home

Denmark in EU European non-EU countries. Basic principles of economic activity of countries

On this page you can find out the full list of EU countries included in the composition for 2017.

The initial purpose of the creation of the European Union was to connect the coal and steel resources of just two European countries - Germany and France. In 1950, one could not even imagine that after a certain time the European Union would become a unique international formation that united 28 European states and combined the features of an international organization and a sovereign power. The article describes which countries are members of the European Union, how many full members of the EU and candidates for membership are currently.

The organization received legal justification much later. The existence of the international union was secured by the Maastricht Agreement in 1992, which entered into force in November of the following year.

Objectives of the Maastricht Treaty:

Creation of an international association with identical economic, political and monetary directions in development;
Creation of a single market by creating conditions for the unhindered movement of production products, services, and other goods;
Regulation of issues related to the protection and protection of the environment;
Decreased crime rate.

The main consequences of the conclusion of the contract:

the introduction of a single European citizenship;
the abolition of the passport control regime on the territory of the countries that are part of the EU, provided for by the Schengen Agreement;

Although legally the EU combines the properties of an international entity and an independent state, in fact it does not belong to either one or the other.

How many EU member states in 2017

Today, the European Union includes 28 countries, as well as a number of autonomous regions subordinate to the main EU members (Aland Islands, Azores, etc.). In 2013, the last entry into the European Union was made, after which Croatia also became a member of the EU.

The following countries are members of the European Union:

Croatia;
Netherlands;
Romania;
France;
Bulgaria;
Luxembourg;
Italy;
Cyprus;
Germany;
Estonia;
Belgium;
Latvia;
Great Britain;
Spain;
Austria;
Lithuania;
Ireland;
Poland;
Greece;
Slovenia;
Denmark;
Slovakia;
Sweden;
Malta;
Finland;
Portugal;
Hungary;
Czech.

The accession to the EU of the countries included in this list took place in several stages. At the first stage, in 1957, 6 European states became part of the formation, in 1973 - three countries, including Great Britain, in 1981 only Greece became a member of the union, in 1986 - the Kingdom of Spain and the Portuguese Republic, in 1995 - three more powers (Kingdom of Sweden, Republic of Austria, Finland). The year 2004 turned out to be especially fruitful, when 10 European countries, including Hungary, Cyprus and other economically developed countries, received EU membership. The last enlargements, which brought the number of EU members to 28, were carried out in 2007 (Romania, Republic of Bulgaria) and 2013.

Quite often, Russians have a question: "Does Montenegro enter the European Union or not?", Since the country's currency is the euro. No, at the moment the state is at the stage of negotiations on the issue of entry.

On the other hand, there are a number of countries that are members of the EU, but the currency used on their territory is not the euro (Sweden, Bulgaria, Romania, etc.). The reason is that these states are not part of the euro area.

What are the requirements for candidates to join

To become a member of the organization, you must meet the requirements, the list of which is displayed in the relevant legal act, called the "Copenhagen criteria". The etymology of the document is dictated by the place of its signing. The document was adopted in the city of Copenhagen (Denmark) in 1993 during a meeting of the European Council.

List of the main criteria that the candidate must meet:

application of the principles of democracy on the territory of the country;
a person and his rights should be in the first place, that is, the state should adhere to the principles of the rule of law and humanism;
development of the economy and increase of its competitiveness;
compliance of the country's political course with the goals and objectives of the entire European Union.

Candidates for EU membership are usually subjected to scrutiny, resulting in a decision being made. In case of a negative answer, the country that received a negative answer is provided with a list of the reasons on the basis of which such a decision was made. Non-compliance with the Copenhagen criteria, which are identified during the verification of the candidate, must be eliminated as soon as possible in order to be eligible for EU membership in the future.

Official declared candidates for EU membership

Today, the following associate members of the EU are in the status of candidates for accession to the European Union:

Turkish Republic;
Republic of Albania;
Montenegro;
Republic of Macedonia;
Republic of Serbia.

The legal status of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Kosovo are potential candidates.

Serbia applied for membership in December 2009, Turkey - in 1987. It should be noted that if Montenegro, which signed the association agreement in 2010, becomes a member of the EU, for the Russians this may result in the introduction of a visa regime and, possibly, the closure of the borders of the Balkan state.

Despite the desire of most countries to become members of an international organization, there are those that reveal a desire to leave it. A colorful example is England (Great Britain), which announced the possibility of an exit in January of this year. The desire of the British is due to a number of reasons, including the debt crisis of Greece, the decrease in the level of competitiveness of the products of the countries that are members of the EU on the world market and other circumstances. The UK plans to hold a referendum on leaving the European Union in 2017.

The process of leaving the EU is regulated by the clauses of the Lisbon Treaty, which has legal force and has been in force since December 2009.

European Union

What is the European Union

This is an association of European states, a unique international formation that combines the features of an international organization and a state. Simply put, all EU member states, although independent, are subject to the same rules: they have the same rules for education, health care, pensions, judicial systems, and so on.

Tip 1: Which European countries are not members of the European Union

In a word, EU laws are valid in all EU countries.

In 2013, after Croatia joined the EU, there were 28 countries in the European Union.

In 2017, the UK announced its withdrawal from the European Union, but officially it remains a member.

EU Member States (last expansion 2013)

Austria (1995)
Belgium (1957)
Bulgaria (2007)
UK (1973)
Hungary (2004)
Germany (1957)
Greece (1981)
Denmark (1973)
Ireland (1973)
Spain (1986)
Italy (1957)
Cyprus (2004)
Latvia (2004)
Lithuania (2004)
Luxembourg (1957)
Malta (2004)
Netherlands (1957)
Poland (2004)
Slovakia (2004)
Slovenia (2004)
Portugal (1986)
Romania (2007)
Finland (1995)
France (1957)
Croatia (2013)
Czech Republic (2004)
Sweden (1995)
Estonia (2004)

EU Candidates:

Iceland
Macedonia
Serbia
Turkey
Montenegro

Do not confuse the EU and the Schengen zone! Not all EU countries are members of the Schengen area, and vice versa - some countries that are members of the Schengen area are not members of the European Union.

See Schengen countries

Schengen countries but not EU

Where to apply for a Schengen visa

Economic integration of the countries of the European Union

Currently, the highest degree of international economic integration has been achieved within the framework of the European Union (EU), which has gone through all the stages of the integration process and is currently in a state of transformation of the economic and monetary union into a political one. The development of this integration grouping began in 1952, when the European Coal and Steel Community was created, consisting of 6 countries - Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. In 1957, these countries signed the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community. In the 50-60s. within the framework of the EEC, a customs union was first formed, and then the formation of a common market for goods, services, capital and labor began, i.e. system of "four freedoms". Since the creation of a common market was officially declared in the Treaty of Rome as the main goal of economic integration, for several decades the participants in this grouping were called "countries of the Common Market." By 1968, a customs union was formed, integration within which was supplemented by a coordinated domestic and foreign economic and monetary policy, as well as elements of coordination of general political and legal positions, which was reflected in the change in the name of the grouping - it became known as the European Community. In 1973 Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland joined it, in the 80s. - Greece, Spain and Portugal, in the 90s - Austria, Sweden and Finland. By the end of the 70s. the European Monetary System was created, a single unit of account was introduced - the ECU based on the "basket of currencies" of the participating countries. The monetary system assumed the establishment of limits for fluctuations in the exchange rates of national currencies during mutual exchange and exchange for dollars at the level of plus or minus 2.25% of the rates of central banks (for most countries) and thereby forming a kind of currency "corridor" ("currency snake ”) for participating countries. This meant a significant step towards the transformation of the customs-payment union into an economic and monetary one.

The most important frontier in the process of this transformation was the conclusion in 1992 in Maastricht (Netherlands) of an agreement on the establishment of the European Union (the agreement entered into force in November 1993). The functions of supranational bodies were significantly expanded, fundamental decisions were made on the creation of a system of a single economic space, a gradual transition to a single currency, and the introduction, along with national-state citizenship, of the institution of single citizenship.

For several years, the process of transition to a single currency (the euro) was carried out, which was initially used as a means of payment, which replaced the ECU, and then, since 2002, began to play the role of a cash currency, designed to perform the function of a monetary medium of circulation and replace national currencies. By 2000, the population of 15 EU countries amounted to about 380 million people, the share of this integration group in the production of IDPs was about 29%, in world exports - more than 41%.

