European Union (EU)

The EU is an economic, political and judicial collective of countries with shared goals and objectives. The EU initially consisted of Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. In 1973 Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) joined in 1973. The member nations have increased with the entry of Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986, Austria, Finland and Sweden in 1995. In 2004 ten new countries joined from Eastern Europe. EU member countries have agreements and treaties covering security, law, residency and border controls.

EU member nations

• Austria
• Belgium
• Britain (UK)
• Bulgaria
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Italy
• Ireland
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden