What is the European Union (EU)?

European Union is a unique economical and political union of 27 countries known as the EU members or members of the EU.

The current European Union was founded in 1992 but the idea of a European economic zone emerged after World War 2.

There was a belief that if countries were trade partners it would prevent future conflicts. The European Union has delivered over half a century of peace, stability and prosperity for all the countries in the EU.

European Union has seven major institutions and a few smaller bodies that make laws, manage a joint budget and coordinate trade and foreign affairs.

List of all the countries in the EU

How many countries are in Europe Union? There are 27 countries in the European Union in 2025. Here is the list of the countries in the EU and below is a map of all the member states.

List of countries in the European Union: 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.

What are the newest countries in the EU?

The newest countries in the EU are 3 countries from Eastern Europe:

• Croatia joined the EU in 2013
• Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU in 2007

Which countries will join the European Union next?

So-called candidate countries to join the European Union are:

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Negotiations are held with each candidate country to decide their ability to apply EU legislation and discuss their possible request for transition periods. All countries that wish to join the EU must meet the criteria defined in the Treaty of Maastricht (Article 49).

The Schengen and the EU are different. This article explains the differences between the EU and Schengen Area

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Do all the countries in the EU use the euro?

No. Not all members of the EU use the euro. Some countries are in the process to adopt the euro (Croatia adopted the euro on January 2023) others have rejected the use of the euro (Sweden).

Find out more here Countries in Europe that use the euro in 2025.

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What countries are in Europe? 

This is a challenging question and while we can 100% say there are 27 countries in the European Union, answering the questions about how many countries are in Europe can be difficult.

To find out what countries may or may not be considered part of Europe or countries as such, read this article: How many countries in Europe are there? 44, 45 or 49? 

And if you love learning more about geography or European countries, you might enjoy these articles:

Slovakia vs Slovenia – What’s the difference?

Baltics and Balkans Countries Explained

Travel Tips for Europe

We have many travel guides and tips for Europe— an incredible continent!

Are you travelling on a budget? These ten cheapest European countries will help you plan an itinerary that lets you see as much as possible while there.

Furthermore, if you plan to travel long-term (or at least until the money runs out), these 21 cheapest countries to visit will help you make your hard-earned dollars stretch a bit further.

Delicious cuisine can be enjoyed across Europe, and our food map of Europe will inspire your culinary journey.

For food lovers, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for foodies, a couple of them are located in Europe.

Here are 8 things to know about travelling to Eastern Europe and it’s good to know these 7 misconceptions about Eastern Europe too.

These top 6 travel hacks to save money are great to read when planning your travels.

You’ll need to stay connected while travelling in Europe. We recommend eSIM. It’s easy, reliable and affordable. View eSIMs for individual European countries, or consider a regional eSIM for Europe (which covers 39 countries).

If your travels in Europe are part of a much larger global adventure, then a Global eSIM may be the answer. It connects you in 124 countries, offering data-only eSIM and data/call/text eSIM. The Global eSIM has been a game-changer; we couldn’t imagine travelling without it now.

If you want to travel with like-minded travellers, consider joining a group tour. Check out our Group Tours first for any upcoming European departures, or view Tourradar for great deals on group tours in Europe.

Check out our best-ever travel tips compiled from more than twenty years of experience.