Candidate countries of the European Union

Long-term perspective of the EU

EU members

Candidate countries

potential candidate countries

Membership possible

Memberships in European organizations I (as of 2017)

Memberships in European organizations II

This article is dedicated to the candidate countries of the European Union and those states that want to join the EU or that are mentioned by various sources as possible candidate countries.

Article 49 of the EU Treaty grants every European country the right to apply for EU membership. “European” is understood in a political and cultural sense and includes the members of the Council of Europe , such as the Republic of Cyprus .

The EU grants the official status of "candidate for membership" to states that have submitted an application for membership which, following a positive recommendation by the European Commission, was unanimously accepted by the Council of the European Union . The exact accession procedure is explained in the article Enlargement of the European Union . The candidates are designated according to their current number (as of 2016) with CC-5 (English Copenhagen criteria, German " Copenhagen criteria ").

Candidate countries

Member States

Candidate countries

Potential candidate countries

The following five countries have been granted the official status of “candidate countries” by the EU.

Albania

→ Main article : Albania's accession negotiations with the European Union

Efforts to get Albania to join the EU date back to 2003, when the Balkan state became the first of the “potential accession candidates” to begin negotiations on a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). In May 2005, the then government of Albania under Fatos Nano expressed the hope of joining the EU in 2014, as this year marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall . The SAA was officially signed in 2006.

The ratification of the SAA (by all EU countries and Albania) was completed on April 1, 2009. On the same day Albania was admitted to NATO . On April 28, Albania submitted the formal application for EU membership. On September 16, 2009, the EU foreign ministers presented the EU Commission's application for membership in Brussels. "The Commission must now examine the application before Albania can officially receive candidate status."

On December 17, 2009, Albania received an accession questionnaire with a total of 2280 questions, which Prime Minister Sali Berisha answered to the European Commission on April 14, 2010 .

Albania has been an official candidate for membership of the European Union since June 24, 2014. At the end of March 2020, the European Council decided to start accession negotiations.

Montenegro

→ Main article : Montenegro's accession negotiations with the European Union

Montenegro , which became independent on June 3, 2006, wants to join the EU and believes it has chances to achieve this goal faster than if it had remained in the state union of Serbia and Montenegro . This calculation also worked out for Montenegro with regard to the signing of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA).

On June 12, 2006, the EU officially recognized Montenegro as a state. The SAA negotiations with Montenegro were concluded at the beginning of December 2006; the initialing took place on March 15, 2007. On October 15, 2007, the SAA was signed by the Montenegrin Prime Minister Željko Šturanović in the presence of all EU foreign ministers. The ratification of the SAA (by all EU states and Montenegro itself) came into force on May 1, 2010.

On December 15, 2008, Montenegro submitted its official application for EU membership. The European Commission gave the Montenegrin government on 22 July 2009. accession questionnaire with about 4,000 questions. On December 9, 2009, the answered questions were solemnly presented to EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn in Brussels by the head of the Montenegrin government, Milo Đukanović .

Since December 19, 2009, Montenegrin citizens can enter the EU without a visa.

On November 9, 2010, the European Commission recommended candidate status for Montenegro. On December 10, 2010, this decision was confirmed by the European Council . The official conferral of candidate status took place at the EU summit on December 17th. In its annual progress report on the candidate countries of October 12, 2011, the EU Commission proposed starting accession negotiations with Montenegro. At the EU summit in December 2011, Montenegro was promised to start accession negotiations in mid-2012. This decision was officially confirmed at the summit meeting of heads of state and government on June 29, 2012. Negotiations began on December 18, 2012.

North Macedonia

→ Main article : Accession negotiations between North Macedonia and the European Union

North Macedonia was granted candidate status as the Republic of Macedonia on December 17, 2005. At the end of March 2020, the European Council decided to start accession negotiations. The country officially applied for membership in Dublin on March 22, 2004 . Since December 19, 2009, Macedonian citizens can enter the EU without a visa.

One obstacle to EU accession was the name dispute between the country and EU member Greece , which claims the name “Macedonia” for itself. Starting negotiations in March 2010, which was proposed by the Swedish Council Presidency in December 2009, had been approved by all member states with the exception of Greece. The EU foreign ministers warned to settle the name dispute. Finally, the governments of Greece and Macedonia reached an agreement in June 2018. The country adopts the name Republic of North Macedonia and Greece no longer blocks the start of accession negotiations such as joining NATO .

See also : Macedonia (Greek region)  and Macedonia

Serbia

→ Main article : Serbia's accession negotiations with the European Union

Serbia was given the prospect of joining the EU in April 2005 (at that time still part of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro ). However, this was done on the condition that accession talks could only begin once the Serbian government cooperated fully with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). In autumn 2005, representatives of the EU started talks with Serbia-Montenegro on a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA). However, the SAA talks were suspended by the EU in May 2006 because the Serbian authorities did not manage to arrest the alleged war criminals Ratko Mladić and Radovan Karadžić and extradite them to the ICTY, despite protests to the contrary .

On June 3, 2006, Serbia and Montenegro split into two sovereign states. After the arrest of the former Bosnian Serb general Zdravko Tolimir on May 31, 2007, the EU confirmed that the Serbian government was moving towards closer cooperation with the ICTY and that it was firmly committed to bringing this matter to a close. The SAA talks with Serbia were resumed on June 13, 2007.

After the main prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, assessed the cooperation between Serbia and the ICTY positively, the SAA was initialed on November 7, 2007 . The initialing took place in the presence of President Boris Tadić and Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić . After lengthy negotiations, the SAA was signed by representatives of the 27 EU governments and Đelić on April 29, 2008 in Luxembourg . However, it can only be ratified, and thus come into force, once the EU certifies that Serbia is fully cooperating with the ICTY.

On July 21, 2008, the Serbian authorities succeeded in catching Radovan Karadžić . He lived as a doctor in Belgrade under the name Dragan Dabić. The move was well received in the EU. Karadžić was transferred to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague on July 31, and was interrogated on the same day. Further EU accession negotiations will likely also depend on how the diplomatic negotiations for Kosovo's independence go .

A new announcement was made in November 2009 by the Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić following a conversation with EU Enlargement Commissioner Rehn. Since December 19, 2009, Serbian citizens can now travel to the Schengen area without a visa . On December 22nd, 2009, Serbia submitted the official application for EU membership.

