Member State of the European Union, unless the reservation excludes a Member State of the European Union. 5 attached to the Final Act of the, Watch map services, Under the Northern Ireland Protocol of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, Northern Ireland remains de facto part of the European Single Market and the European Union Customs Union for the purposes of goods only, in order to prevent the creation of a customs border on the island of Ireland. [40] In October 2015, the review concluded the present legal structures for governance and integration with European Netherlands was not working well within the framework of WolBES, but no recommendations were made in regards of whether a switch from OCT to OMR status would help improve this situation.[41][42][43][44]. Turkey's association agreement was the 1963 Ankara Agreement, implying that Turkey became an associate member that year. The European Union (EU) consists of 27 member states. Up to 1 September 1962 no Community treaty applied there, besides ECSC preferences. According to Art.227 (EEC) and Art.198 (EURATOM) these Treaties shall not apply to those overseas countries and territories having special relations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which are not listed in Annex IV to the EEC Treaty. The UK government triggered Article 50 on 29 March 2017. If an aspect is not listed in the table below, then it remains the exclusive competence of the member state. [15] The legal status of the islands was clarified on the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty which listed them as outermost regions. The Luxembourgish language is not an official language of the European Union. Very early on in the history of the EU, the unique state of its establishment and pooling of sovereignty was emphasised by the Court of Justice:[38]. Two protocols to the Treaty of Accession 2003—numbers 3 and 10, known as the "Sovereign Base Areas Protocol" and the "Cyprus Protocol" respectively – reflect this complex situation. Those institutions are then empowered to make laws and execute them at a European level. The remaining states have acceded in subsequent enlargements. A declaration attached to Greece's accession treaty to the Schengen Agreement states that Mount Athos's "special status" should be taken into account in the application of the Schengen rules.[86]. [34] Initially they did not have voting rights for such elections, but the European Court of Justice granted them such rights, when they ruled their exclusion from the franchise was contrary to EU law, as all other Dutch citizens resident outside the EU did have the right to vote. Prior to the 50-year lease renewal coming into effect in February 2012, the Maly Vysotsky Island had also been leased and managed by Finland. Austria, Belgium and Germany are full federations, meaning their regions have constitutional autonomies. 9 states allocate power to more local levels of government. [59] The status may be obtained by any Finnish citizen legally resident in Åland for 5 years who can demonstrate an adequate knowledge of the Swedish language.[60]. The inhabitants of the islands are EU citizens owing to their Dutch citizenship, with the right to vote in elections to the European Parliament. More than half of member states—15 out of 27—are parliamentary republics, while six states are constitutional monarchies, meaning they have a monarch although political powers are exercised by elected politicians. [27], As of April 2021 the United Kingdom is the only former member state to formally undertake the process of withdrawing from the European Union. There are a number of overseas member state territories which are legally part of the EU, but have certain exemptions based on their remoteness. 1. on Ceuta and Melilla attached to the Final Act of the Accession Treaty of the Kingdom of Spain to the Schengen Agreement (, See Article 299(6)(b) of the Consolidated Treaty establishing the European Community as amended by the, Joint Declaration No. [63] Büsingen was also outside of the Schengen area until Switzerland joined on 12 December 2008. As a result of the European sovereign debt crisis, some eurozone states were given a bailout from their fellow members via the European Financial Stability Facility and European Financial Stability Mechanism (replaced by the European Stability Mechanism from 2013), but this came with conditions. However, as the body grew, this right has been removed and each state is represented equally. Cypriot nationality law extends to Northern Cyprus, meaning citizens of the Republic of Cyprus residing in Northern Cyprus are entitled to EU citizenship. Introduced in the Treaty of Amsterdam, Article 7 outlines that if a member persistently breaches the EU's founding principles (liberty, democracy, human rights and so forth, outlined in TEU Article 2) then the European Council can vote to suspend any rights of membership, such as voting and representation. [2] Mayotte, which was an OCT, joined the EU as an OMR with effect from 1 January 2014. Danish citizens residing on the islands are not considered citizens of a member state within the meaning of the treaties or, consequently, citizens