In April 2003, an agreement was signed in Athens on the admission of ten new members to the EU: these are three former Soviet Baltic republics (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia), five Eastern European countries (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia) and two small island Mediterranean states - Malta and Cyprus (in the Greek part). The EU has created a system of supranational governments. The most important of them are:

- The EU Council - in the form of sessions at the level of heads of state and government at least 2 times a year, as well as the Council of Ministers at the level of various ministries (foreign affairs, economy, finance, sectoral ministries). It is at the level of these governing bodies that fundamental decisions are made that determine the development strategy of the integration group;

- The EU Commission is an executive body, a kind of analogue of the government, designed to implement the decisions of the EU Council; includes several dozens of key leaders (commissars) in charge of certain functional and sectoral areas of management. The seat of the CES is located in Brussels; total staff - about 20 thousand people;

- European Parliament (European Parliament) - elected since 1979.

List of countries that are members of the European Union today

— System of European banks;

— European Court;

— European Social Fund;

— European Regional Development Fund;

It should be noted that the EU is not only a regional, but also a global economic entity. Dozens of countries of the world have various economic agreements with the EU and enjoy certain advantages and benefits in trade, financial, credit and other economic relations with this integration group; this applies particularly to non-EU European countries, Mediterranean countries and former colonies of European powers, especially the so-called “ACT countries” (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific). Many European and non-European countries (including those from the former Soviet republics) set the task of joining the EU as their most important strategic goal. Since July 1998, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the Russian Federation has come into force; A special body has been created - the Cooperation Committee, designed both to facilitate the discussion of fundamental issues of the development of cooperation, and to make specific decisions on current problems of trade, financial and other relations. Both sides consider the development of cooperation as priority strategic directions of economic and political activity. For Russia, of key importance is the fact that the EU countries account for up to 40% of its foreign trade, more than 40% of its external debt and a quarter of the official reserves of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation are denominated in Western European currencies (and now in euros).

At present, despite the existing differences in approaches and contradictions within the EU, the processes of transformation of this integration economic grouping into a political union are developing quite intensively. In this regard, the introduction of the institution of single citizenship, the strengthening of the principle of binding decisions of supranational bodies and the pursuit of a unified foreign policy are of paramount importance.

Concrete steps are being taken to form a unified European armed forces, special military contingents, uniting units of a number of European countries, for example, France and Germany, etc. All this means that the EU, in fact, is transforming from a union of states into one confederal state, although this process is contradictory and faces opposition from both internal and external nature. It is obvious that the formation of such a confederate state contradicts the global geopolitical goals of the United States, which, instead of a conglomerate of small vassal countries, gets a serious competitor on the territory of Europe, which in some respects has superiority over the American economy. The United States, in particular, has a negative attitude towards the idea of creating European armed forces, the creation of which will inevitably raise the question of their relationship with the military structures of NATO (and, in the future, the expediency of maintaining this military-political grouping with unconditional US dominance). As a means of slowing down European military-political integration, the United States uses the outbreak of military conflicts, and if during the war in Yugoslavia their differences with European allies were masked, then in connection with the Iraq conflict, contradictions both between the US and the EU, and within the framework of the about th integration group took open and sharp forms. However, of key importance is the fact that a single economic space has formed in Western and Central Europe, which is becoming a center of attraction for the national economic systems of several continents.

⇐ Previous21222324252627282930Next ⇒

Related information:

Site search:

Question. The European Union as an international organization with signs of supranationality. Cooperation of the Russian Federation with the European Union.

The European Union (EU) was created on the basis of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951, the European Atomic Energy Community in 1957, the European Economic Community in 1957 as a result of the merger in 1957 of these previously independent organizations and was called until until recently by the European Communities.

In 1965, on the basis of the Brussels Treaty, unified bodies of the Communities were created. The Maastricht Agreements of 1992 (entered into force in 1993) completed the process of legal registration of the mechanism of the Communities, providing for the creation by the end of the 20th century. close political and monetary and economic union of the EU countries. The Treaty on the European Union is supplemented by 17 protocols. The treaty introduced EU citizenship.

The EU has become the largest integration association, virtually unparalleled. This is an international organization, but the Union differs from existing organizations in that it has become not a coordinating, but a supranational organization: EU law takes precedence over national law, and its subjects are not only states, but also individuals and legal entities; decisions of the Union have direct effect on the territory of the Member States; its power is independent of states, EU officials and members of the European Parliament do not represent states, but peoples; the possibility of independent expansion by the Union of the powers of its bodies is assumed.

The key points of the new EU strategy are the construction of an economic and monetary union, a common foreign policy and defense, cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs, the establishment of a single citizenship.

The organization includes 28 states of Europe.

European Union law consists of two large groups of norms:

internal law of the Union as an international organization;

Union law governing specific types of political, economic, social and cultural activities of the Union States.

The main organs of the EU are the European Council, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice.

The Council meets twice a year.

Sessions of the European Parliament (monthly) are held in Strasbourg (France).

Since January 1, 1996, the EU has abolished all customs duties at intra-European borders for all types of goods, and a single customs policy is being pursued for non-EU countries.

The Russian Federation is actively cooperating with the countries of the European Union. Yes, in 1994.

List of EU countries for 2018

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement was signed, establishing a partnership between the Russian Federation, on the one hand, and the European Communities and their Member States, on the other hand. The Agreement establishes a partnership between Russia, on the one hand, and the Community and its Member States, on the other hand. The goals of this partnership are to provide a framework for political dialogue between the parties, promote trade, investment; strengthening political and economic freedoms; supporting Russia's efforts to strengthen its democracy, develop and complete the transition to a market economy, provide an appropriate framework for gradual integration between Russia and the wider area of cooperation in Europe; the creation of the necessary conditions for the establishment in the future of a free trade area between Russia and the Community, covering basically all trade in goods between them, as well as conditions for the exercise of freedom of establishment of companies, cross-border trade in services and the movement of capital.

The goals of the European Union are the main directions of the creation and activities of the association. The objectives of the EU apply to various areas:

The sphere of human rights and freedoms (contributing to the establishment of peace, prosperity and common values of peoples)

Economic sector (building a common internal market and ensuring free and fair competition; progressive and sustainable development that will ensure economic recovery; social market economy; promotion of employment and social progress)

Social sphere (combating social exclusion, discrimination; promoting social protection and justice; ensuring gender equality).

building a single and common internal market;

creation of the Economic and Monetary Union;

economic and social cohesion;

increasing employment and other tasks of the social sphere;

development of a high level of education and healthcare;

cultural development and vocational training;

consumer protection measures;

environmental protection measures;

Previous891011121314151617181920212223Next

European Union. Expansion to the East

EU policy on integration into the European Community of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the main strategic task of the EU was the policy of moving to the East.

List of EU member states for 2018

In 2002 candidates for EU accession were named. These are the CEE countries: Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia. Of the Mediterranean states, Malta and Cyprus became candidates. For the first time in the history of the EU, the political decision to admit new members to the EU dominated the economic one. For most candidates from the CEE countries, the positive factors for accession are the customs union, the free movement of capital and services, and the migration of labor.

Gross national product in the candidate countries per capita is 20-60% of the average European level. Only Slovenia and the Czech Republic had, at the time of the decision, sustained growth rates, low unemployment and a GNP per capita of slightly more than half of the European average. In the most prosperous post-Soviet republic in terms of macroeconomic indicators, Estonia, GNP per capita amounted to 23% of the EU average.

In the rest of Eastern and Central Europe, economic performance does not meet the requirements for EU membership, while Russia and Ukraine have widened the gap significantly for the worse and become more economically distant from Western Europe. Hungary, which has the highest level of foreign investment in Central Europe, is half that of Portugal, the poorest country in the EU.

In terms of its geostrategic significance, the task of expanding the EU to the East is comparable only to the creation of the European Community itself in the middle of the 20th century. However, the question of the eastern borders and the speed of unification remains open. It becomes obvious that this process will be much slower than it seemed after the fall of the Iron Curtain. The EU's eastward movement has certain limits. Perhaps Bulgaria and Romania will be accepted in the future. And this is where the EU's eastward movement will end. This is evidenced by the limited financial resources of the EU.

With a total EU budget in 2003 of 100 billion euros (1/8 of the German budget), it is planned to allocate 41 billion euros for new EU members over three years. This amount is more than half the capital allocated by the US under the Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Europe (in comparable prices). If the United States allocated 1.5% of GDP for European reconstruction, the EU only 0.08%. Taking into account the total membership fee of the Central European states of 15 billion euros, the EU cost item will be reduced to 25 billion euros. Compared to Germany, which spent 600 billion euros on the reunification of the eastern lands in the 1990s, the amount of funding for the EU's eastward expansion is not equivalent to political promises and assurances.

