There are currently 25 member states in the European Union. Together with their dates of accession, these are:

• Austria (1995)
• Belgium (founding member: 1952/58)
• Cyprus (2004)
• Czech Republic (2004)
• Denmark (1973)
• Estonia (2004)
• Finland (1995)
• France (founding member: 1952/58)
• Germany (founding member: 1952/58)
• Greece (1981)
• Hungary (2004)
• Ireland (1973)
• Italy (founding member: 1952/58)
• Latvia (2004)
• Lithuania (2004)
• Luxembourg (founding member: 1952/58)
• Malta (2004)
• The Netherlands (founding member: 1952/58)
• Poland (2004)
• Portugal (1986)
• Slovakia (2004)
• Slovenia (2004)
• Spain (1986)
• Sweden (1995)
• United Kingdom (1973)

The following states have submitted membership applications:

• Romania, and Bulgaria, in negotiations, expected to join in 2007.
• Croatia, due to start negotiations in 2005.
• Turkey, has yet to start negotiations.

Technically speaking, Switzerland also has a long-standing EU membership application, but the country has shown no interest in furthering the application, so it has been left to 'lie on the table'.

For information about EU territories and dependents outside continental Europe, see Special member state territories and their relations with the EU.

Maps

European Commission maps of the EU are available: [1] (http://europa.eu.int/comm/mediatheque/multimedia/select/maps_en.html),

See also

• List of European Union pages

The European Union and candidates for enlargement
Member countries: Austria | Belgium | Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland | France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Ireland | Italy | Latvia | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta | Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Sweden | United Kingdom
Candidate countries joining on January 1, 2007 (preliminary date): Bulgaria | Romania
Other recognised candidate countries: Croatia | Turkey