of the European Union. However most negotiations are still dominated by the larger states. Many currently independent states or parts of such were previously territories of the following EU members since the latter joined the EU or, previously the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC): Most of these territories seceded before the implementation of the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 and the following years, meaning that cooperation like the EU citizenship, the VAT union or the Eurozone did not exist, so it made less difference to be a special territory then. When decisions are not being taken by consensus, qualified majority voting (which requires majorities both of the number of states and of the population they represent, but a sufficient blocking minority can veto the proposal). Most republics and all the monarchies operate a parliamentary system whereby the head of state (president or monarch) has a largely ceremonial role with reserve powers. Åland, a group of islands belonging to Finland, but with partial autonomy, located between Sweden and Finland, with a Swedish-speaking population, joined the EU along with Finland in 1995. The Overseas Countries and Territories Association was created to improve economic development and cooperation between the OCTs and the EU,[17] and includes most OCTs except three territories which do not have a permanent local population. Any suggestions? Bonaire, Saba, and Sint Eustatius: Inherited status as non-member from the Netherlands Antilles. [27], The French Southern and Antarctic Lands (which also include the French Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, and the French claim of Adélie Land in Antarctica) is a French Overseas Territory but has no permanent population. Art.198 of the EURATOM Treaty states that the treaty applies to, By the third protocol to the Cyprus adhesion Treaty to EU and British local ordinance (see, Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union, Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Convention on the association of the Netherlands Antilles with the European Economic Community, Treaty of Establishment of the Republic of Cyprus, United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, states under a safeguard clause or transitional period, non-self-governing-territory under Portuguese administration, European Coal and Steel Community Treaty, Art.79, European Parliament electoral constituencies, Declaration on the outermost regions of the Community, "La collectivité de Saint-Barthélémy obtient un nouveau statut européen", Council Decision of 27 November 2001 on the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Community, "Council Directive 2013/61/EU of December 2013", "Case search - Competition - European Commission", Outermost regions, Fact Sheets on the European Union, "Guidelines on Trading with the European Community (EC)", of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, "COUNCIL DECISION 2013/755/EU of 25 November 2013: On the association of the overseas countries and territories with the European Union ('Overseas Association Decision')", "EU relations with Overseas Countries and Territories", "Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs)", Art. What were you looking for? [64][65] Present association agreements include the Stabilisation and Association Agreements with the western Balkans; these states are no longer termed "associate members". Some, including the President of the Euro Group Jean-Claude Juncker, stated that "the sovereignty of Greece will be massively limited. Due to this situation, they have derogation from some EU policies despite being part of the European Union. Full membership gives the government of a member state a seat in the Council of the European Union and European Council. Denmark, Finland, France and the Netherlands are federacies, meaning some regions have autonomy but most do not. Identifying the breach requires unanimity (excluding the state concerned), but sanctions require only a qualified majority. However the EU mission does enjoy certain executive powers over the state and has a responsibility to maintain stability and order. The European Council is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. Azores and Madeira are two groups of Portuguese islands in the Atlantic. It is not permissible to stop or walk along the road. The euro is legal tender;[11] however, they are outside the Schengen Area and the EU VAT Area. [10][64] Shops and restaurants in Campione accept payments in both euros and Swiss francs, and prices are displayed in both euros and Swiss francs.