Who is part of the EU? The European Union is

The history of the formation of the European Union began in 1951 with the formation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which included six countries (Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, France and Germany). Within countries, all tariff and quantitative restrictions on trade in these goods were lifted.

March 25, 1957 The Treaty of Rome was signed to create European Economic Community(EEC) on the basis of the ECSC and the European Atomic Energy Community.

In 1967, three European communities (the European Coal and Steel Community, the European Economic Community and the European Atomic Energy Community) merged to form the European Community.

On June 14, 1985, the Schengen Agreement on the free movement of goods, capital and citizens was signed - an agreement providing for the abolition of customs barriers within the European Union while simultaneously tightening controls at the external borders of the EU (came into force on March 26, 1995).

On February 7, 1992, the Treaty establishing the European Union was signed in Maastricht (Netherlands) (came into force on November 1, 1993). The agreement completed the work of previous years to regulate the monetary and political systems of European countries.

In order to achieve highest form economic integration between EU states, the euro was created - the single monetary unit of the EU. The euro was introduced in non-cash form on the territory of EU member states on January 1, 1999, and cash banknotes on January 1, 2002. The euro replaced the ECU, the conventional unit of account of the European Community, which was a basket of currencies of all EU member states.

The EU is responsible for issues relating to, inter alia, the common market, the customs union, the single currency (with some members maintaining their own currency), the common agricultural policy and the common fisheries policy.

The organization includes 27 European countries: Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Estonia. On January 1, 2007, Bulgaria and Romania officially joined the European Union.

European Union institutions:

The highest political body of the European Union is European Council. As a meeting of heads of state at the highest level, the Council effectively determines the tasks of the Union and its relations with member states. The sessions are presided over by the president or prime minister of the country holding the rotating presidency of the EU's governing bodies for six months.

The highest executive body of the European Union is European Commission (CEC, Commission of the European Communities). The European Commission consists of 27 members, one from each member state. The commission is playing main role in supporting the day-to-day activities of the EU. Each commissioner, like a minister of the national government, is responsible for a specific area of work.

European Parliament is an assembly of 786 deputies directly elected by citizens of EU member states for a term of five years. Deputies unite in accordance with their political orientation.

The EU's highest judicial body is European Court (official name- Court of the European Communities). The court consists of 27 judges (one from each member state) and nine advocates general. The Court regulates disagreements between member states, between member states and the European Union itself, between EU institutions, and gives opinions on international agreements.

Good day, dear readers! Ruslan welcomes you, and today I will tell you which countries are members of the European Union. We will also look at the history of its creation, development trends, and what it means in general.

I think this is a rather interesting topic, because we are all interested in politics, we go on vacation to different countries, and quite often we hear about the European Union on TV and in the media.

The states within it are independent and have their own official language, local and central governments, but there is much that unites them.

They meet certain criteria, which are called “Copenhagen criteria”, the main of which are democracy, protection of human rights and freedoms, as well as commitment to the principle of free trade in a market economy.

All important decisions In the area of policy, EU member states must agree. There are also general organs governance - the European Parliament, the court, the European Commission, the audit community that controls the EU budget, and the common currency - the euro.

Basically, all countries that are members of the EU are also part of the Schengen area, which means unhindered border crossings within the European Union.

Where did it all start?

In order to understand in more detail what the development trends of the EU are and which powers are members of it, let us turn to history.

The first proposals for such integration were made at the Paris Conference in 1867, but due to the great contradictions that existed between the countries at that time, these ideas were postponed for a long time, and only after the Second World War they were returned to them.

In the post-war period, only combined efforts and resources could restore the damaged economies of states.

In 1951 in Paris, France, Germany, Luxenburg, the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy signed the first treaty, the ECSC, thereby pooling natural reserves.

In 1957, the same states signed agreements on the founding of the European communities EuroAtom and the EEC.

In 1960, the EFTA Association was created.

In 1963, the foundation was laid for the community's relationship with Africa in terms of financial, technical and trade areas.

In 1964, a single agricultural market and the FEOGA organization were created, supporting the agricultural sector.

In 1968, the formation of the Customs Union was completed, and in 1973, Great Britain, Denmark and Ireland were included in the list of EU countries.

In 1975, the Lo Mei Convention on Trade Cooperation was signed between the EU and 46 countries around the world.

Then, in 1981, Greece joined the European Union, and in 1986, Spain and Portugal.