On May 26, 2011, Ratko Mladić was arrested in Serbia after having fled for many years. In its annual progress report on the candidate countries of October 12, 2011, the EU Commission finally proposed granting Serbia candidate status. However, the commencement of negotiations for Serbia remains tied to the condition that the mediation talks with Kosovo be resumed.

At the EU summit on March 1, 2012, Serbia was granted candidate status. Accession negotiations began on January 21, 2014.

On March 4, 2016, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolić dissolved parliament and called new elections. With this step he wants to clear the way for reforms so that Serbia can become a member of the European Union.

Turkey

→ Main article : Turkey's accession negotiations with the European Union

The Turkey since 1999 candidate ( customs union since 1996). The accession negotiations themselves began on October 3, 2005. On December 17, 2004, the European Council decided in favor of starting accession negotiations with Turkey in accordance with the recommendations of the Commission report of October 6, 2004, whereupon the European Parliament , whose decision is not legally binding on the heads of state and government, responded on December 15, 2004 had also voted with a large majority in favor of the start of accession negotiations.

Critics reject Turkish membership for various reasons. They state that the majority of Turkey (around 97%) is not in Europe , but in ( Asia ) . It is often added that Turkey, as a predominantly Muslim country, does not culturally belong to the predominantly Christian Europe. Also, human rights issues are cited as reason for rejection; a real adjustment to EU law would improve them rapidly, but a real adjustment would not take place in Turkey. Especially in the area of ​​religious freedoms, no progress is to be expected, and Christians in particular are still exposed to reprisals.

Turkey refuses to extend the customs union it has ratified with the EU to all EU countries. Ships from the Republic of Cyprus are not allowed to call at Turkish ports. In addition, there are economic concerns due to the still low economic power and low level of development, the effect of which on the EU would be reinforced by the large population (83.2 million, as of 2019). Due to its size, Turkey would likely shift the balance of power within the institutions. Furthermore, Turkey has external borders that many residents of the current EU consider to be dangerous and unstable. So Turkey borders u. a. to Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Proponents counter this that Turkey has influenced the history of Europe for 500 years and has been characterizing itself as European and oriented towards Western European states at the latest since the founding of the state by Ataturk . Against the objection that Turkey is geographically located mainly in Asia, it is argued that the EU member Republic of Cyprus is entirely in Asia. As a member of the Council of Europe , which it joined in 1949, Turkey belongs politically and culturally to Europe and thus has the right, according to Article 49 of the EU Treaty , to apply to join the EU.

The argument that Turkey, as a Muslim country, is culturally not part of Christian Europe, is countered by the fact that the populations in continental European countries such as Albania or Bosnia-Herzegovina are largely Muslim. In addition, the EU does not define itself through religion. The economic and rule of law reform process in Turkey is seen as positive, although it has not yet been completed.

The option to join was assessed as no longer realistic in summer 2017.

Potential candidate countries

Applications to join the EU

European Union

Candidate countries

Application for membership made (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Entered and resigned or membership rejected by referendum (Great Britain and Norway)

Application withdrawn (Iceland and Switzerland)

Application rejected by EC (Morocco)

At the 2003 summit in Thessaloniki , the integration of the states of the former Yugoslavia (so-called Western Balkan states) was set as the next major goal of EU enlargement . These states are designated by the EU as potential accession candidates . Since the accession efforts of Croatia and North Macedonia, it has been a new practice for the EU to first conclude a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with these potential accession candidates . Through this SAA, the future member state is politically and economically bound to the EU and it is hoped for greater stability before accession talks are started.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

→ Main articles : Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union

Bosnia and Herzegovina submitted its application to join the EU on February 15, 2016. The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) was signed on June 16, 2008 after three years of negotiations. The ratification of the SAA was completed in April 2015, so that it came into force on June 1, 2015.

At the end of June 2012, the EU foreign ministers called for constitutional changes in Bosnia and Herzegovina, without which the application for membership would be unsuccessful. The European Court of Human Rights had demanded this in a judgment, since certain minorities are excluded by the previous constitution from running for public office.

The President of the Bosnian State Presidium, Dragan Čović , officially submitted the application for membership in the European Union on February 15, 2016.

Kosovo

→ Main article : Kosovo and the European Union

The Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008, which is not recognized by many countries, including Serbia and some EU countries.

Numerous obstacles stand in the way of EU accession. The EU countries Romania , Slovakia , Spain , Greece and the Republic of Cyprus do not recognize their independence. Without recognition by all EU countries, accession negotiations will not be possible. The Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between the EU and Kosovo has been in force since April 1, 2016 .

There are also diplomatic tensions outside the EU. Serbia's parliament has decided that all treaties that Serbia concludes must take into account the country's unity of state. Negotiations between the EU and Kosovo could therefore make further agreements with Serbia impossible. Radical forces in Serbia insist that Serbia can only become a member of the EU including Kosovo. Moderate forces in the country, on the other hand, rely on the possibility of joining the EU and then preventing Kosovo from joining as an EU member. Relations between Kosovo and Serbia were also included as a negotiating point in Serbia's accession negotiations with the European Union.

Other problems include the unstable party landscape, which mainly specializes in the representation of ethnic groups rather than on issues, corruption and the shadow economy as well as various economic and social problems.

Possible future candidates for membership

Geographical and political borders of Europe

Numerous states are geographically at least partially in Europe. In addition, many states are involved in European politics through membership of the Council of Europe or agreements with the European Union. Not all of these states have an active interest in joining, but are possible long-term candidates for geographic or political reasons.

Furthermore, there are partially sovereign territories under the sovereignty of EU member states that have so far been outside the EU but could join it.

There is also a precedent for delimiting the candidate countries: Morocco applied for membership in 1987. However, this was rejected on July 14, 1987, in particular because Morocco is definitely not geographically on the European continent. However, the Union for the Mediterranean is supposed to link the EU with neighboring countries that are geographically not eligible as candidate countries.

EFTA countries

EFTA countries

Members

former members

In contrast to the EU, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is a pure economic alliance. These countries could join the EU and, with the exception of Liechtenstein, had applied for membership in the past, but frozen or withdrawn it after the domestic political situation had changed or a referendum led to membership being rejected. With the exception of Switzerland, these countries cooperate with the EU within the EEA . There are also some bilateral agreements, particularly with Switzerland.

Iceland

→ Main article : Iceland and the European Union

Iceland is already partially integrated into EU structures. It is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and belongs to the Schengen area . It also participates in some EU programs such as the Erasmus program . Since Iceland is a democracy without any notable deficits, it also meets the Copenhagen criteria . A crucial issue in accession negotiations would be fishing rights in Icelandic waters.

