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Member state of the European Union
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Member states of the European Union
Category
Sovereign states[1]
Location
European Union
Created
1952/1958[2]
Number
28 (as of 2018)
Possible types
Republics (21)
Monarchies (7)
Populations
512,596,403 (2018)[3]
Areas
4,381,376 km2 (1,691,659 sq mi)
Government
Parliamentary representative democracy (24)
Semi-presidential representative democracy (3)
Presidential representative democracy (1)
The European Union (EU) consists of 28 member states. Each member state is party to the founding treaties of the union and thereby subject to the privileges and obligations of membership. Unlike members of most international organisations, the member states of the EU are subjected to binding laws in exchange for representation within the common legislative and judicial institutions. Member states must agree unanimously for the EU to adopt policies concerning defence and foreign policy.[4] Subsidiarity is a founding principle of the EU.
In 1957, six core states founded the EU's predecessor, the European Economic Community (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany). The remaining states have acceded in subsequent enlargements. On 1 July 2013, Croatia became the newest member state of the EU. To accede, a state must fulfill the economic and political requirements known as the Copenhagen criteria, which require a candidate to have a democratic, free-market government together with the corresponding freedoms and institutions, and respect for the rule of law. Enlargement of the Union is also contingent upon the consent of all existing members and the candidate's adoption of the existing body of EU law, known as the acquis communautaire.
There is disparity in the size, wealth and political system of member states, but all have de jure equal rights. In practice, certain states are considerably more attractive than others. While in some areas majority voting takes place where larger states have more votes than smaller ones, smaller states have disproportional representation compared to their population. No member state has withdrawn or been suspended from the EU, though some dependent territories or semi-autonomous areas have left. In June 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum on membership of the EU, resulting in 51.89% of votes cast, being in favour of leaving. Prime Minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 on 29 March 2017 to formally initiate the withdrawal process.[5]
Contents
1 List
2 Enlargement
3 Representation
4 Sovereignty
5 Multi-speed integration
5.1 Enhanced cooperation
5.2 Opt-outs
5.3 Outermost regions
6 Political systems
7 Withdrawal
8 Suspension
9 Related states
10 See also
11 References
12 External links
List[edit]
Country name
Native name
Arms
Flag
Capital
Accession
Population
Area (km²)
GDP (PPP)
(millions of US$)
GDP per cap.
(PPP)[6]
Currency
Gini
HDI
Council
votes
EP
seats
Languages
Territories
Austria Österreich Vienna 1995 7006879250000000000♠8,792,500[7] 7004838550000000000♠83,855 7005437582000000000♠437,582 49,869[8] euro 7001291000000000000♠29.1[9] 6999893000000000000♠0.893[10] 10 18 German –
Belgium België
Belgique
Belgien Brussels 1957Founder 7007113658340000000♠11,365,834[7] 7004305280000000000♠30,528 7005534230000000000♠534,230 46,553[8] euro 7001330000000000000♠33.0[9] 6999896000000000000♠0.896[10] 12 21 Dutch
French
German –
Bulgaria България (Bǎlgariya) Sofia 2007 7006710185900000000♠7,101,859[7] 7005110994000000000♠110,994 7004558240000000000♠55,824 21,686[8] lev 7001292000000000000♠29.2[9] 6999794000000000000♠0.794[10] 10 17 Bulgarian –