In 1990 the Schengen Agreement was adopted, in 1992 the Maastricht Treaty was signed.

Officially, the union began to be called the “European Union” in 1993.

Sweden, Finland and Austria joined in 1995.

The non-cash euro was introduced in 1999, and cash payments using it - in 2002.

The EU expanded significantly in 2004, with the accession of Cyprus, Malta, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland. Then in 2007 Romania and Bulgaria joined, and in 2013 Croatia, which became 28 country, entered the EU.

However, not everything is as smooth in the development of the European Union as it might seem. Greenland left the EU in 1985 after gaining independence.

And more recently, in 2016, 52% of the UK population voted in a referendum to leave the union, in connection with which the country will hold early parliamentary elections on June 8, 2017, after which concrete negotiations on England’s exit from the Union will begin within a month European Union.

If you look at the map of the Eurozone, you will notice that it also includes areas (mostly islands) that are not part of Europe, but are part of the EU member states.

It should be noted that the current situation in the world is ambiguous; many countries of the union have different views on the prospects for its development, especially after England’s decision.

Who is applying for inclusion in the EU?

If powers that are not members of the European Union wish to be included in its list, they must meet the “Copenhagen criteria”. They undergo a special check, based on the results of which a decision is made on joining the EU.

At the moment there are 5 official contenders - Montenegro, Macedonia, Türkiye, Serbia and Albania.

A potential contender is Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Association agreements were previously signed by countries located on other continents - Egypt, Jordan, Chile, Israel, Mexico and others - all of them are also contenders.

The Eastern partners of the European Union are Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Armenia, Moldova and Georgia.

Basic principles of economic activity of countries

The activities of the European Union consist of the economies of its member countries, which are independent elements in international trade.

An undoubted advantage of the EU for citizens of any of its members is that they have the right to live and work in any country on the territory of the union. For example, it is much easier for Germans to move to France than for you and me.

The largest share of EU income comes from Spain, the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Strategic resources include gas, oil and coal, in terms of reserves of which the European Union ranks 14th in the world, which, you see, considering its territory, is not so much.

Tourism brings large revenues to the European Union, which is facilitated by a single currency, the absence of visas, and the expansion of trade and partnerships between states.

Currently, different forecasts are being made about how many countries will still join the EU, but according to experts, states from other continents will join the integration of economies the fastest.

Attention! Attentiveness check:

How many countries are in the EU?
Which country is leaving the EU?
Which EU country is not in the list below?

Write in the comments.

Thus, we have reviewed with you the history of the emergence and development of the European Union, the list of participating countries, as well as what joining it involves and what advantages it gives.

This is where our article ends.

I want to wish you a good day! See you again!

Best regards, Ruslan Miftakhov.

Today, most European powers are united into a single community called the Eurozone. On their territory there are: a single commodity market, visa-free regime, a common currency (euro) was introduced. To understand which countries are currently part of the European Union and what its development trends are, it is necessary to turn to history.

Currently the EU includes (the year of accession is indicated in brackets):

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)

Map of the European Union for 2019. Click to enlarge.

Historical facts

For the first time, proposals for European integration were voiced back in the 19th century (1867) at the Paris Conference. But due to deep and fundamental contradictions between the powers, it took almost 100 years for the matter to reach practical implementation. During this time, European states had to go through many local and 2 world wars. Only after the end of the Second World War, these ideas began to be discussed again and gradually put into practice. This is explained by the fact that the EU member countries realized that the rapid and effective restoration of national economies, as well as their further development, can only be carried out by pooling resources and efforts. This is clearly evidenced by the chronology of the development of the European Community.

The start of the creation of a new association was the proposal of R. Schumann (head of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs) about its organization in the field of use and production of steel and coal, combining the natural reserves of Germany and France. This happened on 05/09/1950. In 1951, a document on the creation of the ECSC was signed in the capital of France. In addition to the above-mentioned powers, it was signed by: Luxenburg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy.

At the beginning of 1957, the powers that are part of the ECSC signed two more agreements on the establishment of the European EuroAtom communities, as well as the EEC. Three years later the EFTA Association was also created.

1963 - The foundation of associated relations between the community itself and Africa is laid. This allowed the 18 republics of the continent to fully enjoy for 5 years all the benefits of cooperation with the EEC (financial, technical, trade).

1964 - creation of a single agricultural market. At the same time, FEOGA began its activities to support the agricultural sector.

