European Union Expansion Timeline

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of member countries that are located primarily in Europe. It has grown significantly since its inception, expanding its membership through several waves of enlargement. This course will provide an overview of the key expansion phases of the EU.

Founding Members - 1957

The European Union was founded in 1957 with the signing of the Treaty of Rome. The original six founding countries were:

Belgium
Germany
France
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands

First Enlargement - 1973

In 1973, the European Union saw its first enlargement with the addition of three new countries:

Denmark
Ireland
United Kingdom

Second Enlargement - 1981

Greece joined the European Union in 1981, marking the second phase of enlargement.

Third Enlargement - 1986

In 1986, two more countries joined the EU:

Spain
Portugal

Fourth Enlargement - 1995

The fourth enlargement occurred in 1995, with the addition of three countries:

Austria
Finland
Sweden

Fifth Enlargement - 2004

The largest single expansion of the EU took place in 2004, with ten new countries joining:

Czech Republic
Estonia
Cyprus
Latvia
Lithuania
Hungary
Malta
Poland
Slovakia
Slovenia

Sixth Enlargement - 2007

In 2007, two more countries joined the EU:

Bulgaria
Romania

Seventh Enlargement - 2013

The most recent enlargement occurred in 2013, with Croatia becoming the 28th member of the European Union.

Conclusion

The expansion of the European Union has been a significant factor in promoting economic cooperation, political stability, and peace in Europe. Each enlargement phase has brought new challenges and opportunities, contributing to the EU's development as a major global entity.