Croatia Hrvatska Zagreb 2013 7006415421300000000♠4,154,213[7] 7004565940000000000♠56,594 7004570730000000000♠57,073 24,423[8] kuna 7001290000000000000♠29[9] 6999827000000000000♠0.827[10] 7 11 Croatian –
Cyprus Κύπρος (Kípros)
Kıbrıs Nicosia 2004 7005854802000000000♠854,802[7] 7003925100000000000♠9,251 7004232630000000000♠23,263 37,023[8] euro 7001312000000000000♠31.2[9] 6999856000000000000♠0.856[10] 4 6 Greek
Turkish[a]
show
2 excluded
excludes:
Northern Cyprus[b]
UN buffer zone[c]
Czech Republic Česko Prague 2004 7007104676280000000♠10,467,628[7] 7004788660000000000♠78,866 7005205270000000000♠205,270 35,512[8] Czech koruna 7001258000000000000♠25.8[9] 6999878000000000000♠0.878[10] 12 21 Czech [d] –
Denmark Danmark Copenhagen 1973 7006574394700000000♠5,743,947[7] 7004430750000000000♠43,075 7005342362000000000♠342,362 49,883[8] krone (DKK) 7001247000000000000♠24.7[9] 6999925000000000000♠0.925[10] 7 13 Danish
show
2 excluded
excludes:
Faroe Islands
Greenland[e]
Estonia Eesti Tallinn 2004 7006131563500000000♠1,315,635[7] 7004452270000000000♠45,227 7004265060000000000♠26,506 31,749[8] euro 7001360000000000000♠36.0[9] 6999865000000000000♠0.865[10] 4 6 Estonian –
Finland Suomi Helsinki 1995 7006557728200000000♠5,577,282[7] 7005338424000000000♠338,424 7005272649000000000♠272,649 44,333[8] euro 7001269000000000000♠26.9[9] 6999895000000000000♠0.895[10] 7 13 Finnish
Swedish
show
1
includes:
Åland Islands
France France Paris 1957Founder 7007670246330000000♠67,024,633[7] 7005632833000000000♠632,833[11] 7006283368700000000♠2,833,687 43,761[8] euro 7001327000000000000♠32.7[9] 6999897000000000000♠0.897[10] 29 74 French
show
6 + 7 excluded
includes:
French Guiana
Guadeloupe
Martinique
Mayotte
Réunion
Saint Martin[f]
excludes:
New Caledonia
Clipperton Island
French Polynesia
Saint Barthélemy[f]
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
TAAF
Wallis and Futuna
Germany Deutschland Berlin 1957Founder[g] 7007824376410000000♠82,437,641[7] 7005357021000000000♠357,021 7006387443700000000♠3,874,437 50,425[8] euro 7001283000000000000♠28.3[9] 6999926000000000000♠0.926[10] 29 96 German –
Greece Ελλάδα (Elláda) Athens 1981 7007107572930000000♠10,757,293[7] 7005131990000000000♠131,990 7005237970000000000♠237,970 27,737[8] euro 7001343009999900000♠34.3[9] 6999866000000000000♠0.866[10] 12 21 Greek –
Hungary Magyarország Budapest 2004 7006979756100000000♠9,797,561[7] 7004930300000000000♠93,030 7005136989000000000♠136,989 29,473[8] forint 7001300000000000000♠30.0[9] 6999836000000000000♠0.836[10] 12 21 Hungarian –
Ireland Éire
Ireland Dublin 1973 7006477483300000000♠4,774,833[7] 7004702730000000000♠70,273 7005250814000000000♠250,814 75,538[8] euro 7001343009999900000♠34.3[9] 6999923000000000000♠0.923[10] 7 11 Irish
English –
Italy Italia Rome 1957Founder 7007612191130000000♠61,219,113[7] 7005301338000000000♠301,338 7006214774400000000♠2,147,744 38,140[8] euro 7001360000000000000♠36.0[9] 6999887000000000000♠0.887[10] 29 73 Italian –
Latvia Latvija Riga 2004 7006195011600000000♠1,950,116[7] 7004645890000000000♠64,589 7004319720000000000♠31,972 27,644[8] euro 7001357000000000000♠35.7[9] 6999830000000000000♠0.830[10] 4 8 Latvian –
Lithuania Lietuva Vilnius 2004 7006284790400000000♠2,847,904[7] 7004652000000000000♠65,200 7004482880000000000♠48,288 32,299[8] euro 7001358009999900000♠35.8[9] 6999848000000000000♠0.848[10] 7 11 Lithuanian –
Luxembourg Luxembourg
Luxemburg
Lëtzebuerg Luxembourg 1957Founder 7005589370000000000♠589,370[7] 7003258640000000000♠2,586.4 7004656830000000000♠65,683 106,374[8] euro 7001308000000000000♠30.8[9] 6999898000000000000♠0.898[10] 4 6 French
