How many countries in the EU? When was this alliance founded and for what purpose? Why does the UK intend to withdraw from this organization? The answers to all these questions can be found in our article!
The origin and brief history of the union
The European Union (EU) is not only a political union, but also an economic one. About 500 million people live within its borders. But in economic terms, the EU is 23% of global GDP. Thus, the union is one of the main players in the planetary market.
Unification trends have been repeatedly observed and manifested in Europe. These ideas became especially relevant after the end of World War II, when international structures such as NATO or the Council of Europe were formed.
The starting point in the formation of the European Union can be considered 1951. Then six independent states formed an organization - the European Coal and Steel Association. These were the first EU member states (Belgium, Germany (without the GDR), Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy and France). True, the goals of this integration were purely economic in nature. Later, these same states established another organization - the European Economic Community (abbreviated as EEC).
Gradually, this community transformed into the Union of European States, which is known worldwide under the abbreviation EU. It was legally established in 1992, after the signing of the relevant Maastricht Treaty by the member countries.
How many countries in the EU today?
In the process of expanding the borders of the European Union, eight waves can be distinguished. In 1973, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the six founding countries of the European Coal and Steel Association, Greece in 1981, and two countries of the Iberian Peninsula in Spain (Spain and Portugal). In 1995, Austria joined the elite "European family", as well as the Scandinavian countries: Sweden and Finland.
However, the most significant wave of EU enlargement occurred in May 2004. Then the union included immediately 10 independent countries (Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta, as well as three Baltic states). In 2007, the EU borders expanded towards the Balkans (Romania and Bulgaria became members of the organization, and in 2013 also Croatia).
How many countries in the EU are there today? In total, 28 states are members of the association (they are indicated in blue on the map below). It is worth noting that not all of them are included in the so-called euro zone.
The EU plans to expand further east and south-east. Therefore, it is impossible to say exactly how many countries will be in the EU in a few years. At this point in time, experts consider Bosnia and Herzegovina to be the next real candidate for EU membership.
EU economy and population
508 million people live within the European Union (data for 2015). It should be noted that the natural population growth in the EU member states is not high. The real number of residents of the association is growing due to the active influx of migrants (both legal and illegal).
The total GDP of the union is enormous - almost 15 trillion dollars! The EU is the world's largest exporter and importer of various goods.
In January 2002, a single currency, the euro, was adopted for EU member states. Today it is used only by 17 countries of the union (out of 28).
Great Britain is a member of the EU. How long?
Britain has been a member of the EU since 1973. However, recently David Cameron (Prime Minister of the kingdom) announced the possibility of the country leaving the union. A referendum on this subject may take place in 2017.
Such a statement by Cameron is also worth considering as one of the election promises of the Conservative Party, which he leads. In addition, such statements, according to experts, will help Britain "bargain" for itself some preferences from the EU leadership.
According to the results of the most recent opinion poll on this issue, only 36% of Britons want their country to leave the EU.