1968 - the end of the formation of the Customs Union.

Beginning of 1973 - the list of EU countries is replenished: Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland.

1975 - EU and 46 states from different corners globe sign a convention in the field of trade cooperation, called Lo-Mei.

1979 - introduction of EMU.

1981 - Greece joins the EU.

1986 - Spain and Portugal join.

In 1990, the Schengen Agreement was adopted.

1992 - signing of the Maastricht Treaty.

November 1, 1993 - official renaming to the European Union.

1995 - entry of Sweden, Finland, Austria.

1999 - introduction of the non-cash euro.

2002 - the euro is introduced for cash payments.

2004 - another EU expansion: Cyprus, Malta, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland.

2007 - Romania and Bulgaria joined.

2013 - Croatia becomes the 28th EU member.

The development process of the Eurozone has not and is not going smoothly all the time. For example, at the end of 1985, Greenland, which had previously joined Denmark, left it, but after gaining independence, the citizens of the state made the appropriate decision. In 2016, a referendum was held in the UK, in which the majority of the population (almost 52%) voted to terminate membership. At the time of writing, the British were in the early stages of leaving the union.

Today on the map of the Eurozone you can see states and islands that are not geographically part of Europe. This is explained by the fact that they were automatically annexed along with the other states to which they belong.

As the current situation in the world shows, countries belonging to the European Union today have different views on its membership in it and development prospects in general, especially in light of latest events related to the UK decision.

Entry Criteria

European countries that are not members of the European Union, but wish to become members, must take into account that there are certain criteria that they must meet. Find out more detailed information You can learn about them from a special document called the “Copenhagen Criteria”. Important attention here is paid to:

principles of democracy;
human rights;
development of economic competitiveness.

All important political decisions taken by EU member states must be agreed upon.

To join this community, each applicant is tested for compliance with the Copenhagen Criteria. Based on the results of the check, a decision is made about the state’s readiness to replenish this list or wait some more.

If the decision is negative, then a list of parameters and criteria must be drawn up that should be brought back to normal within a specified time frame. Compliance with the instructions is constantly monitored. After bringing the parameters back to normal, another study is carried out and then a conclusion is drawn whether the power is ready or not for membership.

The euro is considered the common currency in the Eurozone, but not all EU members adopted it on their territory in 2019. Of the 9 countries, Denmark and Great Britain have a special status, Sweden also does not recognize the euro as its national currency, but may change this attitude in the near future, and 6 more powers are just preparing for introduction.

Contenders

If you look at which countries are members of the European Union, and who is currently a candidate to join its ranks, then one can well expect an expansion of the association; to date, 5 candidates have been officially announced: Albania, Turkey, Serbia, Macedonia, and Montenegro. Among the potential ones we can highlight Bosnia and Herzegovina. There are also contenders among states located on other continents that previously signed an association agreement: Chile, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mexico, South Africa and others.

Economic activity and its basic principles

Current economic activity on the territory of the European Union as a whole consists of the economies of individual states that are part of the association. But despite this, each country in the international market is an independent unit. The total GDP consists of the contributed shares of each participating power. gives the right to live and work throughout the commonwealth.

The largest percentage of income over the past years has been brought by countries such as Germany, Spain, Great Britain, Italy and France. The main strategic resources are oil products, gas, and coal. In terms of petroleum product reserves, the EU ranks 14th in the world.

Another significant source of income is tourism. This is facilitated by a visa-free regime, vibrant trade relations and a single currency.

By analyzing which states are members of the European Union and who is a candidate for membership, one can make various forecasts. But in any case, the integration of economies will continue in the near future and most likely powers located on other continents will be involved.

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On this page you can find out full list EU countries included in 2017.

The initial goal of creating the European Union was to connect the coal and steel resources of just two European countries - Germany and France. In 1950, it was impossible to even imagine that after a certain time the European Union would become a unique international entity, uniting 28 European states and combining the characteristics of an international organization and a sovereign power. The article describes which countries are members of the European Union, how many full EU members and candidates for accession there are currently.

The organization received legal justification much later. The existence of an 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 environmental protection and protection;
Reduced crime rates.

The main consequences of concluding an agreement:

introduction of a single European citizenship;
abolition of the passport control regime on the territory of 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 accession to the European Union took place, after which Croatia also became a member of the EU.

The following states have membership 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 Republic.