German
Luxembourgish[h] –
Malta Malta Valletta 2004 7005440433000000000♠440,433[7] 7002316000000000000♠316 7004105140000000000♠10,514 41,945[8] euro 7001258000000000000♠25.8[9] 6999856000000000000♠0.856[10] 3 6 Maltese
English –
Netherlands Nederland Amsterdam 1957Founder 7007172207210000000♠17,220,721[7] 7004415430000000000♠41,543 7005880716000000000♠880,716 53,635[8] euro 7001309000000000000♠30.9[9] 6999924000000000000♠0.924[10] 13 26 Dutch
show
6 excluded
excludes:
Aruba
Curaçao
Sint Maarten
Bonaire
Sint Eustatius
Saba
Poland Polska Warsaw 2004 7007379729640000000♠37,972,964[7] 7005312685000000000♠312,685 7005547894000000000♠547,894 29,521[8] złoty 7001349000000000000♠34.9[9] 6999855000000000000♠0.855[10] 27 51 Polish –
Portugal Portugal Lisbon 1986 7007103095730000000♠10,309,573[7] 7004923900000000000♠92,390 7005229948000000000♠229,948 30,416[8] euro 7001385000000000000♠38.5[9] 6999843000000000000♠0.843[10] 12 21 Portuguese
show
2
includes:
Azores
Madeira
Romania România Bucharest 2007 7007196383090000000♠19,638,309[7] 7005238391000000000♠238,391 7005199093000000000♠199,093 24,508[8] leu 7001315000000000000♠31.5[9] 6999802000000000000♠0.802[10] 14 32 Romanian –
Slovakia Slovensko Bratislava 2004 7006543534300000000♠5,435,343[7] 7004490350000000000♠49,035 7004998690000000000♠99,869 33,025[8] euro 7001258000000000000♠25.8[9] 6999845000000000000♠0.845[10] 7 13 Slovak –
Slovenia Slovenija Ljubljana 2004 7006206589500000000♠2,065,895[7] 7004202730000000000♠20,273 7004495700000000000♠49,570 34,407[8] euro 7001312000000000000♠31.2[9] 6999890000000000000♠0.890[10] 4 8 Slovene –
Spain España
Espanya
Espainiako Madrid 1986 7007465289660000000♠46,528,966[7] 7005504030000000000♠504,030 7006140653800000000♠1,406,538 38,286[8] euro 7001320000000000000♠32.0[9] 6999884000000000000♠0.884[10] 27 54 Spanish
Galician
Catalan
Basque[i]
show
4
includes:
Canary Islands
Ceuta
Melilla
Plazas de soberanía
Sweden Sverige Stockholm 1995 7007100800000000000♠10,080,000[7] 7005449964000000000♠449,964 7005570591000000000♠570,591 51,475[8] krona (SEK) 7001250000000000000♠25.0[9] 6999913000000000000♠0.913[10] 10 20 Swedish –
United Kingdom[j] United Kingdom
Deyrnas Unedig
An Rìoghachd Aonaichte London 1973 7007658085730000000♠65,808,573[7] 7005243610000000000♠243,610 7006295003900000000♠2,950,039 44,118[8] pound sterling 7001360000000000000♠36.0[9] 6999909000000000000♠0.909[10] 29 73 English
Welsh
Scottish Gaelic[k]
show
1 + 16 excluded
includes:
Gibraltar
excludes:
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Anguilla
British Antarctic Territory
Bermuda
Cayman Islands
Falkland Islands
Guernsey
British Indian Ocean Territory
Isle of Man
Jersey
Montserrat
Pitcairn Islands
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Turks and Caicos Islands
British Virgin Islands
Notes
Jump up ^ The Turkish language is not an official language of the European Union.
Jump up ^ Northern Cyprus is not recognised by the EU, so it is de jure part of the Republic of Cyprus and the EU, but de facto is outside the control of both entities and operates as an independent state recognised only by Turkey. See Cyprus dispute.
Jump up ^ De jure part of the Republic of Cyprus and the EU, but de facto is outside of the control of both due to the ongoing Cyprus dispute. It is administered by the United Nations.
Jump up ^ Officially recognized minority languages:
Slovak
German
Polish
Belarusian
Bulgarian
Croatian
Greek
Hungarian
Romani
Russian
Rusyn
Serbian
Ukrainian
Vietnamese
Jump up ^ Greenland left the then-EEC in 1985.
