was formed.
What are the requirements for candidates?
In 1993, during a meeting held in Copenhagen, the council defined the main criteria that a country must meet to apply for EU membership.
In addition to the general geographical criterion - the location of the country within Europe (does not apply to special territories), the following requirements are distinguished:
Officially applied for membership
Such as:
| Albania | official candidate since 2014 |
| Macedonia | since 2005. It is noted that the state has made progress in bringing legislation into line with EU requirements, however economic potential insufficient |
| Serbia | official candidate since 2012. The main barriers to entry are economic situation countries and the problem of Kosovo |
| Türkiye | since 2005. Accession to the EU is hampered by certain aspects of Turkish legislation and government policy |
| Montenegro | official candidate since 2010. It is noted that the state needs to carry out significant reforms to join the EU |
Features of economic activity
| Creation of the Eurozone | and ensuring its control |
| EU Member States undertake to | ensure that public debt does not exceed 60% of GDP |
| The Union provides | compliance with antitrust laws |
| Development of infrastructure integration of EU member states is underway | for example, the Galileo navigation system |
| Implements a common agricultural policy | which is aimed at stabilizing agriculture and establishing affordable prices |
| Increase in tourists to EU member states | is ensured, among other things, by the single European Schengen area |
| EU | the world's largest exporter of goods and services |
| Main trading partners | are China and India |
Video: comparing countries
(from January 1)
Council of the European Union
(from May 8)
- General
4,892,685 km²
- Total ()
- Density
499.673.325
116.4 people/km²
- Total ()
- GDP/person
$17.08·10¹²
$ 39,900
Signed
Entered into force
February 7
Nov. 1
(from +1 to +3 during Summer Time)
(with overseas departments of France,
UTC from −4 to +4)
European Union (European Union, EU) - an association of 27 European states that signed Treaty of European Union(Treaty of Maastricht). The EU is a unique international entity: it combines the characteristics of an international organization and a state, but is formally neither one nor the other. The Union is not a subject of public international law, but has the authority to participate in international relations and plays a big role in them.
Special and dependent territories of EU Member States
EU territory on the world map European Union External regions Non-European states and territories
Special territories outside Europe that are part of the European Union:
Also, according to Article 182 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ( Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), Member States of the European Union associate with the European Union lands and territories outside Europe that maintain special relations with:
France -
Netherlands -
United Kingdom -
Requirements for applicants to join the EU
To join the European Union, a candidate country must meet the Copenhagen criteria. Copenhagen criteria- criteria for countries to join the European Union, which were adopted in June 1993 at the European Council meeting in Copenhagen and confirmed in December 1995 at the European Council meeting in Madrid. The criteria require that the state respect democratic principles, principles of freedom and respect for human rights, as well as the principle of the rule of law (Article 6, Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union). The country must also have a competitive market economy, and must recognize common EU rules and standards, including commitment to the goals of political, economic and monetary union.
Story
Logo of the Czech presidency in the first half of 2009
Ideas of pan-Europeanism, for a long time put forward by thinkers throughout the history of Europe, they sounded with particular force after the Second World War. In the post-war period, a number of organizations appeared on the continent: Council of Europe, NATO, Western European Union.
The first step towards the creation of a modern European Union was taken in: Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy signed the agreement establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC, ECSC - European Coal and Steel Community), the purpose of which was to pool European resources for the production of steel and coal, this agreement came into force in July 1952.
In order to deepen economic integration, the same six states established (EEC, Common Market) ( EEC - European Economic Community) and (Euratom, Euratom - European Atomic Energy Community). The most important and broadest in scope of these three European communities was the EEC, so in 1993 it was officially renamed the European Community ( EC - European Community).
The process of development and transformation of these European communities into the modern European Union occurred through, firstly, the transfer of an increasing number of management functions to the supranational level and, secondly, an increase in the number of integration participants.
History of EU enlargement
| Year | A country | General quantity members |
|---|---|---|
| March 25, 1957 | Belgium, Germany 1, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France² | 6 |
| January 1, 1973 | UK*, Denmark³, Ireland | 9 |
| January 1, 1981 | Greece | 10 |
| January 1, 1986 | , | 12 |
| January 1, 1995 | , Finland , Sweden | 15 |
| May 1, 2004 | Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia | 25 |
| January 1, 2007 | Bulgaria, Romania | 27 |
Notes
² Including the overseas departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion and French Guiana. Algeria left France (and the EU) on July 5, 1962. Saint Pierre and Miquelon was an overseas department (and part of the EU) from until 1983. Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin, which seceded from Guadeloupe on 22 February 2007, will return to the EU after the Treaty of Lisbon comes into force.