The accession to the EU of the countries included in this list took place in several stages. At the first stage in 1957, the formation included 6 European states, 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 particularly fruitful, when 10 European countries received EU membership, including Hungary, Cyprus and other economically developed countries. The latest enlargements, which increased the number of EU members to 28, were carried out in 2007 (Romania, Republic of Bulgaria) and 2013.

Quite often Russians have a question: “Is Montenegro a member of 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 zone.

What are the requirements for candidates for entry?

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

List of main criteria that the candidate must meet:

application of the principles of democracy on the territory of the country;
the person and his rights must come first, that is, the state must adhere to the principles of the rule of law and humanism;
economic development and increasing 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 subject to careful vetting and a decision is made accordingly. In case of a negative answer, the country that received a negative answer is provided with a list of reasons on the basis of which such a decision was made. Non-compliance with the Copenhagen criteria that is identified during the candidate screening process must be corrected as quickly as possible in order to be eligible for future EU membership.

Official declared candidates for EU membership

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

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

Legal status of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Kosovo – potential candidates.

Serbia applied for membership in December 2009, Türkiye in 1987. It should be noted that if Montenegro, which signed an association agreement in 2010, becomes a member of the EU, for Russians this could 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 also those who show a desire to leave it. A colorful example would be England (Great Britain), which announced the possibility of exiting in January of this year. The British desire is due to a number of reasons, including the Greek debt crisis, a decrease in the level of competitiveness of products from EU countries 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 is in force and has been in force since December 2009.

European Union

What is the European Union

This is a union of European states, unique international education, combining the characteristics of an international organization and a state. Simply put, all countries belonging to the European Union, although independent, are subject to the same rules: they have the same rules for education, medical care, pensions, judicial systems, etc.

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

In short, EU laws apply in all EU countries.

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

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

Countries included in the European Union (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)

Candidates for accession to the European Union:

Iceland
Macedonia
Serbia
Türkiye
Montenegro

Do not confuse the European Union and the Schengen zone! Not all countries of the European Union are part of the Schengen zone, and vice versa - some countries included in the Schengen zone are not part of the European Union.

See Countries included in the Schengen area

Countries included in Schengen but not in the European Union

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 European Union (EU), which has gone through all stages of the integration process and is now in a state of transformation of an economic and monetary union into a political one. 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 creating 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 work force, i.e. the "four freedoms" system. 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 group were called “Common Market countries.” By 1968, a customs union was formed, integration within which was complemented by coordinated domestic and foreign economic and monetary policies, as well as elements of coordination of general political and legal positions, which was reflected in the change in the name of the group - 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 and a single unit of account, the ECU, was introduced on the basis of a “basket of currencies” of the participating countries. The currency system assumed the establishment of limits for fluctuations in the 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 the formation of a kind of currency “corridor” (“currency snake”) ") for participating countries. This meant a significant step towards transforming the customs and payment union into an economic and currency union.

The most important milestone in the process of this transformation was the conclusion in 1992 in Maastricht (Netherlands) of the treaty establishing the European Union (the treaty came 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 the national-state institution, of a single citizenship.

Over the course of several years, the process of transition to a single currency (euro) was carried out, which was first used as a means of payment, replacing the ECU, and then, since 2002, began to play the role of a cash currency designed to perform the function cash circulation and replace national currencies. By 2000, the population of 15 EU countries was about 380 million people, the share of this integration group in the production of gross domestic products 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 government bodies. The most important of them are:

- Council of the EU - 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, economics, finance, line 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 dozen key managers (commissioners) in charge of certain functional and sectoral areas of management. The CES headquarters is located in Brussels; total staff – about 20 thousand people;

— European Parliament (EP) – 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 around 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 grouping; This applies especially to non-EU European countries, Mediterranean countries and former colonies of European powers, especially the so-called “ACP countries” (Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean). 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 came into force; a special body was created - the Cooperation Committee, designed to both facilitate the discussion of fundamental issues of cooperation development, and 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, the fact that EU countries account for up to 40% of its foreign trade is of key importance; more than 40% of 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 the euro).

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. Of utmost importance is the introduction of the institution of single citizenship, strengthening the principle of binding decisions of supranational bodies and the pursuit of a unified foreign policy.