^ Jump up to: a b See Article 355(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.[1]
Jump up ^ On 3 October 1990, the constituent states of the former German Democratic Republic acceded to the Federal Republic of Germany, automatically becoming part of the EU.
Jump up ^ The Luxembourgish language is not an official language of the European Union.
Jump up ^ Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician are co-official languages with Castilian Spanish in their respective territories. An agreement between Spain and the Council of the European Union allows these languages to be used in E.U. institutions under limited circumstances.
Jump up ^ Following a referendum on 23 June 2016 in favour of withdrawing from the European Union, British Prime Minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 on 29 March 2017. The United Kingdom is thus scheduled to withdraw on 29 March 2019.[12]
Jump up ^ Welsh and Scottish Gaelic have been granted co-official languages alongside English within the European Union, allowing their use in E.U. institutions under limited circumstances. Scots, Cornish, and Irish, along with British Sign Language, are officially recognized minority languages in the U.K., but have no official E.U. status.
Enlargement[edit]
Main articles: Enlargement of the European Union and Future enlargement of the European Union
The continental territories of the member states of the European Union (European Communities pre-1993), animated in order of accession.
According to the Copenhagen criteria, membership of the European Union is open to any European country that is a stable, free-market liberal democracy that respects the rule of law and human rights. Furthermore, it has to be willing to accept all the obligations of membership, such as adopting all previously agreed law (the 170,000 pages of acquis communautaire) and switching to the euro.[13] To join the European Union, it is required for all member states to agree; if a single member state disagrees, the applying country is declined accession to the European Union. In addition to enlargement by adding new countries, the EU can also expand by having territories of member states, which are outside the EU, integrate more closely (for example in respect to the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles) or by a territory of a member state which had previously seceded and then rejoined (see withdrawal below).
Enlargement is, and has been, a principal feature of the Union's political landscape.[14] The EU's predecessors were founded by the "Inner Six", those countries willing to forge ahead with the Community while others remained skeptical. It was only a decade before the first countries changed their policy and attempted to join the Union, which led to the first skepticism of enlargement. French President Charles de Gaulle feared British membership would be an American Trojan horse and vetoed its application. It was only after de Gaulle left office and a 12-hour talk by British Prime Minister Edward Heath and French President Georges Pompidou took place that the United Kingdom's third application succeeded in 1970.[15][16][17]
Applying in 1969 were the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, and Norway. Norway, however, declined to accept the invitation to become a member when the electorate voted against it,[18][19] leaving just the UK, Ireland and Denmark to join.[20] But despite the setbacks, and the withdrawal of Greenland from Denmark's membership in 1985,[21] three more countries joined the Communities before the end of the Cold War.[20] In 1987, the geographical extent of the project was tested when Morocco applied, and was rejected as it was not considered a European country.[22]
The year 1990 saw the Cold War drawing to a close, and East Germany was welcomed into the Community as part of a reunited Germany. Shortly after, the previously neutral countries of Austria, Finland and Sweden acceded to the new European Union,[20] though Switzerland, which applied in 1992, froze its application due to opposition from voters[23] while Norway, which had applied once more, had its voters reject membership again.[24] Meanwhile, the members of the former Eastern Bloc and Yugoslavia were all starting to move towards EU membership. Eight of these, plus Cyprus and Malta, joined in a major enlargement on 1 May 2004 symbolising the unification of East and Western Europe in the EU.[25] They were followed by Bulgaria and Romania in 2007, then Croatia in 2013.[26]
The EU has prioritised membership for the rest of the Western Balkans; Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey are all formally acknowledged as candidates. while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidates.[27] Turkish membership, pending since the 1980s, is a more contentious issue.[28] Aside from the Cyprus dispute being a long-standing hurdle,[29][30] relations between the EU and Turkey are strained after several incidents, mostly concerning the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt, the Turkish referendum, and the resulting 2016–17 purges in Turkey.[30] This has led to the European Parliament calling for a suspension of membership talks.[31]
Representation[edit]
A 2011 'family photo' of the European Council, which comprises the heads of state or government of the member states, along with President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission
