View source for Portal:European Union/Member states

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A Member State of the European Union is any one of the 27 [[sovereign state]]s that have acceded to the [[European Union]] (EU) since its ''[[de facto]]'' inception in 1951 as the [[European Coal and Steel Community]] (ECSC). From an original [[Inner Six|membership of six states]], there have been six successive [[Enlargement of the European Union|enlargements]], the largest occurring on 1 May 2004, when ten states joined. The EU is currently composed of twenty [[republic]]s, six [[Monarchy|kingdoms]], and one [[grand duchy]].
 
[[Bulgaria]] and [[Romania]] are the most recent Member States, joining on 1 January 2007. Negotiations are also under way with a number of other states. The process of enlargement is sometimes referred to as [[European integration]]. However, this term is also used to refer to the intensification of cooperation between EU Member States as national governments allow for the gradual harmonisation of national laws. Before being allowed to join the European Union, a state must fulfil the economic and political conditions generally known as the [[Copenhagen criteria]]. These basically require that a candidate Member State must enjoy a secular, democratic system of government, together with the corresponding freedoms and institutions, and respect the rule of law. Under the terms of the [[Treaty on European Union]], enlargement of the Union is conditional upon the agreement of each existing Member State as well as approval by the [[European Parliament]].

{{See also|History of the European Union|Enlargement of the European Union|European Union statistics}}
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Austria|The Republic of Austria]]</span> is a [[landlocked]] country in [[Central Europe]]. It borders [[Germany]] and the [[Czech Republic]] to the north, [[Slovakia]] and [[Hungary]] to the east, [[Slovenia]] and [[Italy]] to the south, and [[Switzerland]] and [[Liechtenstein]] to the west. Its capital [[city]] is [[Vienna]]. Austria is a [[parliamentary government|parliamentary]] [[representative democracy]] consisting of nine federal states and is one of six European countries that have declared [[neutral country|permanent neutrality]] and one of the few countries that included the concept of everlasting neutrality in their [[constitution]]. Austria has been a member of the [[United Nations]] since [[1955]] and joined the [[European Union]] in [[1995]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Belgium|The Kingdom of Belgium]]</span> is a country in [[Western Europe|northwest Europe]] bordered by [[Netherlands|the Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[Luxembourg]] and [[France]]. Belgium has a population of over ten million people, in an area of around 30,000 square kilometres. Historically, Belgium has been a part of the [[Low Countries]], which also include the Netherlands and Luxembourg and used to cover a somewhat larger region than the current [[Benelux]] group of states. More recently, Belgium was a founding member of the [[European Union]], hosting its headquarters, as well as those of many other major [[international organisation]]s, such as [[NATO]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Bulgaria|The Republic of Bulgaria]]</span> is a country in [[Southeastern Europe]], and the oldest contemporary country in [[Europe]]. It borders the [[Black Sea]] to the east, [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]] to the south, [[Serbia]] and the [[Republic of Macedonia]] to the west, and [[Romania]] to the north, mostly along the [[Danube]]. Bulgaria is an active member of [[NATO]] and joined the [[European Union]] on January 1, 2007. The country has been a member of the [[United Nations]] since 1955, and is a founding member of the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Cyprus|The Republic of Cyprus]]</span> is a [[Eurasia]]n [[island nation]] in the eastern part of the [[Mediterranean Sea]] south of the [[Anatolia]]n peninsula and to the east of the Greek islands of [[Rhodes]] and [[Kastelorizo]]. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The Republic of Cyprus is divided into six districts. A [[British Empire|former British colony]], the Republic of Cyprus gained independence in [[1960]] while the [[United Kingdom]] retained two [[Akrotiri and Dhekelia|Sovereign Base Areas]]. The Republic of Cyprus has been a member [[Sovereign state|state]] of the [[European Union]] since 1 May 2004.