Concrete steps are being taken to form 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 is, in fact, transforming from a union of states into one confederal state, although this process is contradictory and faces opposition from both internal and external sources. Obviously, the formation of such a confederal state contradicts the global geopolitical goals of the United States, which, instead of a conglomerate of small vassal countries, is receiving a serious competitor in 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 advisability of maintaining this military-political grouping with unconditional dominance of the United States). 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 its disagreements with its European allies were able to be masked, then in connection with the Iraq conflict there are contradictions both between the United States and the EU, and within itself. O th integration groups took open and sharp forms. However, of key importance is the fact that a single economic space has formed in Western and Central Europe, becoming a center of gravity for the national economic systems of several continents.

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

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

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

The EU has become the largest integration association, virtually without analogues. This is an international organization, but what distinguishes the Union from existing organizations is that it has become not a coordination, 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 represent not states, but peoples; it is assumed that the Union can independently expand the powers of its bodies.

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, and the establishment of a single citizenship.

The organization includes 28 European countries.

European Union law consists of two large groups norms:

internal law of the Union as an international organization;

Union law regulating specific types of political, economic, social and cultural activities of the Union states.

The main bodies of the EU are the European Council, the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, and the European Court.

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 common customs policy is being pursued in relation to countries outside the EU.

The Russian Federation actively cooperates with the countries of the European Union. So, in 1994

List of EU countries for 2018

A 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, providing an appropriate framework for gradual integration between Russia and the wider area of cooperation in Europe; creating the necessary conditions for the establishment in the future of a free trade area between Russia and the Community, covering essentially 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 movement of capital.

The goals of the European Union are the main directions of the creation and activities of the association. The EU's goals cover various areas:

The sphere of human rights and freedoms (promotion of peace, prosperity and common values of peoples)

Economic sphere (building a common internal market and ensuring free and fair competition; progressive and sustainable development, which will ensure economic recovery; social market economy; promoting employment and social progress)

Social sphere (fighting 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 social problems;

development of a high level of education and healthcare;

cultural development and vocational training;

measures to protect consumer rights;

environmental protection measures;

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European Union. Expansion to the East

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

List of EU member countries for 2018

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

The gross national product per capita in the candidate countries is 20-60% of the European average. Only Slovenia and the Czech Republic had, at the time of the decision, stable growth rates, low unemployment and a GNP income per person that was slightly more than half the European average. In the most prosperous country in terms of macroeconomic indicators post-Soviet republic- Estonia, GNP per capita was 23% of the EU average.

In the remaining countries of Eastern and Central Europe, economic indicators do not meet the requirements for EU membership, and Russia and Ukraine have significantly widened the gap for the worse and in economically became more distant from Western Europe. Hungary, which has the highest level of foreign investment in Central Europe, is less than half that of Portugal, the EU's poorest country.

In terms of its geostrategic significance, the task of EU expansion to the East is comparable only to the creation of the European Community itself in the mid-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 expansion to the east has certain limits. Perhaps Bulgaria and Romania will be accepted in the future. And this will be the end of the EU’s advance to the east. This is also evidenced by the limited financial resources of the EU.

With a total EU budget of 100 billion euros in 2003 (1/8 of Germany's budget), it is planned to allocate 41 billion euros over three years for new EU members. This amount is more than half the capital allocated by the United States as part of the Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Europe (at comparable prices). If the United States allocated 1.5% of GDP to European reconstruction, the EU allocated only 0.08%. Taking into account the total membership fee of the Central European states at 15 billion euros, the EU's cost item will be reduced to 25 billion euros. Compared to Germany, which spent 600 billion euros on the reunification of the eastern states in the 90s, the amount of funding for EU expansion to the East is not equivalent to political promises and assurances.

Germany provides 28% of the EU budget, receiving only 13% from its revenues. Therefore, the pro-American orientation of CEE on the Iraq crisis causes negative assessment Berlin, opposed to the war. The West has ambivalent assessments of the EU's move to the East. In the upcoming expansion, the political factor dominates the economic factor for the first time. Great Britain continues to balance between “Europeanism” and “Atlanticism” and advocates closer economic cooperation with the United States and NAFTA. There are proposals for economic North Atlantic integration at the city level, along the lines of the medieval Hanseatic League. Germany pins its hopes on a positive economic outcome from integration due to its geostrategic location. For France, expansion to the East, on the contrary, is not a primary economic problem. Eastern Europe, belonging to the 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 its corrupt elite, poses a threat to Western values. There is a growing anti-Euroland movement in Western Europe, including opposition to the expansion of the European Union and the influx of migrants (cheap labor).