Germany provides 28% of the EU budget, receiving only 13% from its revenue side. Therefore, the pro-American orientation of CEE on the Iraqi crisis causes a negative assessment of Berlin, which opposes the war. In the West, the process of moving the EU to the East is ambiguously assessed. In the coming expansion, for the first time, the political factor dominates the economic one. Great Britain continues to balance between "Europeanism" and "Atlanticism", stands for closer economic cooperation with the US and NAFTA. There are proposals for economic integration of the North Atlantic at the city level, similar to the medieval Hanseatic League. Germany is pinning its hopes on a positive economic result from integration due to its geostrategic position. For France, expansion to the East, on the contrary, is not a primary economic problem. Eastern Europe, which belongs to an Orthodox civilization, will never be part of a predominantly Western Christian EU. Russia is too big to become a member of the EU. Ukraine with a corrupt elite poses a threat to Western values. In Western Europe, there is a growing anti-Euroland movement, including opposition to the enlargement of the European Union and the influx of migrants (cheap labor).

Source: Geoeconomic Dictionary

EUROPEAN UNION (EU), the largest integration association of European states. The EU includes 27 states (as of 1.1.2007), including those with overseas territories located in other parts of the world. The area of the EU is 4 million 317 thousand km 2 , the population is 492.8 million people.

The Treaty Establishing the European Union was signed in Maastricht (1992; see Maastricht Treaty). According to the agreement, the EU was established on the basis of the European Communities (two of them operate within the EU, forming the first pillar), supplemented by a common foreign and security policy (second pillar) and cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs (third pillar). This structure was called the “three pillar system”. The Amsterdam Treaty (1997) secured the creation of a space of freedom, democracy and the rule of law; formed a specialized mechanism for the protection of democratic foundations and principles, providing for the possibility of imposing sanctions on the state that violates them; proposed measures for the preparation of the Charter of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms (proclaimed in 2000). In 2001, the Treaty of Nice was signed to strengthen guarantees and prevent risks associated with a new major expansion of the EU, which consolidated the revised concept of "advanced cooperation", introduced new guarantees against a possible violation of the democratic foundations and principles of the EU, revised the procedure for the functioning of its judicial systems. On October 29, 2004, the Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe was signed. In accordance with the accepted procedure, the Treaty and the documents annexed to it were submitted for ratification by the EU member states (the Treaty was ratified by 15 states, but in France and the Netherlands the draft EU Constitution did not receive support and the ratification process was interrupted).

Advertising

Objectives and principles of the EU. The Union is based on the principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the rule of law, principles common to member states (Article 6.1 of the Treaty). They are implemented within a society characterized by pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, solidarity and equality between women and men. All Member States are obliged not only to declare their commitment to these values, but also to ensure their effective implementation. Deviation from compliance with these principles and principles may entail the adoption of preventive measures by the EU or, in the presence of a constant and serious threat, the imposition of sanctions by suspending the right to participate in the work of EU bodies or even membership in the EU.

On the basis of common values, goals and principles, the specific tasks facing the integration education are formulated. In the field of domestic policy, the tasks to be solved by the Communities and the Union include: building a common and single internal market, creating an economic and monetary union, implementing a policy of economic and social cohesion, promoting research in the scientific field and technological progress, ensuring and protecting consumer rights, taking radical measures to protect the environment. In the social sphere, the promotion of employment, the growth of well-being and the quality of life, the achievement of a high level of health care, education and vocational training, the strengthening of social protection and the fight against social exclusion are coming to the fore. The participation of integration associations in the development and upsurge of culture is subordinated to the observance of national individuality, originality and originality of national cultures. With the creation of the EU, a number of new tasks are formulated within the framework of the second and third pillars. Measures are being taken to intensify the EU's participation in solving humanitarian problems and in the implementation of collective peacekeeping measures. In order to develop a common defense policy, the creation of a European military planning group and the formation of the EU collective armed forces are envisaged. A specialized apparatus for planning joint operations outside the EU has been established and operates under the leadership of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

The formation of new specialized structures and the development of cooperation programs should contribute to the expansion of cooperation between the police and courts in the criminal law sphere. Europol and Eurojust were established (dealing mainly with the problems of judicial and prosecutorial cooperation), a European agency for the management of operational cooperation at the external borders of the EU was created, a fundamental decision was made to establish a European prosecutor's office, and measures were developed to put into effect a single European arrest warrant. A number of specialized bodies have been established to help intensify the fight against organized crime and terrorism. The communitarianization of the Schengen Agreements (i.e. their integration into the Community law system) has been carried out: the Schengen Agreements developed within the framework of the concept of advanced cooperation are designed to regulate the implementation of visa and migration policies, as well as the granting of asylum (some states that are not EU members have joined the Schengen Zone - Norway and Iceland, the decision to join the Schengen area was approved in a referendum in Switzerland). In order to further refine the visa policy and ensure the security of the EU borders, 7 states have signed new agreements called Schengenplus (2007).

The EU is the most developed form of economic integration in Europe, which has gone through all stages of development - a free trade area, a customs union, a single internal market, an economic and monetary union. Since 1968, customs duties in mutual trade have been completely abolished in the European Community, and a single customs tariff has been introduced in relation to third countries. In 1993, a single internal market was finally formed, which is an economic space without internal borders, within which the free movement of goods, labor, services and capital is ensured. The Economic and Monetary Union began to function on January 1, 1999 and provided for the introduction of a common currency, the euro. European economic integration is developing in two directions: the ever more complete unification of national economies into a single regional economic system and the territorial expansion of the integration zone.

One of the tasks of the EU is to ensure the harmonization of national legislation on the basis of the goals and principles of the EU.

Member States of the European Union

The conditions and procedure for such harmonization are regulated directly by the founding agreements. Each of them contains a clause of solidarity, requiring conscientious and loyal fulfillment of the obligations assumed by the participants in the integration, imposed by the constituent acts and norms of secondary law.

EU institutions. The powers transferred to the jurisdiction of integration entities are exercised by a wide system of bodies, specialized organizations (agencies) and institutions. The main institutions are the EU bodies, endowed with the right to issue binding regulatory legal acts. A system of institutions was originally established in each of the three Communities. At the initial stage (1957), a common Parliament and Court were created within the European integration organizations; In 1965, the Unification Treaty was signed, on the basis of which a Council and a Commission uniform for all Communities were established. The Treaty establishing the EU provided for the creation of a single system of institutions for the Communities and the Union. The modern system of institutions is enshrined in the Nice Treaty.

The highest body of political leadership is the European Council. The EU institutions include: the Council of the EU, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the EU judiciary and the Court of Accounts. Among the most important bodies of the EU, the status of which is determined directly in the founding acts, are the bodies of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) and the European Central Bank (ECB); The Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) and the leading advisory bodies are the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. The status of numerous auxiliary and advisory committees is determined by special regulations governing the creation and functioning of the bodies included in the comitology system. During the functioning of the EU, numerous specialized organizations and institutions were established, which are entrusted with the implementation of administrative and coordinating functions in specific and relatively narrow areas. Some of them play a very significant role, such as Europol, Eurojust, etc.

The activities of EU institutions and bodies are subject to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. The principle of subsidiarity, applied outside the exclusive competence of the EU, implies that a decision or action is carried out at the level of the EU or the Member States or even their regions, depending on where their implementation will be most effective. The principle of proportionality implies that the EU institutions will strictly adhere to the rules of empowerment and will not go beyond the limits of those rights and powers that are transferred by the Member States to the jurisdiction of the European Communities and the EU.

European Union and European Communities. The EU and the European Communities are formed on the basis of the international treaties that established them. However, they differ in their nature and nature from ordinary international organizations. The main thing in the activity of the EU and the Communities is the solution of problems and tasks of domestic policy. The powers of the EU in the field of external relations are exercised on the basis of rules that differ markedly from those applied within the Communities.

The European Communities enjoy the status of a legal entity. On the territory of the EU Member States, they exercise their respective rights to the fullest extent possible. Communities also have international legal personality (they can enter into relations with third states and international organizations, conclude international treaties and agreements, and also have their own diplomatic missions in foreign countries). The EU does not have the status of a legal entity. However, the presence of a unified system of institutions of the EU and the Communities makes it possible in practice to carry out international relations and make decisions on external political issues both on behalf of the EU and the Communities (accordingly, new states joining the EU become members not only of the EU, but also of the Communities).

The EU has its own territory, derived from the territories of the member states. The EU introduced its own citizenship. It is acquired by all individuals who have national citizenship of the EU Member States. The acquisition of EU citizenship gives rise to a number of political and legal consequences: the use of the right to vote in the formation of the European Parliament and in the formation of national municipal bodies, the right to access positions in the EU apparatus, the right to diplomatic protection from EU representations abroad, etc.