Iceland applied for membership on July 17, 2009. This was made possible by the severe consequences of the 2007 financial crisis for Iceland, which led to a change of government and a less EU-skeptical attitude. Iceland replied to the membership questionnaire and submitted the extensive documentation in October 2009. In February 2010 the EU Commission spoke out in favor of starting accession negotiations. On June 17, 2010, the Council of the European Union followed the EU Commission and gave the green light for accession negotiations. Accession negotiations officially started on July 27, 2010. The then Icelandic government hoped to join in 2012. After the accession negotiations had been concluded, EU accession should have been voted on in a referendum.

On February 22, 2014, it became known that the Icelandic government intends to withdraw its membership application. After objections from the population, the position emerged in the summer of 2014 to continue negotiations with the EU "in order to at least know the conditions of possible membership". On March 12, 2015, Iceland formally withdrew its application to join the European Union.

Liechtenstein

→ Main article : Liechtenstein and the European Union

Liechtenstein has been a member of EFTA since 1991 and of the EEA since 1995 . The country has been closely linked to Switzerland since 1924 through an economic, currency and customs union. It has been part of the Schengen area since the end of 2011 . The country has been criticized in the past as a tax haven ( e.g. in reports by the OECD), but has concluded tax agreements with the EU in individual areas or is aiming to do so since 2005.

In a 2010 report, the government drew a positive balance on EEA membership and sees it as a more dynamic alternative to the bilateral agreements that Switzerland has concluded with the EU. The further development of EFTA, in particular Iceland's exit through accession to the EU, is important for Liechtenstein. The government is keeping other options for relations with the EU open, but does not name them in the report and does not speak of EU accession there.

Norway

→ Main articles : Norway and the European Union

Norway is a member of the EEA and part of the Schengen area , which means that the country has to comply with many EU directives, including those relating to the economy. It is involved in various EU programs and institutions. The country pays 226 million euros annually (as of 2005) to the EU, most of which flow into the economically weaker regions of the Union. Conversely, however, Norway does not benefit from EU funding programs, so that, according to calculations, an effective annual loss for Norway of 180 million euros arises.

So far Norway has tried four times to join the EU or its predecessor organizations. In 1962 and 1967 this failed because of the French veto. In 1972, the majority of Norwegians rejected membership in a referendum . Another referendum in 1994 also resulted in a majority rejection.

The reasons for the rejection are varied. As a relatively young independent nation, one is skeptical about relinquishing sovereignty. Norway is also doing exceptionally well economically. The standard of living is one of the highest in the world, so joining does not promise any benefits. An important question is the fishing rights, which are especially important to the coastal population and which could be restricted in the event of EU accession.

According to a study, the majority of Norwegians are extremely skeptical of the idea of ​​a state unification of the European states. This is true even for the majority of EU supporters. These support EU accession primarily for pragmatic reasons (such as the possibility of co-decision-making within European bodies after EU accession). The main reasons for the skeptical attitude of the overwhelming majority of Norwegians towards an “EU” state unit are the very positive experiences and characteristics that are ascribed to the Norwegian nation state. These positive characteristics of the Norwegian nation state, according to the collective self-image in Norway, are: democracy, peacefulness, good welfare state order and a functioning and citizen-friendly administration. The (national) state and people are therefore viewed as a good and democratic community. This positive self-image is enriched by national romantic transfigurations of Norway as an idyll by farmers and fishermen. It should be noted that the social support groups of the rural Norwegian periphery (keyword fishing rights and agricultural subsidies; and generally the high subsidies for the Norwegian periphery) also expect tangible benefits from not joining.

Nevertheless, the Norwegians are generally positive about extremely loose and intergovernmental cooperation in Europe, even if the question of membership divides politics and society. There were phases in which, according to surveys, a clear majority was in favor of joining the EU.

The Norwegian political landscape is divided on the issue. In the last three governments there was therefore a clause in the coalition agreement that stipulated that the coalition would break if one of the partners raises the issue again. The question is therefore not on the political agenda for the time being.

Iceland's steps towards the European Union had also provoked reactions in Norway. While opponents of the EU have stated that they have no influence over Norway, the EU-friendly Høyre party has even called for a new EU debate. Iceland's accession could at least have had a psychological effect. Norway would then have been the only independent country in Northern Europe that is not a member of the EU. If an acceptable compromise for the Icelanders on fishing rights had been reached in the accession negotiations, this could have presented an acceptable solution for Norway as well. Norwegian fishermen even hoped that the EU would restrict Iceland's fisheries policy. Another point would have been that Iceland would have left the EFTA when Iceland joined the EU , which would have reduced this organization to three members. Besides Liechtenstein , Norway would then have been the only non-EU member in the European Economic Area .

Before the election of Storting on September 13, 2009, EU accession did not play a major role, although the newspaper Aftenposten published a secret letter from the Norwegian EU ambassador Oda Helen Sletnes in the last few days before the election. This stated that Norway, with the EEA agreements dating from 1994, has no influence on the numerous EU authorities that have been set up since then, and that Norway is losing its special position due to the extensive changes in the EU. It also pointed out that the EU would speed up its decision-making processes considerably in times of crisis, but that Norway could not keep up.

While the Norwegian authorities have so far seen the close ties to the Nordic neighbors and EU members Sweden, Finland and Denmark as an advantage, because they can also indirectly influence the EU, the ambassador stated that it is precisely these three neighbors who Demand higher financial contributions for Norway in the EEA. The reactions to the letter were subdued, but both EU opponents and EU supporters expected the EU debate to re-emerge, especially in the event of Iceland joining the EU.

Switzerland

See also : Bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the EU

The Switzerland has membership in the 1992 European Community requested and started accession talks. The accession negotiations were frozen again after the referendum of December 6, 1992 (rejection of the federal resolution on the European Economic Area (EEA) with 50.3% no votes and 78.73% participation). A later referendum on the federal popular initiative “Yes to Europe” on March 4, 2001 also resulted in a majority against membership (76.8% against with 55.79% participation). Since then there have been no such attempts at membership.

In general, the fear of a loss of democracy, neutrality and independence is cited as the main reason for rejection. Furthermore, Switzerland has a low unemployment rate and a very high quality of life. The strategy of the Swiss government is to build close bilateral contractual relationships with the EU.

A number of such agreements have been successfully concluded. For example, Switzerland has been part of the Schengen area since 2008 . However, there are also efforts to limit this again. As a result of the popular initiative “Against mass immigration” adopted on February 9, 2014, Switzerland wants to restrict the free movement of people to the EU again. If renegotiation with the EU fails, this can lead to the termination of a number of agreements that have been made.