Source: Geo-economic dictionary-reference book

EUROPEAN UNION (EU), the largest integration association of European states. The EU includes 27 states (as of January 1, 2007), including 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 treaty, the EU was established on the basis of the European Communities (two of which operate within the EU, forming the first pillar), complemented by a common foreign and security policy (the second pillar) and cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs (the third pillar). This structure was named " systems of three supports." The Treaty of Amsterdam (1997) secured the creation of a space of freedom, democracy and the rule of law; formed a specialized mechanism for protecting democratic foundations and principles, providing for the possibility of imposing sanctions on a state that violates them; proposed measures to prepare a 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 enshrined a revised concept of “advanced cooperation”, introduced new guarantees against possible violations of the democratic foundations and principles of the EU, and revised the functioning of its judicial system. 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 attached 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).

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EU goals and principles. 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 the member states (Article 6.1 of the Treaty). They are realized 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, if there is a persistent 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.

Based on common values, goals and principles, specific tasks facing integration education are formulated. In the field of internal policy, the tasks that are 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 scientific research and technological progress, ensuring and protecting consumer rights, taking radical measures to protect the environment. In the social sphere, the promotion of increased employment, increased well-being and quality of life, achievement of a high level of healthcare, education and vocational training, strengthening social protection and combating social exclusion. The participation of integration associations in the development and rise of culture is subject to compliance national identity, identity 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 enhance the EU's participation in solving humanitarian problems and implementing collective measures to maintain peace. In order to develop a common defense policy, the creation of a European military planning group and the formation of collective EU armed forces are envisaged. A specialized apparatus for planning joint operations outside the EU has been created and operates under the leadership of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

The expansion of cooperation between police and courts in the criminal legal field should be facilitated by the formation of new specialized structures and the development of cooperation programs. Europol and Eurojust were established (mainly dealing with the problems of judicial and prosecutorial cooperation), the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the EU was created, a fundamental decision was made on the formation of the European Prosecutor's Office, and measures were developed to introduce a single European arrest warrant. A number of specialized bodies have been established to help strengthen the fight against organized crime and terrorism. The communitarianization of the Schengen agreements has been carried out (i.e., their integration into the legal system of the Communities): developed within the framework of the concept of advanced cooperation, the Schengen agreements are designed to regulate the implementation of visa and migration policies, as well as the provision of asylum (some non-EU member states 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 detail the visa policy and ensure the security of the EU borders, 7 states signed new agreements called Schengenplus (2007).

The EU is the most developed form of economic integration in Europe, having gone through all stages of development - a free trade area, a customs union, a single internal market, an economic and monetary union. Since 1968, the European Community has completely abolished customs duties in mutual trade and introduced a single customs tariff in relation to third countries. In 1993, a single internal market finally emerged, 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 increasingly complete unification of national economies into a single regional economic system and the territorial expansion of the integration zone.

One of the EU's tasks is to ensure the harmonization of national legislation based on 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 constituent agreements. Each of them contains a solidarity clause, requiring conscientious and loyal fulfillment of the obligations assumed by the integration participants, 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 empowered to issue binding regulations. A system of institutions was initially established in each of the three Communities. At the initial stage (1957), a common Parliament and Court were created within the framework of European integration organizations; In 1965, the Unification Treaty was signed, on the basis of which a Council and Commission common to all Communities was established. The Treaty establishing the EU provided for the creation of a unified system of institutions for the Communities and the Union. The modern system of institutions is enshrined in the Treaty of Nice.

The highest body of political leadership is the European Council. The EU institutions include: EU Council, European Commission, European Parliament, judiciary EU and the Court of Auditors. The most important bodies of the EU, the status of which is determined directly in the constituent acts, include the bodies European system central banks (ESCB) and the European Central Bank (ECB); Committee permanent representatives(Coreper) and the leading advisory bodies - 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 were entrusted with the implementation of administrative and coordination functions in specific and relatively narrow areas. Some of them play a very significant role, for example 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 Member States or even their regions, depending on where their implementation will be most effective. The principle of proportionality assumes that the EU institutions will strictly adhere to the rules of conferring competence and will not go beyond the limits of those rights and powers that are transferred by member states to 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, by their nature and character they differ from ordinary international organizations. The main thing in the activities of the EU and the Communities is the solution of problems and tasks of internal politics. The EU's powers in the field of external relations are exercised on the basis of rules that differ markedly from those applied within the Community.