The EU has its own currency: the EU currency is the euro. To join the euro area, a number of strict legal requirements must be met. This led to the fact that even at the time of the creation of the eurogroup, when the EU had 15 member states, only 12 joined it. Accession to the EU does not entail automatic inclusion in the euro area. Of the newly admitted states, only Slovenia (2007) joined the euro area.

Conditions and procedure for the admission of new members to the EU. Over the years that have passed since the formation of European integration entities, their composition has undergone significant changes. The 6 founding states (France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg) were joined by: in 1973 - Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland, in 1981 - Greece, in 1986 - Spain and Portugal; since 1995 - Austria, Finland and Sweden; since 2004 - Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta and Cyprus; since 2007 - Bulgaria and Romania. Applicants for membership are Turkey and some Balkan countries.

The conditions for accession to the EU are defined in the founding treaties, in subsequent regulations and political decisions made at the level of the European Council (the "Copenhagen Criteria"). Only European states can be members of the EU. They must fully share the values, goals and principles of the EU. Candidate countries must have free market economies and abide by the rules and principles of fair competition. They are obliged to bring their legal system in line with the provisions and regulations of European law (acquis communautaire - the legal heritage of the Communities).

The state applying for accession to the EU sends an application to the Council of the EU, which, acting on the recommendation of the European Commission, decides to open negotiations. Negotiations are entrusted to the European Commission. Candidate countries receive appropriate financial grants and technical support. Their representatives participate in the work of EU bodies on a consultative basis.

The admission process ends with the signing of the Accession Agreement and the EU Accession Act. Upon completion of the review at the level of the EU institutions, the decision is submitted to the discretion of the EU member states.

Ratification must take place not only in all Member States, but also in candidate States. All accession acts contain numerous qualifications and time limits, especially with regard to the exercise of the four freedoms associated with participation in the common market.

The current constituent acts do not contain regulations regulating the procedure for a possible exit from the EU.

Corresponding regulations were developed and included in the draft EU Constitution (provide for the possibility of a member state's withdrawal subject to advance notice and the fulfillment of certain obligations associated with EU membership). EU accession states do not automatically become parties to agreements based on the concept of advanced cooperation.

The EU and the Russian Federation are strategic partners, they signed a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (1994, entered into force on December 1, 1997), based on "the embodiment of common values that underlie bilateral cooperation." Relations between the EU and the Russian Federation are developing within the framework of the strategy for the development of relations for the medium term (2000-10), which involves "building a united Europe without dividing lines." There is a representation of the EC in the Russian Federation, and a permanent representation of the Russian Federation in the EU.

Lit.: Topornin BN European communities: law and institutions. M., 1992; European Union Law / Edited by S. Yu. Kashkin et al. M., 2002; Russia and the European Union. M., 2003.

Europe has become a pioneer on the path of integration development. It was the first among the regions of the world, on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation, to form a single economic space - the European Union.

The European Union officially unites 28 states. List of countries that are members of the EU today:

In contact with

Which countries are in the European Union

In addition to EU member states, it includes satellite territories of the main states (Aland Islands - Finland, Azores - Portugal, etc.).

Some European countries have signed special agreements with the EU and participate in its activities in certain areas. Partnership relations have been established with Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein. They put into effect in their territories the Schengen Agreement. Thanks to this, the citizens of these states move freely around Europe. In turn, residents of EU countries can freely visit Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The treaty between the EU and the Swiss Confederation operates in a similar way.

EU Candidates

Turkey - since 1987
Macedonia - since 2004
Montenegro - since 2008
Albania - since 2009
Serbia - since 2009

Possible candidate for enrollment the integration entity is Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Kosovo. Associative relations in 2014 were fixed with a number of states of Eastern Europe and Transcaucasia (Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia). In the future, they will be able to apply for membership.

However, in 2014, the leaders of the European Union spoke out against holding integration processes in the near future. Until 2019, there is no provision for building up European partnership.

Of the candidate countries, Macedonia and Albania have real chances for admission to the European integration group. Turkey's request has already been rejected several times due to non-fulfillment of a number of necessary requirements. In addition, it has significant differences in geolocation, ethnocultural and civilizational relations with other EU members. Satisfaction of the applications of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Kosovo, is not possible due to their uncertain international status and the existence of disputed territorial issues with other states.

At various times, countries geographically very remote from the Old World declared their desire to join the single European space: Chile, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Mexico, and South Africa. However, their declarative appeals have no real grounds.

Requirements for joining the European Union

To join the integration union, the applicant country must meet certain requirements. They were first presented in 1993, in the capital of Denmark - Copenhagen. The so-called Copenhagen criteria include:

Following the principles of democratic development.
Compliance with legal and humanitarian norms.
Real economic growth.

Compliance with these requirements is comprehensively studied, an overall assessment is made, and recommendations are given. If a candidate country has not been able to comply with the requirements within the prescribed period, its enrollment is postponed.

History of integration processes in Europe

For the first time the idea of the possibility of integration within Europe was expressed in Paris at a conference in 1867. The actual implementation of the project began almost a century later. The impetus for the formation of a new international association was R. Schuman's initiative to consolidate the efforts of France and Germany in the field of coal and steel production. To this end, in 1951, the creation of the European Coal and Steel Organization was announced. In the future, it served as the foundation for the development of the European Union.

ECSC members are: France, Germany, Benelux, Italy. In 1957, they concluded an agreement on the work of the EEC (European Economic Community) and Euroatom. In 1993, the EEC was modified into the EU.

For 60 years (from 1957 to 2018.) The European Union has undergone a significant transformation: the number of member countries increased by almost 5 times; geographically, the EU covered most of Europe.

The accession of new countries to the integration grouping was called "waves". The following “waves” are distinguished in the history of EU enlargement:

1st (1973) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Kingdom of Denmark

2nd (1081) - Hellenic Republic

3rd (1986) - Kingdom of Spain and Portuguese Republic

4th (1995) - Kingdom of Sweden, Republic of Austria, Finland

5th (2004) - Hungary, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Latvia, Republic of Lithuania, Republic of Malta, Republic of Poland, Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, Czech Republic and Estonian Republic

6th (2007) - Romania, Republic of Bulgaria

7th (2013) - Republic of Croatia

The list displays the join order countries to the EU zone (formerly EEC).

How the Eurozone works

The modern design of the European Union is based on an agreement developed in 1992 in the Dutch city of Maastricht. Its main parameters are:

formation of an international association with common guidelines in the field of economics, politics and currency relations;
development of a common market for goods and services, ensured by the unhindered movement of products of production;
coordination of joint efforts in the environmental field;
joint fight against crime.

The agreement entered into force on 1 November. Its real consequences were the establishment of a single currency for countries - the euro and the creation of visa-free travel (Schengen area).

Withdrawal from the EU

Along with the desire of many countries join the EU, there are supporters of disintegration. In 2009, an agreement was initialed in Lisbon that regulates, among other things, the procedure for secession from the European Union. The procedure provides for holding a national referendum. If more than half of the citizens vote for secession from the EU, a special mechanism begins to operate.

exercised the right to secession Great Britain. In the summer of 2016, the kingdom held a plebiscite known as Brexit. More than 30 million citizens of the United Kingdom took part in it. Almost 52% of the poll participants were in favor of leaving the EU. Most of the "Euro-skeptics" live in England and Wales, while the inhabitants of Northern Ireland and Scotland are among the supporters of European integration who do not want to be cut off from the rest of Europe. The final exit of Britain is declared for 2019.

The current situation cannot be assessed unequivocally.. On the one hand, there will be a dangerous precedent. It can be used by other countries that are members of the EU and are dissatisfied with the policy pursued within the framework of a single Europe. On the other hand, the consolidation of the member countries will intensify, aimed at strengthening relations within the EU.

The European Union (European Union, EU) is an economic and political union of 28 European states. Aimed at regional integration, the European Union was legally fixed by the Maastricht Treaty, signed on February 7, 1992 and entered into force on November 1, 1993 on the principles of the European Communities.

With the help of a standardized system of laws in force in all countries of the European Union, a common market was created guaranteeing the free movement of people, goods, capital and services, including the abolition of passport control within the Schengen area, which includes both member countries and other European states. The European Union adopts laws (directives, legislative acts and regulations) in the field of justice and home affairs, and develops a common policy in the field of trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. The 18 countries of the European Union adopted a single currency, the euro, forming the eurozone.

