What you need to know about the European Union.
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.
| Country | Flag | Capital | Official EU language | EU member country since | Currency | Schengen area member since |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria |
|
Vienna | German | 1 January 1995 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | 1 December 1997 |
Belgium |
|
Brussels | Dutch, French and German | 1 January 1958 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999. | 26 March 1995. |
Bulgaria |
|
Sofia | Bulgarian | 1 January 2007 | Bulgarian lev BGN. | Bulgaria expects to join the Schengen Area by the end of 2024 |
Croatia |
|
Zagreb | Croatian | 1 July 2013 | Croatian Kuna HRK. | No, Croatia is not a member of the Schengen area |
Cyprus |
|
Nicosia | Greek | 1 May 2004 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2008 | Cyprus is currently in the process of joining the Schengen area. |
Czechia |
|
Prague | Czech | 1 May 2004 | Czech koruna (CZK). | 21 December 2007 |
Denmark |
|
Copenhagen | Danish | 1 January 1973 | Danish krone DKK. | 25 March 2001 |
Estonia |
|
Tallinn | Estonian | 1 May 2004 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2011 | 21 December 2007 |
Finland |
|
Helsinki | Finnish, Swedish | 1 January 1995 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | 25 March 2001 |
France |
|
Paris | French | 1 January 1958 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | 26 March 1995 |
Germany |
|
Berlin | German | 1 January 1958 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | 26 March 1995 |
Greece |
|
Athens | Greek | 1 January 1981 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2001 | 1 January 2000 |
Hungary |
|
Budapest | Hungarian | 1 May 2004 | Hungarian Forint HUF. | 21 December 2007 |
Ireland |
|
Dublin | Irish, English | 1 January 1973 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | Ireland has negotiated an opt-out from Schengen area. |
Italy |
|
Rome | Italian | 1 January 1958 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | 26 October 1997 |
Latvia |
|
Riga | Latvian | 1 May 2004 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2014 | 21 December 2007 |
Lithuania |
|
Vilnius | Lithuanian | 1 May 2004 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2015 | 21 December 2007 |
Luxembourg |
|
Luxembourg | French, German | 1 January 1958 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | 26 March 1995 |
Malta |
|
Valletta | Maltese, English | 1 May 2004 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2008 | 21 December 2007 |
Netherlands |
|
Amsterdam | Dutch | 1 January 1958 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | 26 March 1995 |
Poland |
|
Warsaw | Polish | 1 May 2004 | Polish Złoty PLN. | 21 December 2007 |
Portugal |
|
Lisbon | Portuguese | 1 January 1986 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | 26 March 1995 |
Romania |
|
Bucharest | Romanian | 1 January 2007 | Romanian Leu RON. | Romania is currently in the process of joining the Schengen area. |
Slovakia |
|
Bratislava | Slovak | 1 May 2004 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2009 | 21 December 2007 |
Slovenia |
|
Ljubljana | Slovenian | 1 May 2004 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2007 | 21 December 2007 |
Spain |
|
Madrid | Spanish | 1 January 1986 | The euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999 | 26 March 1995 |
Sweden |
|
Stockholm | Swedish | 1 January 1995 | Swedish krona SEK. | 25 March 2001 |