The European Communities enjoy the status legal entity. On the territory of EU member states, they exercise the corresponding 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 Communities allows 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 its member states. The EU has introduced its own citizenship. Everyone gets it individuals holding national citizenship of EU member states. Acquiring EU citizenship gives rise to a number of political and legal consequences: the use of voting rights in the formation of the European Parliament and in the formation of national municipal bodies, the right of access to positions in the EU apparatus, the right to diplomatic protection from EU missions abroad, etc.

The EU has its own currency: the EU currency is the euro. To enter the euro zone, 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 were included in its composition. Accession to the EU does not entail automatic inclusion in the euro zone. Of the newly admitted states, only one, Slovenia (2007), entered the euro zone.

Conditions and procedure for admitting new members to the EU. Over the years 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. Türkiye and some Balkan countries are contenders for membership.

The conditions for accession to the EU are defined in the founding treaties, subsequent regulations and political decisions taken 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 adhere to rules and principles of fair competition. They are obliged to bring their legal system into conformity with the provisions and regulations of European law (acquis communautaire - the legal property of the Communities).

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

Ratification must take place not only in all member states, but also in candidate states. All instruments of accession contain numerous reservations and temporary restrictions, especially with regard to the implementation of the four freedoms associated with participation in the common market.

Active constituent acts do not contain regulations regulating the procedure for possible withdrawal from the EU.

Relevant regulations were developed and included in the draft EU Constitution (providing for the possibility of a member state's withdrawal subject to advance notice and fulfillment of certain obligations associated with EU membership). States joining the EU do not automatically become parties to agreements adopted on the basis of 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.” EU-Russian Federation relations 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 representative office of the EC in the Russian Federation, and a permanent representation of the Russian Federation within the EU.

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

The main idea when creating the European Union (EU, European Union) in 1951 (then the European Coal and Steel Community) was to organize single platform for trade and economic cooperation between 6 states without the risk of military action from each other. The European Union itself was legally established when the Maastricht Treaty was signed by 12 states in 1992. Countries within the EU are independent, but are subject to common laws regarding education, health care, pensions, justice and other systems.

Definition and objectives of the European Union

The European Union is a unique organization that integrates European states that have signed an accession treaty with the goal of improving the lives of their citizens in all spheres of public life.

Goals of EU activities in different areas:

Human rights and freedoms:

promoting the preservation of peace and welfare of peoples;
ensuring citizens freedom, security and legality;
promoting and protecting one’s interests in relations with other countries.

Economy:

creation of a common internal market;
maintaining healthy competition;
socially oriented market economy;
promoting employment;
social progress;
improving the quality of the natural environment;
scientific and technical progress.

Social sphere:

combating discrimination, including gender discrimination;
social protection of the population;
ensuring justice;
protection of children's rights.

If the founding countries of the EU were aimed mainly at creating a common market for steel and coal, which would solve the problems of employment in these industries and increase production efficiency, today the aspirations of the European Union have expanded significantly.

The European Union is called upon to ensure maximum cohesion and solidarity of the Commonwealth countries in terms of economic development, territorial organization and social order.

EU member states are obliged to respect the richness and diversity of each other's national cultures, as well as to ensure the protection of objects of pan-European cultural heritage.
List of EU countries for 2019

Since the signing of the Maastricht Treaty the process is underway active development of the European Union: the number of participating countries is increasing, a single European currency is being introduced, changes are being made to treaties. To find out how many countries there are in the EU in 2019, you need to analyze the number of countries that joined the 12 EU states after 1992:
1995 – plus 3 countries (Austria, Finland, Sweden);

2004 – plus 10 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Cyprus, Malta);

2007 – plus 2 countries (Bulgaria, Romania);

2013 – plus 1 country (Croatia).

Thus, the number of countries in the EU in 2019 is 28.
Speaking about which countries are part of the EU, in addition to those listed above, we will name the following:
Germany;

Belgium;

Italy;

Luxembourg;

Netherlands;

France;

Great Britain;

Denmark;

Ireland;

Greece;

Spain;

Portugal.

A standardized system of laws has been adopted on the territory of the European Union countries, a common market has been created, and passport control has been abolished within the Schengen zone, which also includes some other European countries that are not members of the EU.
All EU member states are obliged to coordinate their political decisions with other members of the union. The monetary currency of the European Union is the euro. To date, 19 EU countries have introduced the euro into circulation, thereby forming a single eurozone.