At the beginning of March 2016, the majority of the National Council decided to withdraw the application for membership. Only the left in the council was against it.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was a member of the European Union or its predecessor organizations from January 1, 1973 to January 31, 2020. The relationship between the state and the rest of the EU was difficult for large parts of this period, as it had less interest in surrendering sovereign rights to the EU and reserved some exceptions to agreed obligations. From 1984 the United Kingdom received the so-called British discount , a reduction in contribution payments. In the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, like Denmark , it received an exit clause from the monetary union , which was also exercised. The British also stayed outside the Schengen area and formed the Common Travel Area together with the Republic of Ireland . On June 23, 2016, the part of the British population exercising their right to vote voted with a majority of 52% to leave the European Union . The formal notification of the resignation in accordance with the Treaty on European Union took place on March 29, 2017. The resignation initiated on March 29, 2019 was postponed several times and finally took place on January 31, 2020.

By the end of 2020, the UK will be in a transition phase in full compliance with European Union regulations. Once this has expired, an agreement with the EU is expected to come into force, the details of which are still subject to negotiations. It can be assumed that from this point in time at least parts of the British regulations will differ from those of the EU.

Re-entry into the EU is possible in principle, but unlikely in the near future. The government in office since December 2019 ( Boris Johnson II cabinet ) is pursuing the goal of exiting and concluding an agreement with the EU. The population is also deeply divided between opponents and supporters, so that no future government will carelessly put the intention of re-entry on its agenda. In addition, the EU will be skeptical of such a request in view of the difficulties in the run-up to the exit. It can still be assumed that a new application for membership will be treated in the same way as that of other applicants, so that certain exceptions, such as the waiver of the euro, which resulted from the status of an old member, would no longer be granted. This could make accession even more difficult.

It is possible that parts of the UK could return to the EU. Since only England and Wales voted in favor of leaving the EU with a majority, while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted against it, this strengthened the forces in the latter that are in favor of it. There is a strong independence movement in Scotland whose political representatives, the Scottish National Party , are seeking a new independence referendum and then want to become part of the EU again as an independent state. In Northern Ireland it seems increasingly possible to achieve unification with the Irish Republic after a referendum in the coming decades and to come back to the EU via this route. In Wales the nationalists are also friendly to the EU, but there is far less support for independence.

Gibraltar

Gibraltar occupies a special position among the British overseas territories because it was not only the only one of these territories to belong to the EU, but also because 96% voted in the referendum to remain in the EU. However, in Gibraltar's politics, belonging to Great Britain is more important than other considerations. An attempt by Spain to bring the question of the return of Gibraltar to Spain in the negotiations on the exit failed. The relationship between Gibraltar and the EU will be the subject of further negotiations. A return to the EU by return to Spain or another special status is therefore unlikely, but a closer connection to the EU than the British mother country is quite possible, since Gibraltar's economy is also closely interlinked with the neighboring region in Spain.

Akrotiri and Dekelia

The Akrotiri and Dekelia area consists of military bases that remained under British sovereignty after the independence of the Republic of Cyprus , but with strict restrictions under the Zurich and London agreements . They therefore border directly on the EU, but were never one of the “Overseas Countries and Territories ” (OCTs) associated with the EU during the UK's membership . The military bases may only be used for military purposes and have no autonomous status. Certain political forces in the Republic of Cyprus, such as the former President Dimitris Christofias, have set themselves the goal of handing over the territories to the Republic of Cyprus, which would make them part of the EU. In Akrotiri and Dekelia, the euro is used as the currency, as the respective currency of the Republic of Cyprus has always been used.

Even after the transition period up to the end of 2020, there will be de facto no changes to the existing customs and economic union with the Republic of Cyprus, because there are no border controls to the British areas.

Other British overseas territories

The other British overseas territories never belonged to the EU but had the status of an OCT:

• Anguilla
• Bermuda (with special regulations)
• British Antarctic Territory (territorial claim according to the Antarctic Treaty not internationally recognized)
• British Virgin Islands
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Falkland Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Montserrat
• Pitcairn Islands
• St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Turks and Caicos Islands

Citizens of these areas were citizens of the Union, but European law was not widely applied. None of these areas used the euro as their currency, and many of them did not use the British pound sterling or a currency linked to it. In none of the areas were there any attempts to change the status towards EU membership. With the exit of the United Kingdom, the option of joining the EU no longer applies.

Crown possessions of the British Crown

Due to historical development, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands have the special status of crown possession of the British Crown. Elizabeth II is head of state, but the islands are not part of the United Kingdom . Even before January 31, 2020, they were not part of the EU, nor were they associated with it. Accession to the EU has not been foreseeable in either area since Britain left the EU, also because this would jeopardize their status as tax havens and thus impair the important offshore industry.

• Isle of Man : The island is part of the Customs Union and also applies part of the tax laws, in particular VAT is the same as that of Great Britain. Depending on how the agreements between the EU and the UK will be shaped after the transition phase, a certain degree of participation in the European internal market may remain.
• Channel Islands (Bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey ): With the United Kingdom, there is the historically anchored right to free trade, which would also allow further participation in the internal market, provided the EU and the United Kingdom come to an agreement.

Eastern partnership

Eastern partnership

European Union

Eastern partner countries

The Eastern Partnership , founded in May 2009, is a foreign policy project, the aim of which is to bring the six eastern states Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus closer to the European Union. Association agreements are to be concluded with these countries, which could become members of the EU in the long term because they belong politically to Europe. The Eastern Partnership, however, is not a genuine enlargement instrument, but is part of European foreign policy.

Armenia

Armenia is a member of the Council of Europe and is thus integrated into European structures. The country is linked to the EU through the European Neighborhood Policy with action plans; in November 2006 a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was concluded. Well-known politicians, including the former parliamentary speaker Arthur Baghdassarjan (belonging to the opposition), spoke out in 2006 in favor of Armenia joining the EU. Former President Robert Kocharyan (independent) and the former Conservative government under Prime Minister Andranik Markarjan were apparently more interested in technical (economic, legal, commercial) than political cooperation. Accession to the EU is therefore currently not very likely, especially since the Armenian government signed an accession agreement to the Eurasian Economic Union on October 10, 2014 .