° In 1973, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) joined the EU, along with the Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Gibraltar
Norway
- The first pillar, the European Communities, combines the EU's predecessors: the European Community (formerly the European Economic Community) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). The third organization, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), ceased to exist in 2002 in accordance with the Paris Treaty that established it.
- The second support is called “general” foreign policy and security policy" (CFSP).
- The third pillar is “police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters.”
With the help of “pillars” the treaties delimit policy areas within the competence of the EU. In addition, the pillars provide a clear picture of the role of EU Member State governments and EU institutions in the decision-making process. Within the first pillar, the role of EU institutions is decisive. Decisions here are made by the “community method”. The Community is responsible for matters relating in particular to the common market, customs union, a single currency (with some members maintaining their own currency), a common agricultural policy and a common fisheries policy, some migration and refugee issues, and cohesion policy. In the second and third pillars, the role of EU institutions is minimal and decisions are made by EU member states. This method of decision making is called intergovernmental. As a result of the Treaty of Nice (2001), some migration and refugee issues, as well as gender equality in the workplace, were moved from the second to the first pillar. Consequently, on these issues, the role of EU institutions vis-à-vis EU member states has increased.
Today, membership in the European Union, the European Community and Euratom is united; all states that join the Union become members of the Communities.
Chamber of Auditors
The Court of Auditors was created in 1975 to audit the budget of the EU and its institutions. Compound. The Chamber is composed of representatives of member states (one from each member state). They are appointed by the Council by unanimous vote for a six-year term and are completely independent in the performance of their duties.
- checks the income and expenditure reports of the EU and all its institutions and bodies with access to EU funds;
- monitors the quality of financial management;
- after the end of each financial year, draws up a report on its work, and also submits conclusions or comments on individual issues to the European Parliament and the Council;
- helps the European Parliament monitor the implementation of the EU budget.
Headquarters - Luxembourg.
European Central Bank
The European Central Bank was formed in 1998 from banks of 11 EU countries belonging to the Eurozone (Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg). Greece, which adopted the euro on January 1, 2001, became the twelfth country in the euro zone.
In accordance with Art. 8 of the Treaty establishing the European Community was founded European System of Central Banks- a supranational financial regulatory body that unites the European Central Bank (ECB) and the national central banks of all 27 EU member countries. The ESCB is governed by the governing bodies of the ECB.
European Investment Bank
Created in accordance with the Treaty, on the basis of capital provided by member countries. The EIB has the functions of a commercial bank, operates on international financial markets, and provides loans government agencies member countries.
Economic and Social Committee
(Economic and Social Committee) is an EU advisory body. Formed in accordance with the Treaty of Rome.
Compound. Consists of 344 members called councillors.
Functions. Advises the Council and the Commission on social and economic policy EU. Is various areas economy and social groups(employers, employees and liberal professions employed in industry, agriculture, the service sector, as well as representatives of public organizations).
Members of the Committee are appointed by the Council by unanimous decision for a period of 4 years. The Committee elects a Chairman from among its members for a term of 2 years. After the admission of new states to the EU, the size of the Committee will not exceed 350 people (see Table 2).
Venue of meetings. The committee meets once a month in Brussels.
Committee of the Regions
(Committee of the Regions).
The Committee of the Regions is a consultative body providing representation of regional and local administrations in the work of the EU. The Committee was established in accordance with the Maastricht Treaty and has been operating since March 1994.
Consists of 344 members representing regional and local authorities but completely independent in carrying out their duties. The number of members from each country is the same as in the Economic and Social Committee. Candidates are approved by the Council by unanimous decision based on proposals from member states for a period of 4 years. The Committee elects from among its members a Chairman and other officials for a period of 2 years.
Functions. Consults the Council and the Commission and gives opinions on all issues affecting the interests of the regions.
Location of the sessions. Plenary sessions are held in Brussels 5 times a year.
European Ombudsman Institute
The European Ombudsman Institute deals with complaints from citizens regarding the mismanagement of any EU institution or body. The decisions of this body are not binding, but have significant social and political influence.
15 specialized agencies and bodies
European Monitoring Center for Combating Racism and Xenophobia, Europol, Eurojust.
EU law
A feature of the European Union that distinguishes it from other international organizations is the presence of its own law, which directly regulates the relations of not only member states, but also their citizens and legal entities.
EU law consists of the so-called primary, secondary and tertiary (decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Communities). Primary law - EU founding treaties; contracts amending them (revision contracts); accession agreements for new member states. Secondary law - acts issued by EU bodies. Decisions of the Court of Justice of the EU and others judiciary Unions are widely used as case law.
EU law has direct effect on the territory of EU countries and takes precedence over the national legislation of states.