Economy of the European Union: features and principles of operation

The economy of the European Union consists of the economic systems of all 28 member countries, the level of which varies significantly. At the same time, weaker states are supported through the effective redistribution of funds and resources between countries. This happens through a common treasury, to which each state contributes its share of funds depending on the volume of gross domestic product (GDP). This policy is one of the main principles of the functioning of the EU (the principle of cohesion or cohesion).
On the one hand, such coordination of the economy promotes social integration in the labor market, prevents and reduces unemployment, eliminates regional imbalances in the European Union, on the other hand, it can lead to aggravation and mutual accusations of donor and recipient countries.
Thus, the most developed EU donor countries, that is, those who invested more funds into the treasury than they received from there, which in 2015 were Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Cyprus, were unhappy that the new members of the Union actually live at their expense. This fact, as well as the increase in cheap labor coming from Eastern European countries, were one of the main reasons for the UK's intention to leave the EU.
The UK's exit from the EU: the situation for 2019

Brexit (from two words: Br - Britain - Britain, exit - exit), which was activated by Great Britain during the referendum on the country's membership in the European Union in 2016, is expected in 2019-2020. There is a two-year transition period, so in 2019 Britain is still an active member of the EU.
Possible consequences of Brexit

Globally, Brexit could have a negative impact on official development assistance (ODA) as Britain's contribution to the EU budget decreases and the EU is the world's fourth largest ODA donor.
The UK's financial sector will be damaged by restrictions on freedom of movement and trade following Brexit. Predicted reasons for this: problems in the tourism industry and the outflow of qualified personnel. Brexit could also result in a significant reduction in the incomes of the working population - according to experts, losses British families will amount to almost one and a half thousand euros annually.
Another possible consequence Brexit is the separation of Scotland from Great Britain. As you know, back in 2014, the Scots raised the issue of secession from Britain, and the votes for and against were then divided almost equally - 44.7% and 55.3%, respectively. And since Scotland, unlike England, intends to remain in the EU, Brexit may speed up the process of gaining independence.

Causes and consequences of the 2017 referendum in Catalonia

The main reason for modern separatism in Catalonia, one of the richest and most developed regions of Spain, lies in the dissatisfaction of the local government and the population with the distribution of state budget funds. The catch is that Catalonia pays significantly more into the country's general treasury than it gets back.
On October 1, 2017, the Catalan authorities organized and held a referendum on Catalonia’s secession from Spain. However, the country's authorities declared this procedure illegal. Despite the actions of the Spanish police aimed at blocking the vote, the poll still took place. 43% of voters managed to vote, of which 90.2 were in favor of secession, and 7.8% were against.
The Spanish authorities never officially recognized the results of the referendum. Instead, the then-current Parliament of Catalonia was dissolved, the Generalitat led by leader Carles Puigdemont was removed, and early parliamentary elections were scheduled for December.
To date, it has not been precisely determined which party will form the government. However, according to experts, Madrid is committed to an uncompromising resolution of the conflict in favor of preserving the integrity of Spain.
Copenhagen EU accession criteria

Accession to the European Union is not available to all countries. Only states that clearly meet the Copenhagen criteria, adopted in 1993 at the EU meeting in Copenhagen, can count on membership in the EU. So, within the applicant country they must:
Comply with the principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law.

Have a market economy capable of competing in the European market.

Recognize the rules and standards of the European Union.

Negotiations are held with a candidate country for accession to the EU, then checks for compliance with the above criteria. Based on a thorough analysis of the data, a decision is made on the possibility (or impossibility) of membership in the Union.
Countries applying to join the European Union

Among those wishing to join the EU are not only developed countries, but also countries with developing economies. In 2019, the following official candidate countries for accession to the EU were identified:
Türkiye – application since 1987.

Macedonia - 2004.

Montenegro - 2008.

Albania - 2009.

Serbia - 2009.

Accession negotiations are already underway with three of these countries – Turkey, Montenegro and Serbia. All candidates except Turkey have signed an association agreement, which usually precedes EU membership.
Iceland applied for membership in 2009, but negotiations were frozen in 2013. All 6 Eastern Partnership countries are also showing particular interest in joining the EU, however, at the moment, for various reasons, they are not considered by the union as serious contenders.
European Union. Comparing EU countries: Video