Each state has representation in the institutions of the European Union. Full membership gives the government of a member state a seat in the Council of the European Union and European Council. When decisions are not being taken by consensus, votes are weighted so that a country with a greater population has more votes within the Council than a smaller country (though the number of votes in relation to population is weighted disproportionately in favour of smaller member states). The Presidency of the Council of the European Union rotates between each of the member states, allowing each state six months to help direct the agenda of the EU.[32][33]
Similarly, each state is assigned seats in Parliament according to their population (again, with the smaller countries receiving more seats per inhabitant than the larger ones). The members of the European Parliament have been elected by universal suffrage since 1979 (before that, they were seconded from national parliaments).[34][35]
The national governments appoint one member each to the European Commission (in accord with its president), the European Court of Justice (in accord with other members) and the European Court of Auditors. Historically, larger member states were granted an extra Commissioner. However, as the body grew, this right has been removed and each state is represented equally. The six largest states are also granted an Advocates General in the Court of Justice. Finally, the Governing Council of the European Central Bank includes the governors of the national central banks (who may or may not be government appointed) of each euro area country.[36]
The larger states traditionally carry more weight in negotiations, however smaller states can be effective impartial mediators and citizens of smaller states are often appointed to sensitive top posts to avoid competition between the larger states. This, together with the disproportionate representation of the smaller states in terms of votes and seats in parliament, gives the smaller EU states a greater clout than normally attributed to a state of their size. However most negotiations are still dominated by the larger states. This has traditionally been largely through the "Franco-German motor" but Franco-German influence has diminished slightly following the influx of new members in 2004 (see G6).[37]
Sovereignty[edit]
Article 4
# In accordance with Article 5, competences not conferred upon the Union in the Treaties remain with the member states.
The Union shall respect the equality of member states before the Treaties as well as their national identities, inherent in their fundamental structures, political and constitutional, inclusive of regional and local self-government. It shall respect their essential State functions, including ensuring the territorial integrity of the State, maintaining law and order and safeguarding national security. In particular, national security remains the sole responsibility of each member state.
Pursuant to the principle of sincere cooperation, the Union and the member states shall, in full mutual respect, assist each other in carrying out tasks which flow from the Treaties. The member states shall take any appropriate measure, general or particular, to ensure fulfilment of the obligations arising out of the Treaties or resulting from the acts of the institutions of the Union. The member states shall facilitate the achievement of the Union's tasks and refrain from any measure which could jeopardise the attainment of the Union's objectives.
– Article 4 of the Treaty on European Union
While the member states are sovereign, the union partially follows a supranational system that is comparable to federalism. Previously limited to European Community matters, the practice, known as the "community method", is currently used in most areas of policy. Combined sovereignty is delegated by each member to the institutions in return for representation within those institutions. This practice is often referred to as "pooling of sovereignty". Those institutions are then empowered to make laws and execute them at a European level.
If a state fails to comply with the law of the European Union, it may be fined or have funds withdrawn.
In contrast to other organisations, the EU's style of integration has "become a highly developed system for mutual interference in each other's domestic affairs".[38] However, on defence and foreign policy issues (and, pre-Lisbon Treaty, police and judicial matters) less sovereignty is transferred, with issues being dealt with by unanimity and co-operation. Very early on in the history of the EU, the unique state of its establishment and pooling of sovereignty was emphasised by the Court of Justice:[39]
By creating a Community of unlimited duration, having its own institutions, its own personality, its own legal capacity and capacity of representation on the international plane and, more particularly, real powers stemming from a limitation of sovereignty or a transfer of powers from the States to Community, the Member States have limited their sovereign rights and have thus created a body of law which binds both their nationals and themselves...The transfer by the States from their domestic legal system to the Community legal system of the rights and obligations arising under the Treaty carries with it a permanent limitation of their sovereign rights.
