Definition
The European Union (EU) is a geopolitical entity that covers a large part of the European continent. It is a unique economic and political association in the world, consisting of 27 countries. Its main objectives are: the creation of an area without internal borders, the strengthening of economic and social cohesion, and the establishment of an economic and monetary union.
Further information
The basic institutions of the EU are five: the European Parliament, the Council of the EU, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Communities, and the European Court of Auditors.
The countries that form the European Union, 27 in total, are as follows: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden.
In the compilation of statistics related to the entire EU, all the supranational institutions of the European Union itself must also be taken into account.
The European Union has undergone various changes in its composition throughout its history. To identify this changing composition, the following abbreviations are used in statistics:
- EU 15 (1/1/1995—30/4/2004): Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom, and Sweden.
- EU 25 (1/5/2004—11/12/2006): Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, and Sweden.
- EU 27 (1/1/2007—30/6/2013): Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Romania, and Sweden.
- EU 28 (1/7/2013—31/1/2020): Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Romania, and Sweden.
- EU 27 (1/2/2020—present): Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden.
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Legal frame
Update date: May 2025