Azerbaijan

→ Main articles : Azerbaijan and the European Union

Under the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), Azerbaijan primarily receives financial and economic support from the European Union . From an economic point of view, Azerbaijan is an important partner of the EU, because the EU countries are the largest buyers of Azerbaijani oil .

Azerbaijan has been a member of the Council of Europe since 2001 and is thus integrated into European structures. But the country is linked to the EU through the European Neighborhood Policy with action plans. The parliamentary cooperation committee between the EU and Azerbaijan, which includes high-ranking politicians on both sides, believes that Azerbaijan's accession to the EU is possible.

Georgia

→ Main articles : Georgia and the European Union

Georgia has expressed an interest in EU membership. It is a member of the Council of Europe , participates in the EU programs European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and TRACECA . Culturally, the predominantly Christian Orthodox Georgians consider themselves Europeans.

Since the Caucasus War in 2008 over the disputed territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia , there has been a clear rapprochement with the European Union. In November 2013, Georgia signed an Association Agreement with the EU as part of the Eastern Partnership . The Economic and Political Association Agreement between Georgia and the EU was concluded on June 27, 2014 in Brussels. Georgia has been a member of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) since September 1, 2014 .

Moldova

The Republic of Moldova borders Romania and Ukraine. In 1992 the part east of the Dniester split off unilaterally as Transnistria . On July 1, 1998 the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Moldova came into force. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe and is therefore probably not a candidate for EU membership in the medium term. Romania, however, is trying to bring the neighboring country closer to the European structures

See also : Movement to Unite Romania and Moldova

In November 2013, Moldova signed an Association Agreement under the Eastern Partnership . The Economic and Political Association Agreement between Moldova and the EU was signed on June 27, 2014 in Brussels. Moldova has been a member of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) since September 1, 2014 .

Ukraine

→ Main articles : Ukraine and the European Union

The Ukraine is the since 1995 member of Europe . In 2004, according to the then President Viktor Yushchenko , the country announced that it was aiming for EU membership soon. At the EU-Ukraine summit in Paris on September 9, 2008, the President announced the desired date for 2015. The EU has not ruled out membership, but an association agreement is being negotiated first, which the Ukrainian government would like to have completed by the end of 2009. The name was not chosen by chance. With it, writes the Süddeutsche Zeitung , "is intended to be a reminder of earlier association agreements that later led to EU accession".

The EU played an important mediating role in overcoming the unrest that arose in December 2004 after the massive fraud in the presidential elections (later known as the “Orange Revolution”). The west of Ukraine has long tended towards the EU and has strong contacts to Poland , while the (so far politically dominant) east of the state would like to maintain or strengthen its previous connection with Russia . This conflict also divided the population and major parties during the 2006 and 2007 parliamentary elections .

On October 25, 2010, the European Parliament adopted a resolution allowing Ukraine to apply for membership. At the same time, it criticized the lack of freedom of the press in the country and called for an investigation into the disappearance of journalist Vasily Klimentiev . The political part of the Association Agreement was concluded in March 2014. The economic part of the Association Agreement was signed by President Petro Poroshenko on June 27, 2014 . This also includes a contract on a free trade area. Ukraine has been a member of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) since January 1, 2016 .

On March 3, 2016, Reuters reported on a statement made by EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in The Hague on March 1, 2016 in connection with the upcoming referendum in the Netherlands on the EU trade agreement with Ukraine : Ukraine, Juncker said, would agree Security cannot become a member of the EU for the next 20 to 25 years. The same applies to the accession of the Eastern European country to NATO.

Belarus

Belarus is considered to be the last dictatorship in Europe and is internationally isolated . The country is looking for a closer partnership - including a union with Russia than closeness to the EU. Belarus' application to join the Council of Europe was rejected due to a lack of democratic standards. This makes it the only European country that is not a member of the Council of Europe against its will. On May 29, 2014, together with Russia and Kazakhstan , it founded the Eurasian Economic Union , which began its work on January 1, 2015.

Other Eastern European countries

In addition to the Eastern Partnership, there are states that are geographically partly in Eastern Europe.

Kazakhstan

A part of Kazakhstan lies to the west of the Urals and thus after the strahlenberg inner Eurasian border in Europe. The country is regarded by the Council of Europe as a European nation, as it announced in an official declaration from 1999, and could thus also become a member of the Council of Europe. However, deficits in compliance with human rights and in the democratic structure are often criticized, e. B. Human Rights Watch , which can be an obstacle to entry into the Council of Europe and the European Union.

So far, no interest has been expressed in joining the European Union. However, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry has expressed interest in the European Neighborhood Policy . Some members of the European Parliament also discussed the inclusion of Kazakhstan in the neighborhood policy. Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed in 1994 a Eurasian Union as an alternative to membership in the EU. This was founded on May 29, 2014 as the Eurasian Economic Union and started work on January 1, 2015.

Russia

→ Main article : Russia and the European Union

It is widely believed that even though Russia is a member of the Council of Europe , it will not join the EU in the long term. In terms of population, Russia would be by far the largest country, in terms of area 3.8 times the size of the EU-27. The “absorption capacity” of the Union as defined in the Copenhagen criteria would thus be clearly called into question.

Apart from that, Russia itself does not seem to be seriously interested in EU membership, because this would contradict its self-image as a world power. Russia sees itself as a great power alongside the EU (as well as the USA, China, etc.), so it has no interest in subordinating itself to decisions from Brussels.

Accordingly, Russia does not participate in the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), as it fears that it will only be a junior partner in it. Russia insisted on a special form of cooperation with the EU, which underlines the “equal eye level” of both partners, the so-called “four common spaces”. No further expansion of the cooperation is planned. Rather, Russia is striving for its own Eurasian integration. To this end, on May 29, 2014, with effect from January 1, 2015, it founded the Eurasian Economic Union together with Belarus and Kazakhstan . Even Armenia signed a corresponding accession agreement on 10 October, 2014.

Dwarf states

The five European dwarf states

In addition to the EFTA member Liechtenstein, there are a number of other European miniature states, none of which are members of the EU. While small states can join the EU, as Malta has already done, most of these states are unlikely to join for various reasons. Some of them have tax breaks that attract offshore financial center companies and are interesting for wealthy foreigners as a tax-saving residence. This would be difficult to reconcile with membership in the EU. All of these states also have a significantly smaller population than the smallest EU member to date, Malta.

Andorra

→ Main articles : Andorra and the European Union

Andorra has a larger area than Malta, but a significantly smaller population. The country traditionally has close ties to its two neighbors Spain and France . The French head of state is automatically a co-prince of Andorra . Since the country did not have its own currency before the introduction of the euro and payments were made with the money of the two neighboring countries, the euro has been used since its introduction .