—  European Court of Justice 1964, in reference to case of Costa v ENEL[40]
The question of whether EU law is superior to national law is subject to some debate. The treaties do not give a judgement on the matter but court judgements have established EU's law superiority over national law and it is affirmed in a declaration attached to the Treaty of Lisbon (the European Constitution would have fully enshrined this). Some national legal systems also explicitly accept the Court of Justice's interpretation, such as France and Italy, however in Poland it does not override the national constitution, which it does in Germany. The exact areas where the member states have given legislative competence to the EU are as follows. Every area not mentioned remains with member states.[41]
As outlined in Title I of Part I of the consolidated Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
view
talk
edit
Exclusive competence
Shared competence
Supporting competence
"The Union has exclusive competence to make directives and conclude international agreements when provided for in a Union legislative act."
the customs union
the establishing of the competition rules necessary for the functioning of the internal market
monetary policy for the Member States whose currency is the euro
the conservation of marine biological resources under the common fisheries policy
Common Commercial Policy
conclusion of certain international agreements
"Member States cannot exercise competence in areas where the Union has done so."
the internal market
social policy, for the aspects defined in this Treaty
economic, social and territorial cohesion
agriculture and fisheries, excluding the conservation of marine biological resources
environment
consumer protection
transport
trans-European networks
energy
the area of freedom, security and justice
common safety concerns in public health matters, for the aspects defined in this Treaty
"Union exercise of competence shall not result in Member States being prevented from exercising theirs in" …
research, technological development and (outer) space
development cooperation, humanitarian aid
"The Union coordinates Member States policies or implements supplemental to theirs common policies, not covered elsewhere"
coordination of economic, employment and social policies
common foreign, security and defence policies
"The Union can carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement Member States' actions in" …
the protection and improvement of human health
industry
culture
tourism
education, youth, sport and vocational training
civil protection (disaster prevention)
administrative cooperation
As a result of the European sovereign debt crisis, some eurozone states required a bailout from the EU via the European Financial Stability Facility and European Financial Stability Mechanism (to be replaced by the European Stability Mechanism from 2013). In exchange for their bailout, Greece was required to accept a large austerity plan including privatisations and a sell off of state assets. To ensure that Greece complies with the EU's demands, a "large-scale technical assistance" from the European Commission and other member states has been deployed to Greek government ministries. Some, including the President of the Euro Group Jean-Claude Juncker, state that "the sovereignty of Greece will be massively limited."[42][43][44] The situation of the bailed out countries (Greece, Portugal and Ireland) has been described as being a ward[45][46] or protectorate[44][47][48] of the EU with some such as the Netherlands calling for a formalisation of the situation.[49]
Multi-speed integration[edit]
European Union
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See also: Multi-speed Europe
EU integration is not always symmetrical, with some states proceeding with integration ahead of hold-outs. This comes in two forms; a faster integrated core where some states forge ahead with a new project, and opt-outs where a few states are excused from normal integration. The notion of multi-speed integration is anathema to some, including President Juncker, who see it as divisive to the European project and others, such as the less-integrated states, who feel they would be left behind. It is however supported by others, such as President Macron, to move forward in integration faster.[50][51]
Enhanced cooperation[edit]
Main article: Enhanced cooperation
There are several different forms closer integration both within and outside the EU's normal framework. The main mechanism is enhanced cooperation where nine or more states can use EU structures progress in a field that not all states are willing to partake in. One example of this is the European Public Prosecutor.[52] A similar mechanism is Permanent Structured Cooperation in Defence, where the majority of EU states work in a flexible manner on defence cooperation. Other projects, such as the European Fiscal Compact, operate between EU members but as a separate intergovernmental treaty outside of the official EU structures.[53]
Opt-outs[edit]
Main article: Opt-outs in the European Union
A number of states are less integrated into the EU than others. In most cases this is because those states have gained an opt-out from a certain policy area. The most notable is the opt-out from the Economic and Monetary Union, the adoption of the euro as sole legal currency. Most states outside the Eurozone are obliged to adopt the euro when they are ready, but Denmark and the United Kingdom have obtained the right to retain their own independent currencies.
Ireland and the United Kingdom also do not participate in the Schengen Agreement, which eliminates internal EU border checks. Denmark has an opt out from the Common Security and Defence Policy; Denmark, Ireland and the UK have an opt-out on police and justice matters and Poland and the UK have an opt out from the Charter of Fundamental Rights.[54]
Outermost regions[edit]
Further information: Special member state territories and the European Union
There are a number of overseas member state territories which are legally part of the EU, but have certain exemptions based on their remoteness. These "outermost regions" have partial application of EU law and in some cases are outside of Schengen or the EU VAT area—however they are legally within the EU.[55] They all use the euro as their currency.