EU law is divided into institutional law (rules regulating the procedure for the creation and functioning of EU institutions and bodies) and substantive law (rules regulating the process of implementing the goals of the EU and EU Communities). EU substantive law, like law individual countries, can be divided into branches: EU customs law, environmental law EU, EU transport law, EU tax law, etc. Taking into account the structure of the EU (“three pillars”), EU law is also divided into the law of the European Communities, Schengen law, etc.
Languages of the European Union
In European institutions, 23 languages are officially used equally.
Since the fifties of the twentieth century, the European Union has existed, which today unites 28 countries of Western and central Europe. The process of its expansion continues, but there are also those dissatisfied with the unified policy and economic problems.
Map of the European Union showing all member states
Most European states are economically and politically united in a union called “European”. Within this zone there is a visa-free space, a single market, and a common currency is used. In 2020, this association includes 28 European countries, including regions subordinate to them, but located autonomously.
List of European Union countries
On this moment England is 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 slightly more than half of the population voted for leaving the European Union - 51.9%. It was initially 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 Britain’s exit from the EU was postponed until October 2019. Travelers planning to travel 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. The head of the French Foreign Ministry stated this back in 1950. In those years, it was difficult to imagine how many states would later join the association.
In 1957, the European Union was formed, which included such developed countries 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 European Union countries, having independence, follows general rules regarding all spheres of life, internal and international politics, issues of education, health care, social services.
Map of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, members of the European Union
Since March 1957, this association has included: In 1973, the Kingdom of Denmark joined the EU. In 1981, it joined the union, and in 1986.
In 1995, three countries at once became members of the EU - and Sweden. Nine years later, ten more countries were added to the single zone -, and. Not only is the process of expansion going on in the European Union, but in 1985 it left the EU after gaining independence, joining it automatically in 1973 as part of, since its population expressed a desire to leave the association.
Together with some European states, the European Union 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 union. At the expense of Spain, the organization was enriched by the provinces of Melilla and Ceuta. Together with Portugal, the Azores and Madeira entered into an alliance.
On the contrary, those that are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but have 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 Germanys, since the Federal Republic of Germany at that time was already part of it. The last country to join the union (in 2013) became the twenty-eighth EU member state. As of 2020, the situation has not changed either towards increasing the zone or towards reducing it.
Criteria for joining the European Union
Not all states are ready to join the EU. How many and what criteria exist can be found out from the relevant document. In 1993, the experience of the existence of the association was summarized and uniform criteria were developed to be used when considering the issue of the next state joining the association.
Where adopted, the list of requirements is called the “Copenhagen Criteria”. Topping the list is the presence of principles of democracy. The main focus is on freedom and respect for the rights of every person, which follows from the concept of the rule of law.
Much attention is paid to developing 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, since this decision may affect their social life.
Each European state wishing to join the list of countries that have joined the association is carefully checked to ensure 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 this, regular monitoring is carried out over the implementation of the requirements, based on the results of which a conclusion is made about the country’s readiness to join the EU.
In addition to the common political course, there is a visa-free regime for crossing state borders in a single space, and they use a single currency - the euro.
This is what the money of the European Union looks like - the euro
As of 2020, 19 out of 28 countries that are members of the European Union supported and accepted the use of the euro on their territory, recognizing it as their state currency.
It is worth noting that not all EU countries have the euro as their national currency:
- 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 of purchasing local currency, as the exchange rate in tourist places can be very high.
The European Union is an association of states that interact with each other on a democratic basis and carry out joint activities in various fields.
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EU member states have common governing bodies that ensure decision-making at a single level. Let's look at the list of members of the European Union in 2020.
History of the EU
As a result of two world wars, the heads of European countries came to a general agreement that in order to ensure development and stability on the European continent it is necessary to unite their efforts.
The negotiations began with the proposal of the French Minister Schumann in 1950 to combine the coal and foundry industries of the French state and Germany.
In 1951, an agreement was signed on the unification of the coal and steel industries, the participants of which were Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Italy and the Netherlands.
Having achieved success, these states continued their cooperation in the future. Further, in 1957, the EEC and the European Atomic Energy Community were approved by the Rome Agreement.
These associations set as their main goal the formation of a community in the customs field and the annulment of all trade bans within the association, peaceful cooperation in the nuclear field.
In 1967, the executive authorities of 3 associations merged, which resulted in the formation of the main structure, where the main bodies were the European Commission, the Council, the Parliament and the Court.
The next step in the history of the EU can be considered the formation of the Maastricht Agreement in 1992, the basis of which was the identification of three basic levels of the EU - the European Community and interstate interaction in the political and security spheres, the legal framework.