Andorra initially only participated passively in the monetary union, but after long negotiations with the European Union it concluded an agreement that has given Andorra the right to mint its own euro coins since July 1, 2013. As part of the agreement, the euro also became the official currency in Andorra. However, the issue of own coins has only started on December 29, 2014.

There are some tax benefits. The low sales tax ensures that luxury items in Andorra are comparatively cheap and are therefore sold on a large scale. There was also no income tax until the end of 2014. However, the principality is hardly known as the residence of rich foreigners. These circumstances make Andorra not a current candidate for membership. Nevertheless, votes in Andorra for long-term EU accession are increasing.

Monaco

→ Main articles : Monaco and the European Union

The Principality of Monaco is part of the EU customs area and has very close ties to France . There is a currency union with France, so it has also introduced the euro and minted its own euro coins.

There is no income tax , but sales tax is levied at tax rates that are the same as in France.

San Marino

→ Main articles : San Marino and the European Union

San Marino has introduced a customs union with the EU and the euro. It also mints its own euro coins. Although the country is listed as a tax haven by the OECD , it cannot be compared with the other small states in this respect. The republic receives payments from Italy so that taxes are not set too low and encourage tax evasion in the small country. Therefore, the proportion of San Marines in the country is still very high (over 80%) and the local banks work mainly in the domestic economy.

The government of San Marino showed interest in joining in October 2007 in order to improve export conditions for San Marino companies. On June 13, 2012, a state treaty was signed with Italy that creates new opportunities for bilateral cooperation. However, joining the EU or the EEA was not an issue.

Vatican city

→ Main articles : Vatican City and the European Union

The Vatican City is a special case in several respects. The national territory is the smallest in the world. Citizenship is only granted in addition to existing citizenship and is restricted to certain groups of people. The state is also an absolute monarchy and a theocracy , which generally excludes membership in the EU. Almost without exception, the state renounces membership in international organizations and only has observer status in some. In the Council of Europe and the United Nations he is also only an observer.

Some of the sovereign tasks are performed by Italy or in close cooperation with Italy. The Vatican City has also introduced the euro and is minting its own euro coins, which are taken from the contingent allocated to Italy. There is also a customs union with Italy. It is not part of the Schengen area , but the borders with Italy are open.

Dependent areas of member states

The EU and dependent territories

→ Main article : Territory of the European Union

A number of areas are under the administration of an EU country but are not part of the EU. The EU also knows the special status of the “Overseas Countries and Territories” (“OCT” or “OCT”), which represent a form of association. In these areas, EU regulations are partially applied, even if they are not legally part of the EU. Some other areas are also not associated with the EU.

They mostly enjoy autonomy, so that the decision about an application to join often rests with the government of the areas themselves, not with the government of the respective mother country. You are not a member of the EU at your own request, but you could become one. These areas also include European areas with aspirations for independence, in which accession as a completely independent member is also conceivable.

Nations within the Kingdom of Denmark

The Faroe Islands and Greenland are equal nations within Denmark and are not members of the EU.

• Faroe Islands : The Faroe Islands are not an OCT and do not apply any European law. The residents are also not citizens of the Union. The islands do not belong to the Schengen area , but passport controls do not take place in the countries of the Nordic Passport Union . The Faroese Krone is pegged to the Euro at a fixed exchange rate, as it is parity with the Danish Krone . The islands have had far-reaching autonomy since 1948. There has been a fisheries agreement with the EU since 1977 and a free trade agreement since 1991, although this has quantitative restrictions. Full membership was rejected by the then government in 2007. Instead, there is an interest in EFTA membership and close cooperation with the EU along the lines of Switzerland.

On March 29, 2005, a statement from the Danish government made it clear that if Denmark joined the euro area, the Faroe Islands could keep the krona if they so choose. According to the will of the Sjálvstýrisflokkurin party, however, it could come the other way round: While the Danes were not planning to join the euro zone at the time, the Faroe Islands applied for the introduction of the euro in August 2009.

The Faroe Islands have close ties to their northern neighbor Iceland , with whom an economic union has existed since August 31, 2005. Iceland's accession to the EU after the financial crisis from 2007 onwards could also have influenced the Faroese's attitude towards accession.

• Greenland : The island has the status of an OCT and aims for independence from the Kingdom of Denmark in the near future . In 1979 Greenland achieved self-government and internal autonomy with its own parliament and government. The residents voted in a referendum in 1982 to leave the European Community , which took place in 1985. The main reason for Greenland's exit from the EC was the overfishing of Greenland waters by West German fishing fleets. There are further agreements with the EU, including a. a customs union for certain product groups. The island also receives financial support from the EU.

The current Greenland government is neutral to any membership. In an interview in January 2009, the then Foreign and Finance Minister of Greenland, Per Berthelsen , expressed reluctance to join the EU. You have to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of this step.

As Greenland was once part of the EC and is historically closely linked to Europe due to its dependence on Denmark, a rejection of Greenland for cultural, geographical or historical reasons is considered unlikely. In addition, for geopolitical reasons, the EU is interested in having a presence in the Arctic .

French overseas territories

In contrast to the other EU states with external territories, significant parts of the French overseas territories are part of the European Union. This is the case with French Guiana , Guadeloupe , Martinique , Mayotte , Réunion and Saint-Martin .

The remaining areas are OCTs:

• French Polynesia : The area uses the CFP franc , which is pegged to the euro.
• French Southern and Antarctic Lands : These areas use the euro, but this is of little practical importance as there is no indigenous population there and all residents are crews at research stations.
• New Caledonia : The area uses the CFP franc , which is pegged to the euro.
• Saint-Barthélemy : As the only Caribbean overseas territory, Saint-Barthélemy has not been part of the European Union since January 1, 2012. This step was justified by the fact that it is difficult to apply European law with the island economy, which is exclusively geared to tourism.
• Saint-Pierre and Miquelon : The area uses the euro.
• Wallis and Futuna : The area uses the CFP franc , which is pegged to the euro.

The citizens of all French overseas territories are Union citizens and vote for the European Parliament . In the last European elections they formed an electoral district that sent three members to parliament.

Caribbean areas in the Kingdom of the Netherlands

The Kingdom of the Netherlands comprises a number of areas in the Caribbean , but not all of them have the same status. With the last change in 2010, which was made after referendums in the areas, some areas are equal countries within the kingdom, i. In other words, they are on an equal footing with the Netherlands and have complete internal autonomy. Others have chosen the status of a special municipality , which enables possible future EU membership in the form of an outermost region . A decision on this is still pending.