Territory
Member State
Location
Area
km2
Population
Per capita GDP
(EU=100)
EU VAT area
Schengen Area
Azores Portugal Atlantic Ocean 2,333 237,900 66.7 Yes No
Canary Islands Spain Atlantic Ocean 7,447 1,715,700 93.7 No No
French Guiana France South America 84,000 161,100 50.5 No No
Guadeloupe France Caribbean 1,710 425,700 50.5 No No
Madeira Portugal Atlantic Ocean 795 244,800 94.9 Yes No
Saint-Martin France Caribbean 52 25,000 61.9 No No
Martinique France Caribbean 1,080 383,300 75.6 No No
Réunion France Indian Ocean 2,512 837,868 61.6 No No
Mayotte[56] France Indian Ocean 374 212,645 No No
Political systems[edit]
Further information: List of European Union member states by political system
presidential republic
semi-presidential republic
parliamentary republic
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Entry to the EU is limited to liberal democracies and Freedom House ranks all EU states as being totally free electoral democracies.[57] All but 4 are ranked at the top 1.0 rating.[58] However, the exact political system of a state is not limited, with each state having its own system based on its historical evolution.
Half of member states—14 out of 28—are parliamentary republics, while seven states are constitutional monarchies, meaning they have a monarch although political powers are exercised by elected politicians. Most republics and all the monarchies operate a parliamentary system whereby the head of state (president or monarch) has a largely ceremonial role with reserve powers. That means most power is in the hands of what is called in most of those countries the prime minister, who is accountable to the national parliament. Of the remaining republics, five operate a semi-presidential system, where competencies are shared between the president and prime minister, while one republic operates a presidential system, where the president is head of state and government.
The EU is divided between unicameral (single chamber) and bicameral (dual chamber) parliaments, with 15 unicameral national parliaments and 13 bicameral parliaments. The prime minister and government are usually directly accountable to the directly elected lower house and require its support to stay in office—the exception being Cyprus with its presidential system. Upper houses are composed differently in different member states: it can be directly elected like the Polish senate, indirectly elected, for example, by regional legislatures like the Federal Council of Austria, unelected, but representing certain interest groups like the National Council of Slovenia, unelected (though by and large appointed by elected officials) as a remnant of a non-democratic political system in earlier times (as in the House of Lords in the United Kingdom). Most (though not all) elections in the EU use some form of proportional representation. The most common type of proportional representation is the party-list system.[citation needed]
There are also differences in the level of self-governance for the sub-regions of a member state. Most states, especially the smaller ones, are unitary states; meaning all major political power is concentrated at the national level. 10 states allocate power to more local levels of government. Austria, Belgium and Germany are full federations, meaning their regions have constitutional autonomies. Denmark, Finland, France and the Netherlands are federacies, meaning some regions have autonomy but most do not. Spain and Italy have system of devolution where regions have autonomy, but the national government retains the right to revoke it. The United Kingdom has a system of asymmetric devolution, whereby Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland enjoy a degree of self-government.[59]
States such as France have a number of overseas territories, retained from their former empires. Some of these territories such as French Guiana are part of the EU (see outermost regions, above) while others are related to the EU or outside it, such as the Falkland Islands.[citation needed]
Withdrawal[edit]
Main article: Withdrawal from the European Union
The Lisbon Treaty made the first provision of a member state to leave. The procedure for a state to leave is outlined in TEU Article 50 which also makes clear that "Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements". Although it calls for a negotiated withdrawal between the seceding state and the rest of the EU, if no agreement is reached two years after the seceding state notifying of its intention to leave, it would cease to be subject to the treaties anyway (thus ensuring a right to unilateral withdrawal).[60] There is no formal limit to how much time a member state can take between adopting a policy of withdrawal, and actually triggering Article 50.