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Czech Republic|The Czech Republic]]</span> is a [[landlocked country]] in [[Central Europe]] and a member state of the [[European Union]]. The country has borders with [[Poland]] to the north, [[Germany]] to the northwest and west, [[Austria]] to the south, and [[Slovakia]] to the east. The capital and largest city is the historic [[Prague]], a major [[tourism|tourist]] attraction. Other major cities include [[Brno]], [[Ostrava]], [[Zlín]], [[Plzeň]], [[Pardubice]], [[Hradec Králové]], [[České Budějovice]], [[Liberec]], [[Olomouc]], and [[Ústí nad Labem]]. The country is composed of two entire historic regions, [[Bohemia]] and [[Moravia]], and parts of [[Czech Silesia|Silesia]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Denmark|The Kingdom of Denmark]]</span> is the smallest and southernmost of the [[Nordic countries]]. Located north of its only land neighbour, [[Germany]], southwest of [[Sweden]], and south of [[Norway]]. From a cultural point of view, Denmark belongs to the family of [[Scandinavia]]n countries although not located on the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]]. The national [[Capital (political)|capital]] is [[Copenhagen]]. After almost 200 years of [[Absolutism (European history)|absolutist]] rule, Denmark became a [[constitutional monarchy]] in 1849. It is a leader in the "[[Scandinavian welfare model|Scandinavian Model]]" of public services. Denmark has historically controlled the approach to the Baltic Sea, also known as the [[Danish straits]].<br><br>
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Estonia|The Republic of Estonia]]</span> is a country in [[Northern Europe]]. Estonia has land borders to the south with fellow Baltic state [[Latvia]] (339&nbsp;km) and [[Russia]] (229&nbsp;km) to the east. It is separated from [[Finland]] in the north by the narrow [[Gulf of Finland]] and from [[Sweden]] in the west by the [[Baltic Sea]]. Estonia has been a member of the [[European Union]] since May 1, 2004 and of the [[NATO]] since March 29, 2004. Estonia is a [[constitutional [[democracy]], with a president elected by its unicameral [[parliament]].<br><br>
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Finland|The Republic of Finland]]</span> is one of the [[Nordic countries]]. Situated in [[Northern Europe]], it shares land borders with [[Sweden]] to the west, [[Russia]] to the east and [[Norway]] to the north while [[Estonia]] lies to its south. Finland is bounded by the [[Baltic Sea]] with the [[Gulf of Finland]] to the south and the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] to the west. The [[Åland|Åland Islands]], off the south-western coast, are an [[Autonomous area|autonomous]] province of Finland. Finland joined the [[European Union]] in [[1995]], where it is an advocate of [[federalism]] contrary to the other [[Nordic countries]] that are predominantly supportive of [[Confederation|confederalism]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[France|The French Republic]]</span> is a [[country]] whose [[Metropolitan France|metropolitan territory]] is located in [[Western Europe]] and which also comprises various overseas islands and territories located in other continents. Metropolitan France extends from the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the [[English Channel]] and the [[North Sea]], and from the [[Rhine]] to the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The French Republic is a [[democracy]] which is organised as a [[unitary state|unitary]] [[semi-presidential system|semi-presidential]] [[republic]]. France is one of the founding members of the [[European Union]], and has the largest land area of all members. France is also a founding member of the [[United Nations]], and a member of [[La Francophonie]], the [[G8]], and the [[Latin Union]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Germany|The Federal Republic of Germany]]</span> is a [[country]] in [[Central Europe]]. It is bordered on the north by the [[North Sea]], [[Denmark]], and the [[Baltic Sea]], on the east by [[Poland]] and the [[Czech Republic]], on the south by [[Austria]] and [[Switzerland]], and on the west by [[France]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Belgium]] and the [[Netherlands]]. Germany is a [[Constitutional democracy|democratic]] parliamentary [[Federation|federal]] republic of 16 [[States of Germany|states]]. The Federal Republic of Germany is a member state of the [[United Nations]], [[NATO]], the [[G8]] and the [[G4 nations]], and is a founding member of the [[European Union]]. It is the European Union's most populous and most economically powerful member state.