As a subject of international public law, the European Union has the authority to participate in international relations and conclude international treaties. A common foreign and security policy has been formed, providing for a coordinated foreign and defense policy. Permanent diplomatic missions of the EU have been established around the world, there are representations in the United Nations, the WTO, the G8 and the G20. EU delegations are led by EU ambassadors.

The EU is an international entity that combines the characteristics of an international organization (interstate) and a state (supranational), but formally it is neither one nor the other. In certain areas, decisions are made by independent supranational institutions, while in others they are carried out through negotiations between member states. The most important EU institutions are the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Council, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors and the European Central Bank. The European Parliament is elected every five years by EU citizens.

The European Union includes 28 states: 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.

Member countries of the European Union:

Since March 25, 1957 - Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France.

Since May 1, 2004 - Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Estonia.

Candidates for Member States of the European Union: Iceland, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Montenegro. Application sent: Albania Considered as potential candidates that have not yet applied for membership: Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Great Britain) entering the European Union through UK membership: Channel Islands: Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney (part of the Crown Dependency of Guernsey), Sark (part of the Crown Dependency of Guernsey), Herm (part of the Crown Dependency of Guernsey), Gibraltar, Isle of Man.

Special Territories outside of Europe that are part of the European Union: Azores, Guadeloupe, Canary Islands, Madeira (Portugal), Martinique (France), Melilla (Spain), Reunion (France), Ceuta (Spain), French Guiana (France), Sen -Martin (France), Mayotte (France).

Also, according to Article 198 (former Article 182) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Member States of the European Union associate with the European Union lands and territories outside Europe that maintain special relations with: Denmark - Greenland; France - New Caledonia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Saint Barthélemy; The Netherlands - Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, Caribbean Netherlands (Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius); United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland – Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Falkland Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Turks and Caicos, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

The number of countries participating in the union has grown from the initial 6 - Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France - to today's 28 through successive expansions: by joining the treaties, countries limited their sovereignty in exchange for representation in the institutions of the union, acting in common interests.

To join the European Union, a candidate country must comply with the Copenhagen criteria adopted in June 1993 at the European Council meeting in Copenhagen and approved in December 1995 at the European Council meeting in Madrid. The criteria require that the state observe democratic principles, the principles of freedom and respect for human rights, as well as the principle of the rule of law. Also, the country must have a competitive market economy, and must recognize the common rules and standards of the EU, including commitment to the goals of political, economic and monetary union.

No state left the union, however, Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, withdrew from the Communities in 1985. The Treaty of Lisbon provides for the conditions and procedure for the withdrawal of any state from the union.

At the moment, 5 countries have candidate status: Iceland, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Montenegro, while Macedonia and Serbia have not yet started accession negotiations. The remaining states of the Balkan Peninsula, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, are included in the official expansion program. Kosovo is also included in this program, but the European Commission does not classify it as an independent state, since the country's independence from Serbia is not recognized by all members of the union.

The three Western European states that chose not to join the union partly participate in the union economy and follow some directives: Liechtenstein and Norway enter the common market through the European Economic Area, Switzerland has a similar relationship, having concluded bilateral agreements. Europe's miniscule states, Andorra, Vatican City, Monaco and San Marino, use the euro and maintain relations with the union through various cooperation agreements.

Norway tried to join the European Community (later the European Union) twice, and after two failures in national referendums, Norway abandoned its intention to join the EU. The first treaty was signed in Brussels on January 22, 1972, and the second treaty was signed in Corfu on June 24, 1994.

The ideas of pan-Europeanism, long put forward by thinkers throughout the history of Europe, sounded with particular force after the Second World War. In the post-war period, a number of organizations appeared on the continent: the Council of Europe, NATO, the Western European Union.

The first step towards the creation of a modern European Union was taken in 1951: Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Italy signed an agreement establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC, ECSC - European Coal and Steel Community), the purpose of which was to unite European resources for the production of steel and coal.

In order to deepen economic integration, the same six states in 1957 established the European Economic Community (EEC, Common Market) (EEC - European Economic Community) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom, Euratom - European Atomic Energy Community). The most important and broadest of these three European communities was the EEC.

The process of development and transformation of these European communities into the modern European Union took place 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.

The main events in the history of deepening European integration:

1951 - signing of the Paris Treaty on the establishment of the European Coal and Steel Community.

1957 - signing of the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

1957 - signing of the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Economic Community and Euratom.

1965 - signing of the merger agreement, which resulted in the creation of a single Council and a single Commission for the three European communities of the ECSC, the EEC and Euratom. Entered into force on July 1, 1967.

1973 - the first expansion of the EEC (Denmark, Ireland, Great Britain joined).

1978 - Creation of the European Monetary System.

1979 - First pan-European elections to the European Parliament.

1981 - the second expansion of the EEC (Greece joined).

1985 - signing of the Schengen agreement.

1986 - the third expansion of the EEC (Spain and Portugal joined).

1986 - Single European Act - the first significant change in the founding treaties of the EU.

1992 - signing of the Maastricht Treaty on the establishment of the European Union on the basis of the European Economic Community.

1995 - fourth expansion (accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden).

1999 - the introduction of a single European currency - the euro (in cash circulation since 2002).

2004 - the fifth expansion (accession of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Malta).

2007 - Signing of the Reform Treaty in Lisbon.

2007 - the second wave of the fifth expansion (accession of Bulgaria and Romania). The 50th anniversary of the creation of the EEC is being celebrated.

2013 - the sixth expansion (Croatia joined).

Currently, there are three agreements that involve different degrees of integration within the European Union: EU membership, membership in the euro area and participation in the Schengen agreement. EU membership does not necessarily entail participation in the Schengen Agreement. Not all EU member states are part of the euro area. Examples of different degrees of integration:

The UK and Ireland signed the Schengen Agreement on a limited membership basis. The UK also did not consider it necessary to join the euro zone.

Denmark and Sweden also decided in referendums to keep their national currencies.

Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein are not members of the EU, but are part of the Schengen area.

The European Union Treaties are a set of international treaties between EU countries that set out the constitutional foundations of the European Union (EU). They establish the various EU institutions, their procedures and objectives.

The Treaty establishing the European Community (Treaty of Rome, in force since 1958) and the Treaty on European Union (Treaty of Maastricht, in force since 1993) together form the legal framework of the EU. They are also known as "founding treaties". Since their signing, they have been repeatedly expanded through amendments. Each time a new country joins the EU, the necessary changes are made to the accession treaty. Additional agreements may also affect the change of some part of the fundamental agreements. There are also a number of targeted reform amendments.

The Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty establishing the European Communities and certain related acts, is commonly known as the Treaty of Amsterdam. It was signed on October 2, 1997 and entered into force on May 1, 1999. Made significant changes to the Treaty on the European Union, which was signed in Maastricht in 1992. The conditions for joining the EU are clearly spelled out, the Schengen agreements are included, the numbering of articles and paragraphs is changed founding agreements.

The Treaty of Nice was signed by European leaders on February 26, 2001 and entered into force on February 1, 2003. It amended the Maastricht Treaty (or Treaty on European Union) as well as the Treaty of Rome (or Treaty establishing the European Community). The Treaty of Nice reformed the institutional structure of the European Union for eastward expansion, i.e. contributed to the task that was originally set by the Amsterdam Treaty, but has not been solved to date.

The entry into force of the treaty was for some time in doubt after it was rejected by Irish citizens in a referendum in June 2001. As a result, the treaty was adopted only after a second referendum held a little over a year later

According to the official definition, the main goal of the Treaty is to complete the process of preparation for the functioning of the institutions within the European Union, initiated by the Treaty of Amsterdam. A general orientation towards preparation for enlargement and the desire to prevent and minimize the risks associated with the entry of a large group of new member states.

Almost all EU institutions are being reformed. The size and powers of the European Parliament are changing. The number of votes that each member state has in the EU Council is reviewed and strictly fixed. At the same time, changes are made to the voting procedure and the quota and threshold of the numerical majority necessary for decision-making are determined (the sum of votes is mandatory not only for member states, but also for all candidate states for EU accession).

The agreement provides for a large-scale reform of the EU judiciary. Such a structure of judicial instances as the EU Court of Justice, the Court of First Instance (CJI) and specialized judicial chambers are being introduced. The SPI acquires, in fact, the status of a court of general jurisdiction and is endowed with appropriate competence. The details of the changes that are being made are recorded in the new Statute of the EU Court of Justice, which is attached to the Nice Treaty and supplemented by further decisions of the EU Council.

In the 2000s, an attempt was made to bring into force the Treaty on the Introduction of a Constitution for Europe.