In a non-binding referendum in June 2016 the United Kingdom voted to withdraw from the EU. Termed "Brexit", this has become government policy under Prime Minister Theresa May. UK government triggered Article 50 on 29 March 2017.[5] Once triggered, formal talks could begin but there is no certainty of a deal and some EU officials are preparing to deal with a situation where no deal is reached after the two-year limit.[61]
Prior to 2016, no member state had ever voted to withdraw. However Greenland, as a territory, did leave the EU in 1985 when gaining home rule from a member state (Denmark). The situation of Greenland being outside the EU while still subject to an EU member state had been discussed as a template for the pro-EU regions of the UK remaining within the EU or its single market.[62]
Beyond the formal withdrawal of a member state, there are a number of independence movements such as Catalonia or Flanders which could result in a similar situation to Greenland. Were a territory of a member state to secede but wish to remain in the EU, some scholars claim it would need to reapply to join as if it were a new country applying from scratch.[63] However, other studies claim internal enlargement is legally viable if, in case of a member state dissolution or secession, the resulting states are all considered successor states.[64] There is also a European Citizens' Initiative that aims at guaranteeing the continuity of rights and obligations of the European citizens belonging to a new state arising from the democratic secession of a European Union member state.[65]
Suspension[edit]
Main article: Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union
There is no provision to expel a member state, but TEU Article 7 provides for the suspension of certain rights. Introduced in the Treaty of Amsterdam, Article 7 outlines that if a member persistently breaches the EU's founding principles (liberty, democracy, human rights and so forth, outlined in TEU Article 2) then the European Council can vote to suspend any rights of membership, such as voting and representation. Identifying the breach requires unanimity (excluding the state concerned), but sanctions require only a qualified majority.[66]
The state in question would still be bound by the obligations treaties and the Council acting by majority may alter or lift such sanctions. The Treaty of Nice included a preventative mechanism whereby the Council, acting by majority, may identify a potential breach and make recommendations to the state to rectify it before action is taken against it as outlined above.[66] However, the treaties do not provide any mechanism to expel a member state outright.[60]
Related states[edit]
A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various multinational European organisations and agreements.
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There are a number of countries with strong links with the EU, similar to elements of membership. Following Norway's decision not to join the EU, it remained one of the members of the European Economic Area which also includes Iceland and Liechtenstein (all former members have joined the EU, and Switzerland rejected membership). The EEA links these countries into the EU's market, extending the four freedoms to these states. In return, they pay a membership fee and have to adopt most areas of EU law (which they do not have direct impact in shaping). The democratic repercussions of this have been described as "fax democracy" (waiting for new laws to be faxed in from Brussels rather than being involved in drafting them).[67]
A different example is Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has been under international supervision. The High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina is an international administrator who has wide-ranging powers over Bosnia and Herzegovina to ensure the peace agreement is respected. The High Representative is also the EU's representative, and is in practice appointed by the EU. In this role, and since a major ambition of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to join the EU, the country has become a de facto protectorate of the EU. The EU appointed representative has the power to impose legislation and dismiss elected officials and civil servants, meaning the EU has greater direct control over Bosnia and Herzegovina than its own states. Indeed, the state's flag was inspired by the EU's flag.[68]
In the same manner as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo is under heavy EU influence, particularly after the de facto transfer from UN to EU authority. In theory Kosovo is supervised by EU missions, with justice and policing personal training and helping to build up the state institutions. However the EU mission does enjoy certain executive powers over the state and has a responsibility to maintain stability and order.[69] Like Bosnia, Kosovo has been termed an "EU protectorate".[70][71][72]
However, there is also the largely defunct term of associate member. It has occasionally been applied to states which have signed an association agreement with the EU. Associate membership is not a formal classification and does not entitle the state to any of the representation of free movement rights that full membership allows. The term is almost unheard of in the modern context and was primarily used in the earlier days of the EU with countries such as Greece and Turkey. Turkey's association agreement was the 1963 Ankara Agreement, implying that Turkey became an associate member that year.[73][74] Present association agreements include the Stabilisation and Association Agreements with the western Balkans; these states are no longer termed "associate members".
See also[edit]
History of the European Union, 1973-2013 enlargement and Future enlargement
Currencies of the European Union
Economy of the European Union
Special Member State territories
EU relationships with Europe's Microstates
EU integration with the EFTA States
References[edit]
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