• Aruba , Sint Maarten and Curaçao are equal countries
• Bonaire , Saba , Sint Eustatius are "special parishes"

The territories use the US dollar or related currencies. As a special feature, Sint Maarten has a border with the European Union, as the other half of the island of St. Martin is a French overseas territory belonging to the EU.

See also

Portal: European Union  - Overview of Wikipedia content on the subject of the European Union

• Western Balkans Conference

Web links

• European Neighborhood Policy And Enlargement Negotiations on the European Commission's website
  • Check current status of candidate countries (English)
• Strategy and Reports (English) - European Neighborhood Policy And Enlargement Negotiations on the European Commission's website
• Policy Highlights (English) - European Neighborhood Policy And Enlargement Negotiations on the European Commission's website
• Europe - expansion of the EU at www.politische-bildung.de of the Federal Working Group on Political Education Online
• EU enlargement policy 2016 , summary of the communication from the Commission Communication 2016 on EU enlargement policy
• Enlargement Strategy 2015 , summary of the Commission's Communication on the EU's Enlargement Strategy
• Extension: strategy and reports
• European Union - countries  - including candidate countries and potential candidate countries
• Christoph Hellriegel: From the Treaties of the Six to the Union of 27 The enlargements of the European Communities . In: German Bundestag  - Scientific Services , No. 12/07, March 14, 2007.
• Official information on EU enlargement
• The legal questions of the enlargement of the EU , information of the European Parliament
• Pouyeh Ansari: " Call for tenders: EU membership" , Deutsche Welle , July 22, 2009.
• Sam Morgan: Study: Some EU candidates will not be ready to join before 2050 . Translated from the English by Tim Steins. In: www.euractiv.de . EURACTIV .de, November 6, 2017 (Original title: Most EU hopefuls might not be ready to join before 2050, study finds ).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Albania is considering joining the EU in 2014. In: EurActiv. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013 ; accessed on October 14, 2018 . 
2. ↑ News - FOCUS Online ( Memento from June 2, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
3. ↑ Merkel promises Serbia support in rapprochement with the EU. November 16, 2009, archived from the original on September 7, 2012 ; accessed on October 14, 2018 . 
4. ↑ EU: 2,280 questions to Albania | Extension | European Union Information Website (EU and Europe). In: Euractiv.de. December 17, 2009, archived from the original on December 19, 2009 ; accessed on October 14, 2018 . 
5. ↑ Albania's Berisha delivers questionnaire responses to Brussels. setimes.com, April 15, 2010, accessed October 15, 2011 . 
6. ↑ European Union: Albania is now officially a candidate for EU membership . In: Spiegel Online . June 24, 2014 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
7. ↑ ^{a b} No EU visa requirement anymore: Balkan states celebrate, Turkey grumbles . In: Spiegel Online . December 20, 2009 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
8. ↑ Reuters Editorial: Balkan states are only slowly approaching the EU . In: DE . ( reuters.com [accessed October 14, 2018]).
9. ↑ Scan. (PDF; 2.2 MB) In: euractiv.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014 ; accessed on October 14, 2018 (English). 
10. ^ Montenegro officially candidate for membership . In: sueddeutsche.de , December 17, 2010. ISSN  0174-4917 . Retrieved June 2, 2012. 
11. ↑ ^{a b} Extension: Serbia and Montenegro are getting closer. European Commission, accessed October 12, 2011 . 
12. ^ Montenegro before the EU accession negotiations. (PDF; 198 kB) Friedrich Ebert Foundation, accessed on February 20, 2012 . 
13. ↑ afp.com: Extension: Montenegro takes a step towards the European Union. In: welt.de . June 29, 2012, accessed October 7, 2018 . 
14. ↑ Gerd Höhler: Macedonia: A nation loses its name . In: Spiegel Online . March 29, 2008 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
15. ↑ FOCUS Online: EU accession is a long time coming . In: FOCUS Online . December 8, 2009 ( focus.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
16. ^ Agreement in name dispute: Macedonia is to be called "Republic of North Macedonia" in future . In: Spiegel Online . June 12, 2018 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
17. ↑ EUROPA - Enlargement: Serbia and Montenegro ( Memento from June 16, 2006 in the Internet Archive )
18. ↑ B92 : "Parafiran sporazum Srbija-EU" , November 7, 2007 (Serbian)
19. ↑ “EU is approaching Serbia” ( Memento from May 1, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) In: Financial Times Deutschland , April 29, 2008
20. ↑ Heute.de: “Genocide - Karadzic arrested in Serbia” , July 21, 2008.
21. ↑ Belgrade announces EU membership application - derStandard.at. Retrieved October 14, 2018 . 
22. ↑ A visa is required for citizens of the Balkans | Extension | European Union Information Website (EU and Europe) | Euractiv.de. November 30, 2009, archived from the original on May 19, 2010 ; accessed on October 14, 2018 . 
23. ↑ tagesschau.de: Serbia submits its application for EU membership. Retrieved October 14, 2018 (German). 
24. ↑ Serbia: Suspected war criminal Mladić arrested . In: ZEIT ONLINE . ( zeit.de [accessed on October 14, 2018]).
25. ↑ n-tv news: Serbia is a candidate for EU membership . In: n-tv.de . ( n-tv.de [accessed on October 14, 2018]).
26. ↑ Thomas Fuster: Serbia must clear out its economy | NZZ . In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung . January 20, 2014, ISSN  0376-6829 ( nzz.ch [accessed October 14, 2018]).
27. ↑ n-tv news: effects . In: n-tv.de . ( n-tv.de [accessed on October 14, 2018]).
28. ↑ news networld Internet Service GmbH: - New chapter "Turkey's accession to the EU: The EU demands a… In: news.at. October 24, 2007 ( news.at [accessed on October 14, 2018]).
29. ↑ FOCUS Online: "EU accession currently unthinkable" . In: FOCUS Online . October 8, 2006 ( focus.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
30. ↑ Rehn: Bosnia to sign SAA on June 16, B92 , May 26, 2008 ( Memento of May 28, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
31. ↑ EU concerned over situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina, B92 , June 26, 2012 ( Memento of June 29, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