The constitution of the European Union was supposed to combine all previous treaties (with the exception of the Euratom treaty) into a single document. It also contained changes to the voting system, a simplification of the EU's structure, and increased cooperation in foreign policy. The treaty was signed in Rome on October 29, 2004, and was due to enter into force on November 1, 2006 if it had been ratified by all member states. However, this did not happen: first, France rejected the document during a national referendum on May 29, 2005, and then, on June 1, 2005, the Netherlands did the same.

The EU Constitution (the full official name is the Treaty on the Introduction of a Constitution for Europe) is an international treaty designed to play the role of the constitution of the European Union and replace all previous founding acts of the EU. Signed in Rome on October 29, 2004. Did not enter into force. At present, the possibility of its entry into force is not considered due to the signing of the Lisbon Treaty.

The question of the need to change the principles of governance of the European Union and the structure of the governing bodies arose in the 1990s, when it became obvious that in the near future the largest expansion of the EU in history (from 15 to 25 members) would take place. Until now, the EU has acted on the principle of consensus when making the most important decisions - but with the expansion of the composition, there was a possibility that the most important decisions would be blocked for a long time.

The decision to start work on the creation of a pan-European constitution was made at the EU summit in December 2001. The working body for the development of the draft constitution was called the convention, headed by former President of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

Work on the draft constitution lasted three years. The final text of the document was approved at a special EU summit in June 2004.

On October 29, 2004, the heads of all 25 member states of the European Union signed the new European constitution in Rome. The uniqueness of this document lies in the fact that it appeared immediately in 20 languages and became the most extensive and comprehensive constitution in the world. The European constitution, according to its authors, was supposed to contribute to the emergence of a common European identity and make the EU a model of a new world order.

The ceremony took place in the hall of the Horatii and Curiatii of the Roman palace of Chigi on the Capitoline Hill. It was here that on March 25, 1957, the heads of Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Rome on the elimination of trade barriers, a common economic policy and the unification of living standards in their countries.

The draft Constitution streamlines the legal basis of all agreements concluded between the countries of the European Union.

The constitution changes the structure and functions of the EU institutions:

The Council of the EU provides for the position of President. Now the post of head of the Council is transferred from one EU country to another on a rotation basis every six months - according to the Constitution, the president was to be appointed by the Council for a period of 2.5 years.

The position of the EU Minister of Foreign Affairs is also provided, which, according to the authors, should represent a single European foreign policy - now foreign policy functions are divided between the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy (since 2009, this post has been occupied by Catherine Ashton) and a member of the European Commission responsible for external communications (Benita Ferrero-Waldner). However, EU member states can still develop their own position on any issue, and the European Foreign Minister will only be able to speak on behalf of the EU if a consensus is reached.

The draft Constitution envisaged a reduction in the composition of the European Commission: now the principle “one country - one European commissioner” is in effect, but from 2014 the number of European commissioners should have been two-thirds of the number of member countries.

The draft Constitution expanded the powers of the European Parliament, which, as expected, was supposed to not only approve the budget, but also deal with problems related to the state of civil liberties, border control and immigration, cooperation between judicial and law enforcement structures of all EU countries.

The draft constitution, among other things, assumed the rejection of the principle of consensus and its replacement with the principle of the so-called "double majority": the decision on most issues (except for issues of foreign policy and security, social security, taxation and culture, where the principle of consensus is preserved) is considered accepted, if at least 15 member countries representing at least 65% of the population of the entire union voted for it. Individual states will not have a “right of veto”, however, if the decision of the EU Council displeases one country, it will be able to stop its action, provided that it is supported by at least 3 other states.

For the Constitution to come into force, it had to be ratified by all EU countries. If at least one member country does not ratify the Constitution, it will not enter into force; but this will not lead to the disintegration of the EU, since in this case all previous agreements signed by its members will remain in force.

Different countries have adopted different options for ratification - by voting in parliament or in a popular referendum.

In half of the countries whose leadership decided to hold referendums, there is a strong opposition to the idea of pan-European unity: these include Denmark, Great Britain, Poland (it joined the European Union only in 2004, but from the very beginning it declared its special claims to one of the leading places in the EU), France and the Netherlands.

At the EU summit on June 22-23, 2007, an agreement in principle was reached on the development of a "Reform Treaty" instead of the Constitution - a simplified version containing mainly provisions on the procedure for the functioning of EU institutions in the new conditions. Such an agreement was signed in Lisbon on December 13, 2007.

Thus, after a "period of reflection", the Constitution in its original form was revised and replaced by the Treaty of Lisbon.

Since the establishment of the EU, a single market has been created on the territory of all member states. At the moment, the single currency is used by 18 states of the Union, forming the eurozone.

The development of a common market (subsequently renamed the single market) between the participating countries, as well as the creation of a customs union, were two of the main goals of the creation of the European Economic Community. At the same time, if the customs union implies the prohibition of any duties in trade relations between member states and the formation of a common customs tariff in relation to third countries, then the common market extends these principles to other obstacles to competition and interaction between the economies of the union countries, guaranteeing the so-called four freedoms. : freedom of movement of goods, freedom of movement of persons, freedom of movement of services and freedom of movement of capital. Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are included in the common market, but not in the customs union.

Freedom of capital movement implies not only the possibility of unhindered payments and transfers across borders, but also the purchase of real estate, company shares and investment between countries. Prior to the decision to form an economic and monetary union, the development of provisions on freedom of capital was slow. With the adoption of the Maastricht Treaty, the European Court began to rapidly formulate decisions in relation to a previously neglected freedom. The freedom of movement of capital also applies to relations between EU member states and third countries.

The freedom of movement of persons means that a citizen of the European Union can freely move between the countries of the Union for the purpose of living (including retirement), work and study. Ensuring these opportunities include facilitation of relocation and mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

Freedom of movement of services and freedom of establishment allows persons engaged in self-employed economic activity to move freely between the countries of the union and to engage in this activity on a permanent or temporary basis. Even though services represent 70% of GDP and jobs in most member states, the legislation for this freedom is not as developed as for other statutory freedoms. This gap was recently filled by the adoption of the directive on services in the internal market in order to remove restrictions between countries on the provision of services.

The European Union develops and supervises the implementation of antimonopoly legislation to ensure free competition in the internal market. The Commission, as the competition regulator, is responsible for antitrust, M&A control, cartel decoupling, promotion of economic liberalism, and oversight of government aid.

The principles governing the monetary union were laid down already in the Treaty of Rome in 1957, and the monetary union became the official goal in 1969 at the summit in The Hague. However, it was only with the adoption of the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 that the countries of the union were legally obliged to create a monetary union no later than January 1, 1999. On this day, the euro was introduced to world financial markets as a settlement currency by eleven of the then fifteen countries of the union, and on January 1 In 2002, banknotes and coins were introduced into cash circulation in twelve countries that by that time were part of the eurozone. The euro replaced the European currency unit (ECU), which was used in the European monetary system from 1979 to 1998, at a ratio of 1:1. There are currently 18 countries in the Eurozone.

All other countries except Denmark and the UK are legally bound to join the euro when they meet the criteria for joining the eurozone, but only a few countries have set a date for their planned accession. Sweden, although committed to joining the eurozone, is exploiting a legal loophole that allows it to fail to meet the Maastricht criteria and work towards addressing identified inconsistencies.

The euro is intended to help build a common market by facilitating tourism and trade; elimination of problems related to exchange rates; ensuring transparency and price stability, as well as a low interest rate; creation of a single financial market; providing countries with a currency that is used internationally and protected from shocks by a large amount of turnover within the eurozone.

The governing bank of the eurozone, the European Central Bank, determines the monetary policy of its member countries in order to maintain price stability. It is the center of the European System of Central Banks, which brings together all the national central banks of the EU countries and is controlled by the Board of Governors, consisting of the President of the ECB, appointed by the European Council, the Vice-President of the ECB and the governors of the national central banks of the EU member states.

In order to further strengthen the eurozone economy, the leaders of the countries of the union in 2012 proposed the creation of a banking union. The goals of the banking union are to relieve taxpayers of financial responsibility for problem banks and tighten control over the activities of banks.

Since its inception, the European Union has had legislative power in the field of energy policy; this has its roots in the European Coal and Steel Community. The introduction of a mandatory and comprehensive energy policy was approved at the European Council meeting in October 2005, and the first draft of the new policy was published in January 2007.

The main objectives of the unified energy policy are: changing the structure of energy consumption in favor of renewable sources, increasing energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating a single energy market and promoting competition on it.

The EU is working towards the development of a common European infrastructure, for example through the Trans-European Networks (TEN). For example, TEN projects include the Eurotunnel, LGV Est, the Mont Cenis Tunnel, the Øresund Bridge, the Brenner Tunnel and the Strait of Messina Bridge. According to a 2001 estimate, by 2010 the network was to cover: 75,200 km of roads, 76,000 km of railroad tracks, 330 airports, 270 seaports and 210 ports within the continent.

