What you need to know about the European Union.
The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe.
The EU countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
EU member countries in brief
Belgium
- Capital: Brussels
- Official EU language(s): Dutch, French and German
- EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Bulgaria
- Capital: Sofia
- Official EU language(s): Bulgarian
- EU member country: since 1 January 2007
Denmark
- Capital: Copenhagen
- Official EU language(s): Danish
- EU member country: since 1 January 1973
- Currency: Danish krone DKK. Denmark has negotiated an opt-out from the euro and thus is not obliged to introduce it.
Finland
- Capital: Helsinki
- Official EU language(s): Finnish, Swedish
- EU member country: since 1 January 1995
Hungary
- Capital: Budapest
- Official EU language(s): Hungarian
- EU member country: since 1 May 2004
- Currency: Hungarian Forint HUF. Hungary is currently preparing to adopt the euro.
Ireland
- Capital: Dublin
- Official EU language(s): Irish, English
- EU member country: since 1 January 1973
Lithuania
- Capital: Vilnius
- Official EU language(s): Lithuanian
- EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Luxembourg
- Capital: Luxembourg
- Official EU language(s): French, German
- EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Malta
- Capital: Valletta
- Official EU language(s): Maltese, English
- EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Netherlands
- Capital: Amsterdam
- Official EU language(s): Dutch
- EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Poland
- Capital: Warsaw
- Official EU language(s): Polish
- EU member country: since 1 May 2004
- Currency: Polish Złoty PLN. Poland is currently preparing to adopt the euro.
Portugal
- Capital: Lisbon
- Official EU language(s): Portuguese
- EU member country: since 1 January 1986
Romania
- Capital: Bucharest
- Official EU language(s): Romanian
- EU member country: since 1 January 2007
- Currency: Romanian Leu RON. Romania has committed the euro once it fulfils the necessary conditions.
Slovenia
- Capital: Ljubljana
- Official EU language(s): Slovenian
- EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Sweden
- Capital: Stockholm
- Official EU language(s): Swedish
- EU member country: since 1 January 1995
The goals of the European Union
The aims of the European Union within its borders are: promote peace, its values and the well-being of its citizens. offer freedom, security and justice without internal borders, while also taking appropriate measures at its external borders to regulate asylum and immigration and prevent and combat crime.