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Greece|The Hellenic Republic]]</span> is a country in [[south-eastern Europe]], situated on the southern end of the [[Balkan peninsula]]. It is bordered by [[Bulgaria]], the [[Republic of Macedonia]] and [[Albania]] to the north and by [[Turkey]] to the east. The [[Aegean Sea]] lies to the east of mainland Greece, while the [[Ionian Sea]] lies to the west. Greece has a particularly long and eventful history and a cultural heritage considerably influential in [[Europe]], [[Northern Africa]] and the [[Middle East]]. Today, Greece is a [[developed country]], a member of the [[European Union]] since [[1981]] and a member of the [[Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union]] since [[2001]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Hungary]]</span> is a [[landlocked]] country in [[Central Europe]], bordered by [[Austria]], [[Slovakia]], [[Ukraine]], [[Romania]], [[Serbia]], [[Croatia]], and [[Slovenia]]. Hungary has been a member of the [[Visegrad Group]] since [[1991]], [[NATO]] since 1999 and joined the [[European Union]] on May 1, 2004. Hungary is subdivided administratively into 19 counties and one [[Capitals of Hungary|capital city]]: [[Budapest]]. The Hungarian government has expressed a desire to adopt the [[euro]] currency in 2010. This is widely criticised as unrealistic given the current shape of the economy in relation to the [[Maastricht criteria]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Ireland]]</span> is the official description of the sovereign state which covers approximately five-sixths of the island of [[Ireland]], off the coast of north-west [[Europe]]. The state's constitutional name is 'Ireland' and this is how international organisations and residents usually refer to the country. It is a member of the [[European Union]], has a [[developed country|developed economy]] and a population of slightly more than 4.2 million. The remaining sixth of the island of Ireland is known as [[Northern Ireland]] and is politically an administrative part of the [[United Kingdom]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Italy|The Italian Republic]]</span> is a country located in [[Southern Europe]], that comprises the [[Po River]] valley, the [[Italian Peninsula]] and the two largest islands in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], [[Sicily]] and [[Sardinia]]. It shares its northern [[Alps|alpine]] boundary with [[France]], [[Switzerland]], [[Austria]] and [[Slovenia]]. [[San Marino]] and the [[Vatican City]] are [[Enclave and exclave|enclaves]] within Italian territory. Its capital [[Rome]] has been a historically important [[world city]], especially as the core of ancient Rome and the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. Italy is a member of the [[G8]] and a founding member of what is now the [[European Union]], having signed the [[Treaty of Rome]] in [[1957]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Latvia|The Republic of Latvia]]</span> is a country in [[Northern Europe]]. It shares land borders with two fellow Baltic states &ndash; [[Estonia]] to the north and [[Lithuania]] to the south &ndash; and both [[Russia]] and [[Belarus]] to the east. In the west, Latvia shares a [[Maritime nation|maritime]] border with [[Sweden]]. The capital of Latvia is [[Riga]]. Latvia has been a member state of the [[European Union]] since May 1, 2004. Latvia still has one of the lowest standards of living in the EU, though its economy has one of the highest growth rates.
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Lithuania|The Republic of Lithuania]]</span> is a country in northern Europe. The largest of the three [[Baltic States]] situated along the [[Baltic Sea]], it shares borders with [[Latvia]] to the north, [[Belarus]] to the southeast, [[Poland]] and the [[Russia]]n exclave of the [[Kaliningrad Oblast]] to the southwest. Lithuania has been a member state of the [[European Union]] since May 1, 2004. Lithuania joined the [[United Nations]] on September 17, 1991. On May 31, 2001, Lithuania became the 141st member of the [[World Trade Organization]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Luxembourg|The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg]]</span> is a small [[landlocked]] country in [[western Europe]], bordered by [[Belgium]], [[France]], and [[Germany]]. Luxembourg is a [[parliamentary]] [[representative democracy]] with a [[constitutional monarchy]], ruled by a [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke]]. It is the world's only sovereign [[Grand Duchy]]. Luxembourg is a founding member of the [[European Union]], [[NATO]], the [[United Nations]], [[Benelux]], and the [[Western European Union]]. [[Luxembourg City]], the [[Capital (political)|capital]] and largest city, is the seat of several institutions and agencies of the European Union.
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Malta|The Republic of Malta]]</span> is a small and densely populated [[island nation]] consisting of an [[archipelago]] of [[Maltese islands|seven islands]] in the middle of the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Malta lies directly south of [[Sicily]], east of [[Tunisia]] and north of [[Libya]]. The islands constituting the Maltese nation have been ruled by various powers and fought over for centuries. Malta has been a member state of the [[European Union]] since May 1, 2004, and it is currently the smallest EU country in both population and area. Malta is the only nation in the world that has collectively been awarded the [[George Cross]] for conspicuous gallantry, and its [[Flags and symbols of Malta|flag]] bears a replica of that award.