Another EU infrastructure project is the Galileo navigation system. As a satellite navigation system, Galileo is being developed by the European Union in conjunction with the European Space Agency and is scheduled for commissioning in 2014. Completion of the satellite constellation is scheduled for 2019. The project aims, in part to reduce reliance on US-controlled GPS, in part to provide Better signal coverage and accuracy than the aging American system. During the development process, the Galileo project experienced many financial, technical and political difficulties.

The Common Agricultural Policy is the oldest of the programs of the European Economic Community, its cornerstone. The policy aims to increase agricultural productivity, ensure the stability of the food supply, ensure a decent standard of living for the agricultural population, stabilize markets, and ensure reasonable prices for products. Until recently, it was carried out through subsidies and market intervention. In the 1970s and 1980s about two thirds of the budget of the European Community was allocated for the needs of agricultural policy, for 2007-2013. the share of this item of expenditure decreased to 34%.

The political structure of the European Union is a combination of numerous institutions of the European Union. It must be borne in mind that the traditional division of states into legislative, executive and judicial bodies is not typical for the EU.

The highest political body of the EU, consisting of the heads of state and government of the member countries and their deputies - the ministers of foreign affairs. The members of the European Council are also the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. The creation of the European Council was based on the idea of the French President Charles de Gaulle to hold informal summits of the leaders of the states of the European Union, which was intended to prevent the decrease in the role of nation states within the framework of an integration entity. Informal summits have been held since 1961; in 1974, at the summit in Paris, this practice was formalized at the suggestion of Valerie Giscard d'Estaing, who at that time was the President of France.

The European Council determines the main strategic directions for the development of the EU. The development of a general line of political integration is the main mission of the European Council. Along with the Council of Ministers, the European Council has the political function of amending the fundamental treaties of European integration. It meets at least twice a year, either in Brussels or in the presiding state, chaired by a representative of the member state currently chairing the Council of the European Union. The meetings last two days. Council decisions are binding on the states that support them.

Within the framework of the European Council, the so-called “ceremonial” leadership is carried out, when the presence of politicians of the highest level gives the decision taken both significance and high legitimacy. Since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, that is, since December 2009, the European Council has officially entered the structure of EU institutions. The provisions of the agreement established a new position of President of the European Council, which takes part in all meetings of the heads of state and government of the EU member states. The European Council must be distinguished from the Council of the European Union and from the Council of Europe.

The European Commission is the highest executive body of the European Union. Consists of 28 members, one from each Member State. When exercising their powers, they are independent, act only in the interests of the EU, and are not entitled to engage in any other activity. Member States have no right to influence members of the European Commission.

The European Commission is formed every 5 years as follows. The Council of the EU proposes a candidate for the President of the European Commission, which is approved by the European Parliament. Further, the Council of the EU, together with the candidate for the presidency of the Commission, form the proposed composition of the European Commission, taking into account the wishes of the member states. The composition of the "cabinet" must be approved by the European Parliament and finally approved by the Council of the EU. Each member of the Commission is responsible for a certain area of EU policy and heads the corresponding unit (the so-called General Directorate).

The European Commission plays a central role in ensuring the day-to-day activities of the EU towards the implementation of the fundamental Treaties. It comes up with legislative initiatives, and after approval controls their implementation. In case of violation of EU legislation, the Commission has the right to resort to sanctions, including appeal to the European Court of Justice. The Commission has significant autonomy in various policy areas, including agricultural, trade, competition, transport, regional, etc. The Commission has an executive apparatus, as well as manages the budget and various funds and programs of the European Union (such as the “TACIS ").

The Council of the European Union (officially the Council, usually informally referred to as the Council of Ministers) is, along with the European Parliament, one of the Union's two legislative bodies and one of its seven institutions. The Council consists of 28 ministers of the governments of the member countries in a composition that depends on the range of issues under discussion. At the same time, despite the different composition, the Council is considered a single body. In addition to legislative powers, the Council also has some executive functions in the area of common foreign and security policy.

The European Parliament is an assembly of 754 deputies (as amended by the Nice Treaty) directly elected by the citizens of the EU member states for a term of five years. The President of the European Parliament is elected for two and a half years. Members of the European Parliament are united not on a national basis, but in accordance with a political orientation.

The main role of the European Parliament is legislative activity. In addition, almost any decision of the Council of the EU requires either the approval of the Parliament, or at least a request for its opinion. Parliament controls the work of the Commission and has the right to dissolve it.

The approval of the Parliament is also required when accepting new members to the Union, as well as when concluding agreements on associate membership and trade agreements with third countries.

The European Parliament holds plenary sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels.

The Court of Justice of the European Union sits in Luxembourg and is the highest judicial body of the EU.

The Court regulates disputes between member states; between Member States and the European Union itself; between EU institutions; between the EU and natural or legal persons, including members of its organs (a Civil Service Tribunal was recently created for this function). The Court gives opinions on international agreements; it also issues preliminary (prejudicial) rulings on requests from national courts for the interpretation of the founding treaties and EU regulations. Decisions of the EU Court of Justice are binding on the territory of the EU. As a general rule, the jurisdiction of the EU Court of Justice extends to the areas of competence of the EU.

In accordance with the Maastricht Treaty, the Court was granted the right to impose fines on Member States that do not comply with its rulings.

The Court is composed of 28 judges (one from each of the Member States) and eight Advocates General. They are appointed for a six-year term, renewable. Half of the judges are renewed every three years.

The Court played a huge role in the formation and development of EU law. Many, even the fundamental principles of the Union's legal order, are based not on international treaties, but on precedent decisions of the Court.

The EU Court of Justice should be distinguished from the European Court of Human Rights.

In accordance with Articles 2-6 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union:

Exclusive competence:

"The Union has exclusive competence in legislation and in the conclusion of international agreements, when provided for in the legislative acts of the Union": customs union, establishment of competition rules, monetary policy, conservation of marine biological resources, common trade policy.

Joint Competence:

"Member States exercise their competence to the extent that the Union does not exercise its competence." "The Union has competence provided that the exercise of this competence will not prevent the Member States from exercising their own competence": internal market, social policy in relation to the aspects defined in this Treaty, economic, social and territorial cohesion, agriculture and fisheries, for with the exception of the conservation of marine biological resources, environment, consumer protection, transport, trans-European networks, energy, space of freedom, security and justice, general health security issues in relation to the aspects defined in this Treaty, scientific research, technological development and space, support development and humanitarian assistance.

"The Union determines the conditions under which member states coordinate their policies": economic and employment policy, common foreign and security policy, common defense policy.

Auxiliary competence:

“The Union has the competence to carry out activities aimed at supporting, coordinating or complementing the activities of the Member States, without replacing their competence in these areas”: protection and improvement of human health, industry, culture, tourism, education, vocational training, youth and sports , civil defense, administrative cooperation.

On September 19, 2012, the heads of the ministries of foreign affairs of 11 of the 27 EU countries proposed a draft reform, adopted at the end of the meeting of the group on the future of the European Union. The Group on the Future of the European Union, which includes the foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and France, has proposed the creation of a popularly elected president in the EU, the establishment of a union foreign ministry, introduce a single European entry visa and possibly form a single army.

A feature of the European Union, which distinguishes it from other international organizations, is the existence of its own law, which directly regulates the relations not only of the member states, but also of their citizens and legal entities.

EU law consists of the so-called primary, secondary and tertiary (judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Communities). Primary law – EU founding treaties; agreements amending them (revision agreements); accession treaties for new member states. Secondary law - acts issued by EU bodies. Decisions of the EU Court of Justice and other judicial bodies of the Union are widely used as case law.

EU law has direct effect on the territory of the EU countries and takes precedence over the national legislation of the states.

EU law is divided into institutional law (the rules governing the creation and functioning of EU institutions and bodies) and substantive law (the rules governing the process of implementing the goals of the EU and the EU communities). The substantive law of the EU, as well as the law of individual countries, can be divided into branches: EU customs law, EU environmental law, EU transport law, EU tax law, etc. Taking into account the structure of the EU (“three pillars”), EU law is also subdivided into the law of European communities, Schengen law, etc.

24 languages are officially used equally in European institutions: English, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Greek, Danish, Irish, Spanish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, German, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Finnish, French, Croatian , Czech, Swedish, Estonian.

At the working level, English, German and French are usually used.

In 2018, talks about the withdrawal of some countries from the European Union became more frequent, due to the political situation in the world. In this article, we will analyze which countries are included in the European Union for 2019.

