How many countries in the EU? Foundation and history of organization. UK and EU

How many countries in the EU? When was this alliance founded and for what purpose? Why does Britain intend to withdraw from this organization? Answers to all these questions can be found in our article!

Origin and brief history of the union

The European Union (EU) is an association not only political, but also economic. About 500 million people live in its borders. But economically, the EU is 23% of world GDP. Thus, the union is one of the main players in the planetary market.

The tendencies to unification were repeatedly observed and manifested in Europe. These ideas became especially topical 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 Community. These were the first EU member states (Belgium, Germany (without GDR), Luxembourg, Netherlands, Italy and France). True, the goals of this integration were purely economic. Later, the same states established another organization - the European Economic Community (abbreviated - EEC).

Gradually this community was transformed into the Union of European States, which is known throughout the world under the abbreviation EU. Legally it was established in 1992, after the signatory states signed the relevant Maastricht Treaty.

How many countries in the EU today?

In the process of expanding the borders of the European Union, eight waves can be identified. In 1973, Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom joined the six founding members of the European coal and steel association, in 1981 - Greece, in 1986 - two countries of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). In 1995, an elite "European family" included Austria, as well as Scandinavian countries: Sweden and Finland.

However, the most significant wave of EU enlargement occurred in May 2004. At that time ten independent countries (Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Cyprus and Malta, as well as three Baltic states) joined the Union at once. In 2007, the EU borders expanded to the Balkans (Romania and Bulgaria became members of the organization, and in 2013 - also Croatia).

How many countries in the EU are there today? A total of 28 states are members of the association (on the map below they are marked in blue). It is worth noting that not all of them are part of the so-called euro zone.

The EU plans to expand further east and south-east. Therefore, to say exactly how many countries in the EU will be in a few years - not. At this point in time, the next real candidate for EU membership is Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Economy and population of the EU

508 million people live within the European Union (data for 2015). It should be noted that the natural increase in population in the EU member states is not high. The actual number of residents of the association is growing due to an active influx of migrants (both legal and illegal).

The Union's GDP is colossal-almost $ 15 trillion! The EU is the world's largest exporter and importer of various goods.

In January 2002, a single currency, the euro, was adopted for the EU member states. Today it is used by only 17 countries of the Union (out of 28).

The UK 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's withdrawal from the union. The referendum on this issue can be held as early as 2017.

Such statement of Cameron should be considered as one of the pre-election promises of the Conservative Party headed by him. In addition, such statements, according to experts, will help Britain "bargain" for themselves some of the preferences of the EU leadership.

According to the results of the recent public opinion poll on this issue, only 36% of Britons want their country to leave the EU.