32. ↑ Bosnia-Herzegovina is knocking on the EU door. Deutsche Welle , February 15, 2016, accessed February 15, 2016 . 
33. ^ Kosovo EU accession questioned - ethnic groups. June 17, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2018 . 
34. ↑ Radicals plan to block Serbia's EU accession . In: Jetzt.de . February 28, 2008 ( Jetzt.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
35. ^ Tadic: As an EU member, Belgrade can prevent Kosovo from joining - derStandard.at. Retrieved October 14, 2018 . 
36. ↑ B92 : “Chapter 35 on Kosovo cannot open new topics”. January 23, 2014, accessed January 23, 2014 . 
37. ^ The legal questions of the enlargement of the EU (1). Retrieved October 14, 2018 . 
38. ↑ FOCUS Online: An island on the way to Europe . In: FOCUS Online . ( focus.de [accessed on October 14, 2018]).
39. ↑ tagesschau.de: Brussels: EU accession negotiations with Iceland can begin. Retrieved October 14, 2018 (German). 
40. ↑ Accession negotiations: Iceland crawls closer to the EU . ( handelsblatt.com [accessed October 14, 2018]).
41. ↑ European Commission - PRESS RELEASES - Press release - EU starts accession negotiations with Iceland. Retrieved October 14, 2018 . 
42. ↑ Iceland solemnly hands over the EU membership application in Stockholm. Retrieved October 14, 2018 (German). 
43. ↑ Icelandic parliament votes for EU accession negotiations. AFP, archived from the original on September 6, 2012 ; accessed on October 14, 2018 . 
44. ^ AFP: Accession negotiations: Iceland renounces EU membership. In: Zeit Online. February 22, 2014, accessed February 22, 2014 . 
45. ↑ Iceland - Interest in joining the EU is growing . In: Deutschlandfunk . May 30, 2014 ( deutschlandfunk.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
46. ↑ Application withdrawn: Iceland no longer wants to join the EU . In: FAZ.NET . ISSN  0174-4909 ( faz.net [accessed October 14, 2018]).
47. ↑ OECD (2000) 2000 Progress Report: Towards Global Tax Co-operation: Progress in Identifying and Eliminating Harmful Tax Practices ( Memento of October 4, 2005 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF; 130 kB)
48. ↑ Report and application from the government to the Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein regarding 15 years of membership of the Principality of Liechtenstein in the European Economic Area (EEA) , printed matter No. 17/2010, 2010 (PDF; 2.5 MB)
49. ↑ Norway, the EU and the European North ( Memento from October 24, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
50. ↑ - Norge taper billion på å stå utenfor EU . In: Dagbladet.no . May 22, 2007 ( dagbladet.no [accessed October 14, 2018]).
51. ↑ UN ranking: Norway is the best place to live . In: Spiegel Online . October 5, 2009 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
52. ↑ Hille, Jochen: Good Nation or Europe? December 9, 2005, doi : 10.18452 / 15381 ( hu-berlin.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
53. ↑ Høyre: - Dette er startskuddet for ny norsk EU-debatt - Nyheter - Innenriks - Aftenposten.no ( Memento from July 20, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
54. ↑ Islandsk ja til EU-søknad - - Verden - Aftenposten.no ( Memento from July 19, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
55. ↑ Islandsk ja - bt.no ( Memento from July 19, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
56. ↑ "EØS-avtalen svekkes", rogalandsavis.no ( Memento from January 19, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
57. ↑ Aftenposten, "Varsko om EØS-avtalen", September 3, 2009 (Norwegian) ( Memento from September 6, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
58. ↑ EU iskallt i Norges valrörelse - DN.SE. September 10, 2009, archived from the original on January 13, 2012 ; Retrieved October 14, 2018 (Swedish). 
59. ^ Helena Smith: Cyprus elects its first communist president. In: The Guardian. February 25, 2008, accessed January 27, 2018 . 
60. ↑ Brexit : A transitional phase will apply to trade relations and the application of EU provisions until the end of 2020, so that an unregulated exit from the internal market remains possible on December 31, 2020. After that, Great Britain would fall under the regulations of the World Trade Organization for the EU as a third country.
61. ^ Sputnik: Armenia joins the Eurasian Economic Union. Retrieved October 14, 2018 . 
62. ↑ G. Kröncke: "A lot of hope, a lot of perspective" . In: sueddeutsche.de . 2010, ISSN  0174-4917 ( sueddeutsche.de [accessed on October 14, 2018]).
63. ↑ Ukraine's EU membership moves one step closer ( Memento December 2, 2010 on the Internet Archive ), EurActiv , November 26, 2010.
64. ↑ Juncker rules out Ukraine joining the EU for decades. In: de.reuters.com. March 3, 2016, accessed March 9, 2016 . 
65. ↑ Kazakhstan may become full member of PACE, Ivinsky ( Memento from April 15, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) (English), Kazinform, May 26, 2006
66. ↑ Kazakhstan: Reiches Land, disregarded human rights - tagesschau.de ( Memento from February 9, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
67. ↑ EEAS - European External Action Service - European Commission. Retrieved October 14, 2018 . 
68. ^ Speech by Charles Tannock, MEP. March 16, 2005, accessed October 14, 2018 . 
69. ↑ tagesschau.de: How realistic is Putin's project of a Eurasian Union? Retrieved October 14, 2018 (German). 
70. ^ Sputnik: Armenia joins the Eurasian Economic Union. Retrieved October 14, 2018 . 
71. ↑ Currency agreement between the European Union and the Principality of Andorra (PDF; 778 kB), accessed on July 12, 2012.
72. ↑ The reorientation of the EU also includes miniature states . In: euractiv.com . July 9, 2012 ( euractiv.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
73. ↑ Faroe Islands for the sake of nauwere band met EU (en). October 8, 2007, accessed October 14, 2018 (Dutch). 
74. ↑ Euro wanted as currency in Faroe Islands. Retrieved March 26, 2011 . 
75. ↑ Uppskot til samtyktar um at taka upp samráðingar um treytir fyri evru sum føroyskt gjaldoyra. (PDF; 32 kB) Retrieved on March 26, 2011 (Faroese). 
76. ^ The Greenland Treaty of 1985 ( Memento of May 3, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
77. ↑ Interview with Greenland's Foreign Minister: "Survival in the Arctic is tough" . In: Spiegel Online . January 21, 2009 ( spiegel.de [accessed October 14, 2018]).
78. ↑ 2010/718 / EU: Decision of the European Council of October 29, 2010 to change the status of the island of Saint-Barthélemy in relation to the European Union . 32010D0718, December 9, 2010 ( europa.eu [accessed October 14, 2018]).