Location: The European Union (EU) is located in Europe and has some fuzzy boundaries, much like the European continent.
Member Countries (listed by decreasing population):
Germany
France
United Kingdom
Italy
Spain
Poland
Romania
Netherlands
Greece
Belgium
Portugal
Czech Republic
Hungary
Sweden
Austria
Bulgaria
Denmark
Slovakia
Finland
Ireland
Croatia
Lithuania
Latvia
Slovenia
Estonia
Cyprus
Luxembourg
Malta
Membership and Citizenship
Membership Dues: Countries pay membership fees.
Voting on Laws: Member countries vote on laws that they must follow.
Citizen Rights: Citizens of EU member countries are also EU citizens, allowing them to live and work freely in other member states.
Exceptions and Asterisks
Countries like Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein are not EU members but participate in the European Economic Area (EEA), allowing EU citizens to live there and vice versa, albeit with certain exceptions.
Schengen Area: An agreement allowing free movement without border checks among participating countries, including Switzerland, which is not an EU member but partakes in this agreement.
Currency and Economic Union
Eurozone: The economic union within the EU that uses the Euro. Not all EU members use it.
Permanent Opt-Outs: Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom have exceptions that allow them to retain their local currencies.
Non-Member Usage: Tiny states like Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, and Vatican City can use the Euro without being EU members.
Outermost Regions and Overseas Territories
Outermost Regions: Islands like the Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores (Spain and Portugal) and territories held by France (Caribbean, Reunion, French Guiana) are part of the EU.
Overseas Territories: Associated territories of countries like the UK, Netherlands, and Denmark that are not part of the EU but have complex relationships with it. Generally, EU law does not apply here.
Complications and Unique Cases
Numerous exceptions exist, such as the Isle of Man, Gibraltar, and certain regions that have unique legal statuses or restrictions.
The discussion highlights the complexity of European borders and citizenship, illustrated by a myriad of asterisks attached to laws and regulations.
Conclusion
The European Union presents a complex, multifaceted arrangement with overlapping areas of membership, citizenship, and economic participation that continue to evolve.