In addition, the agreement regulated the creation of a common currency unit and close political interaction.A few years later, an Intergovernmental Meeting was held in Turin in 1996, resulting in the signing of the Amsterdam Agreement in the summer of 1997.
With the advent of the new millennium, the main goals of the EU are to improve areas of interaction and increase the number of new participants, with the countries of central and eastern Europe considered a priority.
States that are part of the European Union table
In 1992, the EU states officially united, and the list of participating countries gradually increased.
As of today, their number is 28. Let us list the countries that are members of the European Union at the beginning of 2020.
| A country | Year of entry |
| Austria | 1995 |
| Bulgaria | 2007 |
| Belgium | 1957 |
| British Kingdom | 1973 |
| Germany | 1957 |
| Hungary | 2004 |
| Greece | 1981 |
| Italy | 1957 |
| Italy | 1957 |
| Spanish Kingdom | 1986 |
| Denmark | 1973 |
| Ireland | 1973 |
| Lithuania | 2004 |
| Latvia | 2004 |
| Republic of Cyprus | 2004 |
| Malta | 2004 |
| Kingdom of the Netherlands | 1957 |
| Grand Duchy of Luxembourg | 1957 |
| Slovenia | 2004 |
| Slovakia | 2004 |
| Poland | 2004 |
| Finland | 1995 |
| French Republic | 1957 |
| Portugal | 1986 |
| Romania | 2007 |
| Croatia | 2013 |
| Sweden | 1995 |
| Czech | 2004 |
| Estonia | 2004 |
During the entire existence of the European Union, not a single state has left its composition. The only exception is Greenland, which left the EU due to a reduction in fishing quotas in 1985.
Also in the summer of 2016, a vote was held in the UK, where the majority of citizens supported leaving the EU. Consequently, there are still certain disagreements within the union.
What do you need to join?
The relevant standards have been approved that must be met in order to be part of the EU. The conditions for accession are mentioned in Article 49 of the EU agreement.
The criteria for potential EU members were established in 1993 in Copenhagen, and then they were confirmed in 1995 in Madrid at a meeting of the EU Council.
The main conditions of membership are:
| Political stability, social justice, democratic principles of development, legal protection of the population and national minorities | The opportunity for every citizen to take part in the process of determining the directions of work of government bodies, the unhindered formation political parties. Members of national minorities should not be disadvantaged and may have the right to communicate in native language and adhere to your culture and national values |
| Economic stability, successful functioning within the competitive market field | The economies of states planning to join the EU must withstand competition in the world market so that national producers can sell their products without significant losses |
| Compliance with Standards (Acquis) | Interaction within the boundaries of common politics, economics, unity of the monetary system, and legislative framework |
If a state does not pass the test for compliance with the specified criteria, EU authorities draw up a list of requirements that help bring all indicators back to normal.
In the process of carrying out reforms in potential candidate states, the EU exercises its control.
When all the necessary criteria reach the established level, the EU holds a meeting to decide on the possibility of including the country in the European Union.
Features of economic activity
In the European Union, economic and monetary policies are intertwined and can only function together.
The main goal of economic policy is to create favorable conditions for business activities and relationships with EU citizens.
An important component of this is a unified financial system and monetary policy.
Along with this, a single currency unit is not able to function when the level of inflation and interest rates in states differ to a large extent.
For this purpose, the leadership of the European Union is developing a joint economic direction development and regulation of important economic indicators at the level of the European Union.
Important features of economic activity are regulation of price levels, inflation, financial and credit operations, tourism, implementation of mining, etc.
In the event that one of the EU Member States does not adhere to the course economic development, The EU Council has the right to approve measures in relation to a given country and control the process of their implementation.
The EU economy includes the economies of all member countries. At the same time, in the international space it is represented by a separate mechanism.
The EU regulates all disagreements between its members and protects their interests in the global space. All members of the European Union contribute to the overall income of the community through their gross domestic product and overall economic performance.
The largest share of profits comes from Germany, Italy, France, Spain and the UK. A special EU body keeps records of revenues from each state individually.
Taking into account all the components economic activity volumes can be determined natural resources in a single country.
Possible candidates for membership
Most countries on the European continent are striving to join the European Union. Currently, the official applicants are Serbia, Türkiye, Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania.
Bosnia and Herzegovina are also possible contenders. Many states are not included in the circle of likely candidates for membership because they do not meet the stated criteria.
Video: comparing countries
Several countries have signed an association agreement with the EU, not only European states and countries of other continents.
In 2014, Ukraine and Moldova expressed their intention to join the European Union. Analyzing the process of joining the EU, one can notice that the European Union aims to take into account countries of other continents, considering their possible participation in the union.
