The EU or the European Union is an international organization that consists of 27 member states. These member states are located in Europe, and they are bound together by treaties and agreements.
However, not all European countries are members of the EU. There are a few countries that are not part of the EU for various reasons ranging from political to geographical. Some like Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Turkey are candidates for membership while others like Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are potential candidates.
And then there are countries like Belarus, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland which are part of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) but not the EU. They have a close relationship with the EU and participate in some of its policies but they maintain their own independent economies.
There are also a handful of microstates like Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City that are not members of either the EU simply because they are too small.
Here are the countries in Europe that are not part of the EU:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican City
Albania
Albania is a potential candidate for membership in the EU. It applied for membership in 2009 but has yet to be accepted. Albania has made significant progress in recent years and is now considered to be a front-runner among the potential candidates.
Andorra
Andorra is not a member of the EU because it is not a part of the European continent. Andorra is located in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. While it does have close ties to both countries, it is not part of either one.
Armenia
A country with a complicated history, Armenia was once part of the Soviet Union. It is now classified as a “transcontinental” country because it is located in both Europe and Asia. While it has been an associate member of the EU since 2006, it is not a full member.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is another “transcontinental” country located in both Europe and Asia. It is bordered by the Caspian Sea and is considered to be a very important country for energy resources. Azerbaijan has been an associate member of the EU since 1999 but is not a full member.
Belarus
Belarus is a landlocked country located in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland. Belarus’ relationship with the EU is considered “cold and distant” as the EU has imposed sanctions on the country for human rights violations. The country has not asked for membership and EU leaders have not pushed for it either.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a potential candidate for membership in the EU. It applied for membership in 2016 but has yet to be accepted. The country is still recovering from the Bosnian War of the 1990s and has made slow progress in reforming its economy and institutions.
Georgia
Georgia is a potential candidate for membership in the EU. It applied for membership in 2014 but has yet to be accepted. Georgia has made significant progress in recent years and is now considered to be a front-runner among the potential candidates.
Iceland
Iceland is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) but not the EU. It has a close relationship with the EU and participates in some of its policies but it maintains its own independent economy. Iceland applied for membership in 2009 but withdrew its application in 2013.
Kosovo
Kosovo is a landlocked country located in the Balkans and is a potential candidate for membership in the EU. It applied for membership in 2020 but has yet to be accepted. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognized as a sovereign state by over 100 countries.
Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein is a microstate located in the Alps and is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) but not the EU. It also has a close relationship with the EU and participates in some of its policies but altogether, maintain its own independent economy.
North Macedonia
North Macedonia is a potential candidate for membership in the EU. It applied for membership in 2005 but has yet to be accepted. The country is still recovering from the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s and has made slow progress in reforming its economy and institutions. In 2019, the country changed its name from Macedonia to North Macedonia in an effort to resolve a long-running dispute with Greece.
Moldova
Moldova is a landlocked country located in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania and Ukraine. Moldova has a complex relationship with the EU as it is an associate member of the EU but also has a customs union with Russia.
Monaco
Monaco is a microstate located on the French Riviera and is surrounded by France. While Monaco has close ties to France, it is not part of the EU simply because microstates are not eligible for membership.
Montenegro
Montenegro is a potential candidate for membership in the EU. It applied for membership in 2008 but has yet to be accepted. The country likely will be a member by 2025. Montenegro is a small country located in the Balkans with a population of about 620,000.
Norway
Norway is a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) but not the EU. Like other EFTA members, it has a close relationship with the EU and participates in some of its policies but does not follow all of them. Norway’s main issue is with its Fishing resources, as the EU has control over them.
Russia
Russia is the largest country in the world and is located in both Europe and Asia. Russia has a complex relationship with the EU as it is both an adversary and a partner. The EU has imposed sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine but at the same time, the two sides cooperate on issues such as energy.
In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine, which led to sanctions being imposed on the country by the EU. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the European Parliament condemned the move and called for more sanctions.
Serbia
Serbia is a potential candidate for membership in the EU. It applied for membership in 2009 but has yet to be accepted. Serbia has made some progress in reforming its economy and institutions but still needs to make more reforms in order to meet the criteria for membership.
Switzerland
Switzerland is a landlocked country located in the Alps and is not a member of the EU. It has maintained a policy of neutrality since the end of the Napoleonic Wars and is not a member of any military alliance. Switzerland has a close relationship with the EU and participates in some of its policies but does not follow all of them. In 1992, Swiss voters rejected membership in the European Economic Area (EEA) and thus, full membership in the EU.
Turkey
Turkey is a potential candidate for membership in the EU. It has been a member of the European Economic Community (EEC) since 1963 and applied for membership in 1987. Turkey is officially a candidate for membership but has not yet met all the criteria. Of the 35 chapters of the accession process, 16 have been opened and one closed.
Recent events and policies, such as the 2016 coup attempt, the election of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Turkey’s involvement in the Syrian Civil War have caused some European leaders to think that Turkey may be moving away from the EU rather than closer to it.
Ukraine
Ukraine applied for membership in the EU shortly after it was invaded by Russia in February of 2022. The European Union has been very critical of Russia’s actions and has condemned the invasion. Ukraine is a large country located in Eastern Europe with a population of about 44 million. The EU Council granted Ukraine the status of “candidate for accession” on June 23, 2022.
The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is the only country to have ever left the EU. It applied for membership in 1963 but was rejected. The UK then applied again in 1967 and was finally accepted in 1973. The UK voted to leave the EU in 2016 and officially left on January 31, 2020. There are currently no plans for the UK to rejoin the EU.
The Vatican City
Vatican City is a landlocked country located within the city of Rome. It is the smallest country in the world and has a population of only about 800 people. Vatican City doesn’t have democratic credentials which is one of the requirements for membership. The Vatican City is, however, a member of the European Economic Area (EEA).
Final Word
The European Union certainly is an economic and political powerhouse, and many countries want to be a part of it. But there are also many countries that choose not to be members for a variety of reasons.
From Norway’s trade advantages to Vatican City’s lack of democratic credentials, each country has its own reasons for staying out of the EU. What’s certain is that the EU will continue to grow and change, and whether or not these non-member countries decide to join in the future remains to be seen.
