EUROPA - EU member countries in brief

Brexit: For the time being, the United Kingdom remains a full member of the EU and rights and obligations continue to fully apply in and to the UK.

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Austria

Capital: Vienna
Official EU language(s): German
EU member country: since 1 January 1995
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 1 December 2007
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Belgium

Capital: Brussels
Official EU language(s): Dutch, French and German
EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Bulgaria

Capital: Sofia
Official EU language(s): Bulgarian
EU member country: since 1 January 2007
Currency: Bulgarian lev BGN. Bulgaria has committed to adopt the euro once it fulfils the necessary conditions.
Schengen: Bulgaria is currently in the process of joining the Schengen area.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS
Presidency of the Council of the EU: The following link is a redirection to an external websiteBulgaria holds the revolving presidency from 1 january 2018.

Croatia

Capital: Zagreb
Official EU language(s): Croatian
EU member country: since 1 July 2013
Currency: Croatian Kuna HRK. Croatia has committed to adopt the euro once it fulfils the necessary conditions.
Schengen: No, Croatia is not a member of the Schengen area
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Cyprus

Capital: Nicosia
Official EU language(s): Greek
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2008
Schengen: Cyprus is currently in the process of joining the Schengen area.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Czech Republic

Capital: Prague
Official EU language(s): Czech
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Currency: Czech koruna (CZK). Czech Republic is currently preparing to adopt the euro.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Denmark

Capital: Copenhagen
Official EU language(s): Danish
EU member country: since 1 January 1973
Currency: Danish krone DKK. Denmark has negotiated of an opt-out from the euro and thus is not obliged to introduce it.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 25 March 2001
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Estonia

Capital: Tallinn
Official EU language(s): Estonian
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2011
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS
Presidency of the Council of the EU: The following link is a redirection to an external websiteEstonia currently holds the revolving presidency until 31 december 2017.

Finland

Capital: Helsinki
Official EU language(s): Finnish, Swedish
EU member country: since 1 January 1995
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 25 March 2001
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

France

Capital: Paris
Official EU language(s): French
EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Germany

Capital: Berlin
Official EU language(s): German
EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Greece

Capital: Athens
Official EU language(s): Greek
EU member country: since 1 January 1981
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2001
Schengen: Schengen area member since 1 January 2000
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

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.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Ireland

Capital: Dublin
Official EU language(s): Irish, English
EU member country: since 1 January 1973
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999.
Schengen: Ireland has negotiated an opt-out from Schengen area.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Italy

Capital: Rome
Official EU language(s): Italian
EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 October 1997
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Latvia

Capital: Riga
Official EU language(s): Latvian
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2014
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Lithuania

Capital: Vilnius
Official EU language(s): Lithuanian
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2015
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Luxembourg

Capital: Luxembourg
Official EU language(s): French, German
EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Malta

Capital: Valletta
Official EU language(s): Maltese, English
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2008
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Netherlands

Capital: Amsterdam
Official EU language(s): Dutch
EU member country: since 1 January 1958
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

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.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Portugal

Capital: Lisbon
Official EU language(s): Portuguese
EU member country: since 1 January 1986
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

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.
Schengen: Romania is currently in the process of joining the Schengen area.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Slovakia

Capital: Bratislava
Official EU language(s): Slovak
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2009.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Slovenia

Capital: Ljubljana
Official EU language(s): Slovenian
EU member country: since 1 May 2004
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 2007.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 21 December 2007.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Spain

Capital: Madrid
Official EU language(s): Spanish
EU member country: since 1 January 1986
Currency: euro. Euro area member since 1 January 1999
Schengen: Schengen area member since 26 March 1995
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

Sweden

Capital: Stockholm
Official EU language(s): Swedish
EU member country: since 1 January 1995
Currency: Swedish krona SEK. Sweden has committed the euro once it fulfils the necessary conditions.
Schengen: Schengen area member since 25 March 2001
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

United Kingdom

Capital: London
Official EU language(s): English
EU member country: since 1 January 1973
Currency: pound sterling (GBP). The UK has negotiated of an opt-out from the euro and thus is not obliged to introduce it.
Schengen: the UK has negotiated an opt-out from Schengen area.
Figures: Geographical size - population - gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in PPS

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