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Netherlands|The Kingdom of the Netherlands]]</span> is the [[Europe]]an part of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], which consists of the Netherlands, the [[Netherlands Antilles]], and [[Aruba]]. [[Holland]], as it is often incorrectly referred to, is located in northwestern [[Europe]] bordered by the [[North Sea]] to the north and west, [[Belgium]] to the south, and [[Germany]] to the east. The country is host to the [[International Court of Justice]] and the [[International Criminal Court]] at [[The Hague]]. The Netherlands is a member of the [[Benelux]] cooperation, was among the founding members of [[NATO]] and among the six founding members of the [[European Coal and Steel Community]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Poland|The Republic of Poland]]</span> is a country in [[Central Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Germany]] to the west, the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Slovakia]] to the south, [[Ukraine]] and [[Belarus]] to the east, and the [[Baltic Sea]], [[Russia]] and [[Lithuania]] to the north. It also shares a maritime border with [[Denmark]] and [[Sweden]]. Today, as the [[List of European Union member states by population|6th most populated]] member state of the [[European Union]], Poland is a [[liberal democracy]] made up of sixteen [[Voivodeships of Poland|voivodeships]]. Poland is also a member of [[NATO]], the [[United Nations]], and the [[World Trade Organization]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Portugal|The Portuguese Republic]]</span> located in southwestern [[Europe]] on the [[Iberian Peninsula]], is the westernmost country of mainland Europe. Portugal is bordered by [[Spain]] to the north and east and by the [[Atlantic Ocean]] to the west and south. The [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] [[archipelago]]s of the [[Azores Islands|Azores]] and [[Madeira]] are also part of Portugal. Portugal was one of the world's major economic, political, and cultural powers during the [[15th century|15th]] and [[16th century|16th]] centuries. Portugal is a member of the [[European Union]], the [[United Nations]], and a founding member of the [[Eurozone]], [[OECD]], and [[NATO]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Romania]]</span> is a country in [[Southeastern Europe]]. Romania borders [[Hungary]] and [[Serbia]] to the west, [[Ukraine]] and [[Republic of Moldova|Moldova]] to the northeast, and [[Bulgaria]] to the south. Romania has a stretch of sea coast along the [[Black Sea]], and the eastern and southern [[Carpathian mountains]] run through its center. The capital and largest city of Romania is [[Bucharest]]. Romania has been an active member of [[NATO]] since 2004, and is the [[List of European Union member states by population|7th most populated]] member state of the European Union.
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Slovakia|The Slovak Republic]]</span> is a [[landlocked]] [[republic]] in [[Central Europe]] with a population of over five million. Slovakia borders the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Austria]] in the west, [[Poland]] in the north, [[Ukraine]] in the east and [[Hungary]] in the south. The largest city is its capital, [[Bratislava]]. Slovakia is a parliamentary democratic republic with a multi-party system, and has been a member of the [[European Union]] since May 1, 2004.
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Slovenia|The Republic of Slovenia]]</span> is a coastal [[Alps|Alpine country]] in southern [[Central Europe]] bordering [[Italy]] to the west, the [[Adriatic Sea]] to the southwest, [[Croatia]] to the south and east, [[Hungary]] to the northeast, and [[Austria]] to the north. The capital of Slovenia is [[Ljubljana]]. Slovenia is a member of the [[European Union]], the [[Council of Europe]], [[NATO]], and has observer status in [[La Francophonie]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Spain|The Kingdom of Spain]]</span> is a [[country]] located in [[Southern Europe]], with two small [[exclave]]s in [[North Africa]]. Spain is a [[democracy]] which is organized as a [[parliamentary monarchy]]. Spain borders [[Portugal]] and [[Gibraltar]] to the south, [[France]] and [[Andorra]] along the [[Pyrenees]] mountains, and through its cities in North Africa [[Morocco]]. Spain joined the EU in 1986 and on January 1, 1999, adopted the Euro as its national currency.
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[Sweden|The Kingdom of Sweden]]</span> is a [[Nordic countries|Nordic country]] in [[Scandinavia]]. It is bordered by [[Norway]] in the west, [[Finland]] in the northeast, the [[Skagerrak]] Strait and the [[Kattegat]] Strait in the southwest, and the [[Baltic Sea]] and the [[Gulf of Bothnia]] in the east. It is connected to [[Denmark]] in the southwest by the [[Oresund Bridge]]. Its citizens enjoy a high standard of living in a country that is generally perceived as modern and liberal. Sweden joined the [[European Union]] in [[1995]], however, in a [[2003]] consultative referendum, Swedish citizens declined to adopt the [[Euro]].
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|<span style="font-size:140%; font-weight:bold">[[United Kingdom|The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]]</span> is a country and [[sovereign state]] that is situated to the [[Northern Europe|north]] [[Western Europe|west]] of mainland [[Europe]]. The United Kingdom is bounded by the [[Atlantic Ocean]], and its ancillary bodies of water. The mainland is linked to [[France]] by the [[Channel Tunnel]], with Northern Ireland sharing a land border with the [[Republic of Ireland]]. The Islands that make up the United Kingdom were divided into many Kingdoms and regions since the fall of the Roman Empire, the land since has gradually merged; from the formations of the Kingdoms of [[Kingdom of England|England]] and [[Kingdom of Scotland|Scotland]], to the Various Acts of Union which united the Islands (The UK and the Republic of Ireland split in 1922 until they both joined the EEC/EU together in 1973). The UK is a member of the [[G8]], founding member of [[NATO]], the [[United Nations]] (permanent member of the Security Council) and the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], and member or the [[European Union|EU]] since [[1973]].
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