Today, the European Union includes 28 countries.
In addition to the major powers, the list also includes a number of autonomous regions that are subordinate to larger states. Among the autonomous territories are the Aland Islands, the Azores and others.

Which countries are in the EU, list in 2019

Date of entry into the European Union	The country	Total Members
March 25, 1957	Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, France.	6
January 1, 1973	UK, Denmark, Ireland.	9
January 1, 1981	Greece	10
January 1, 1986	Spain, Portugal	12
January 1, 1995	Austria, Finland, Sweden	15
May 1, 2004	Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Estonia	25
January 1, 2007	Bulgaria, Romania	27
July 1, 2013	Croatia	28

EU map with countries and capitals, EU borders

IMPORTANT: EU countries are pursuing a customs union policy. Within the Union there is a system of duty-free trade, while the amount of goods plying between countries does not matter, and therefore is not taxed. Those powers that were not lucky enough to enter the Union trade at a single customs tariff.

It should be noted that each segment of the EU retains its own economy and has all the powers to conduct economic activity independently. BUT obligatory monetary influence in the treasury. From the investments of 28 states, the GDP of the entire Union is formed.

Accession to the EU

All current members of the European Union have gone through certain stages that must be passed in order to join the Union. The so-called Copenhagen criteria.

What are the requirements for candidates to join

1. "Any European State may apply to become a member of the Union."

REFERENCE: What does "European state" mean is not entirely clear. Despite the fact that the phrase is used as a term, its clear definition has not yet been given. In practice, "European" is interpreted as a state belonging to Europe geographically, as well as culturally, historically and politically close to the values of the Union.

2. The country applying for membership is obliged to respect the values , that form the basis of the European Union, share them and ensure the maintenance of these values within their own state.

IMPORTANT: Basic requirements: "respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities."

The Treaty on European Union also includes secondary requirements for candidates for accession. They are named in Art. 49 "eligibility criteria"
The terms of the TEU are set by the heads of EU member states.

Candidates for EU membership in 2019

Several countries submitted their candidacy for membership in the European Union:

Republic of Albania.
Montenegro.
Republic of Macedonia.
Republic of Serbia.
Turkish Republic.

REFERENCE: Serbia and Montenegro even has an estimated entry date of 2025.

There are also potential candidates:

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Republic of Kosovo

They are not candidates yet. There is a fundamental difference between the legal status of a candidate country and a potential candidate country.

Which countries were the first to join the European Union?

The first echelon included only 6 countries (all Western European): Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the Federal Republic of Germany, France. This composition is relevant for the period of the 50s - 60s of the twentieth century.

Already in 1793, there was an increase in the number of allied countries. The so-called expansion, which ended with the accession of Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland.

The year 1981 became the date of signing the agreement also with Greece, and 1986 with Spain and Portugal.

REFERENCE: The Treaty on the European Union was signed only in 1992 (it entered into force on November 1, 1993). Only from that moment did the European Union appear in the format in which it exists to this day. Since the 93rd year, he has been living according to the rules of the DES and the entry is made according to strictly established regulations.

Austria, Finland and Sweden became the first countries entering the EU according to all official procedures and established stages.

Only in the twenty-first century did the further expansion of the union (to the East) begin.
On May 1, 2004, the EU accepted Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and the islands of Cyprus and Malta.

In 2005, an agreement was signed, and in 2007, Eastern European Bulgaria and Romania became EU members.

Which country was the last to join the EU

Not so long ago, Croatia joined the European Union. At the moment, this is the last country that has moved from the status of a candidate to the status of an EU member.

The Croats applied for membership back in 2003, for ten years they went through the procedure for joining the union. In 2004, the European Commission approved the initiative, allowing Croatia to become a candidate.

The process was delayed due to the intervention of Slovenia, whose officials have made it clear that they have a number of objections to Croatia's accession to the EU.
In 2009, the situation was resolved with the help of international representatives.

The signing of the accompanying agreements took place in 2012, and in 2013 they entered into force, making Croatia a full member of the European Union.

European countries outside the EU

Liechtenstein
Monaco
Switzerland
Russia
Belarus
Moldova
Ukraine
Norway
Andorra
Vatican
San Marino
Albania and Macedonia (cannot become candidates for membership, because they are in a state of territorial disputes)
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan (partially located in European territory)
Kosovo (cannot join the Union, as not all countries recognize it as an independent state)
Transnistria (the issue of secession from Moldova has not been fully resolved)

REFERENCE: Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican are EU partners, actively cooperating with the countries of the Union, and the official currency of these states is the euro.

Czech;

Sweden.

The European Union has been in existence for almost 90 years, during which time only one country (Greenland) left it, which in 1985 expressed outrage at the reduction in fishing quotas.

The Polish influence on the political, economic and cultural life of Europe is quite large. At the same time, not all the townsfolk know the details about this country. Many of those who are going there to study, work or simply as a tourist are interested in whether Poland is part of the European Union or not.

More about the European Union

To begin with, it should be briefly said about what this organization is. So, the EU is an association of sovereign states that have developed for themselves certain common rules in the field of economics, politics and other aspects of international life. Many laws and other pieces of legislation are also coordinated and work to bring together policies in areas such as industry, communications, agriculture, trade relations, judicial policy, cultural exchange, education, the labor market, and more.

On a note! The EU even holds general elections, including elections to the European Parliament and other supranational authorities.

Participating countries

Some states joined this association earlier, some - later, and some even, quite recently. The following countries are currently members of the EU:

The UK is still formally part of the euro, but after the well-known referendum, the so-called Brexit process was launched, as a result of which the country should leave the European Union.

It's important to know! The EU should not be confused with the Eurozone, which is an international monetary union in which 19 countries use the euro as their national currency.

In addition, the Schengen Agreement is also another association. "Schengen" involves the interaction of a number of countries in matters of visa policy, as well as border crossings (their actual elimination). Some people who are not fully in control of the situation may confuse all these concepts. And, in the meantime, they should be separated, because they are all different things. In fairness, it should be noted that to a large extent these organizations are connected with each other, and their member countries “intersect” in many ways, that is, they are simultaneously members of all three, or at least two.

Today there are several candidate countries for membership (Serbia, Turkey, Montenegro, Macedonia). However, they all have completely different perspectives.

Membership of Poland

Poland is currently a member of the European Union. She joined there on May 01, 2004, when the next expansion of this organization took place. At the same time, several other countries, mainly Eastern European ones, received membership. Despite the fact that the accession to the EU was perceived by many with optimism, the country has some difficulties in relations with other member states. This, in particular, concerns some aspects of trade, immigration, the situation with refugees and other issues. Despite the fact that a number of countries have opposed and continue to oppose certain aspects of Polish policy, there is no talk of its withdrawal from the EU.

In addition, Poland is a member of the Schengen Agreement, which provides for the coordinated issuance of visas valid throughout its territory. Along with this, national visas are preserved. For example, they can be issued to temporary and permanent employees who arrive there to work. The Poles themselves can work freely throughout the EU, as well as in a number of other countries, for example, in Norway.

What else to read

Orthodox Charitable Foundation "Alatyr" The Vicar of the Holy Trinity Monastery, the city of Alatyr, Archimandrite Jerome (Shurygin) - Father, departed to the Lord ...

Pukhtitsa: an uninterrupted tradition of female monasticism Protodeacon of the Russian Orthodox Church Andrey Kuraev in LiveJournal told his version of the origin of about 300...

St. Anastasius Stauropegial Convent St. Anastasius Monastery in Zhytomyr has already managed to become one of the most...

Denmark in EU European non-EU countries. Basic principles of economic activity of countries

How many EU member states in 2017

What are the requirements for candidates to join

Official declared candidates for EU membership

European Union

What is the European Union

Tip 1: Which European countries are not members of the European Union

EU Member States (last expansion 2013)

Economic integration of the countries of the European Union

List of countries that are members of the European Union today

Question. The European Union as an international organization with signs of supranationality. Cooperation of the Russian Federation with the European Union.

List of EU countries for 2018

European Union. Expansion to the East

List of EU member states for 2018

Advertising

Member States of the European Union

Which countries are in the European Union

EU Candidates

Requirements for joining the European Union

History of integration processes in Europe

How the Eurozone works

Withdrawal from the EU

Which countries are in the EU, list in 2019

EU map with countries and capitals, EU borders

Accession to the EU

What are the requirements for candidates to join

Candidates for EU membership in 2019

Which countries were the first to join the European Union?

Which country was the last to join the EU

European countries outside the EU

More about the European Union

Participating countries

Membership of Poland

What else to read

THE LAST NOTES

Categories