[65]. As such, they benefit from being able to have their own export and import policy to and from the EU, while still having access to various EU funds (such as the European Development Fund). In this role, and since a major ambition of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to join the EU, the country has become a de facto protectorate of the EU. The Presidency of the Council of the European Union rotates among each of the member states, allowing each state six months to help direct the agenda of the EU. [88] This road has no border control, but there is no connection to any other road in Russia. The EEA links these countries into the EU's market, extending the four freedoms to these states. [53] Inhabited villages located in the buffer zone are legally administered by the Republic of Cyprus but policed by UN peacekeepers. The treaties do not give a judgement on the matter but court judgements have established EU's law superiority over national law and it is affirmed in a declaration attached to the Treaty of Lisbon (the European Constitution would have fully enshrined this). Again this can be, according to Article 51(2)(b) limited. [3] The status of an uninhabited territory, Clipperton, remains unclear since it is not explicitly mentioned in primary EU law and has a sui generis status at the national level.[4][d]. Most states outside the Eurozone are obliged to adopt the euro when they are ready, but Denmark (and formerly the United Kingdom) has obtained the right to retain their own independent currency. The table below shows which aspects of governance are exclusively for collective action (through the Commission) and which are shared to a greater or lesser extent. Switzerland rejected membership of the EEA. This, together with the disproportionate representation of the smaller states in terms of votes and seats in parliament, gives the smaller EU states a greater power of influence than is normally attributed to a state of their size. The EU grew out of the European Economic Community (EEC) which was established by the Treaties of Rome in 1957. Greenland joined the then European Community in 1973 as a county along with Denmark, but after gaining autonomy with the introduction of home rule within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland voted to leave in 1982 and left in 1985, to become an OCT. The question of whether EU law is superior to national law is subject to some debate. [25] However, other studies claim internal enlargement is legally viable if, in case of a member state dissolution or secession, the resulting states are all considered successor states. The United Kingdom left the EU in 2020. Its Article 51(1)(a) prescribes only that "the Union shall accord to natural and legal persons of the OCTs a treatment no less favourable than the most favourable treatment applicable to like natural and legal persons of any third country with whom the Union concludes or has concluded an economic integration agreement." monetary policy for the Member States whose currency is the, the conservation of marine biological resources under the, social policy, for the aspects defined in this Treaty, economic, social and territorial cohesion, common safety concerns in public health matters, for the aspects defined in this Treaty, development cooperation, humanitarian aid, the coordination of economic, employment and social policies, the protection and improvement of human health, This page was last edited on 1 April 2021, at 13:38. The road from Värska to Ulitina in Estonia, traditionally the only road to the Ulitina area, goes through Russian territory for one kilometre (0.6 mi) of its length, an area called Saatse Boot. On 22 February 2007, Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy were broken away from the French overseas department of Guadeloupe to form new overseas collectivities. [58] Associate membership is not a formal classification and does not entitle the state to any of the representation of free movement rights that full membership allows. Loi n°55-1052 du 6 août 1955 portant statut des Terres australes et antarctiques françaises et de l'île de Clipperton. [66], State that is a participant in the treaties of the European Union (EU). Europe in 12 lessons. In addition, to protect the local economy, the treaty of accession allows for a concept of hembygdsrätt/kotiseutuoikeus (regional citizenship). [45] Following the entry into force of the Convention on the association of the Netherlands Antilles with the European Economic Community on 1 October 1964, however, the Netherlands Antilles became OCTs. On 25 June 2008, a Cooperation Treaty between the EU and OCTA was signed in Brussels. Ceuta and Melilla are two Spanish cities on the North African coast. This practice is often referred to as 'pooling of sovereignty'. [21] They are not part of the EU and the EU acquis does not apply to them, though those joining OCTA are required to respect the detailed rules and procedures outlined by this association agreement (Council Decision 2013/755/EU). U.S. Mission to the EU Press Release Brussels, June 30, 2020 On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Mission to the European Union hosted a virtual… The United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the Syrian People [37] However, on defence and foreign policy issues (and, pre-Lisbon Treaty, police and judicial matters) less sovereignty is transferred, with issues being dealt with by unanimity and co-operation. Consolidated versions of the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union - Protocols - Annexes - Declarations annexed to the Final Act of the Intergovernmental Conference which adopted the Treaty of Lisbon, signed on 13 December 2007 - Tables of equivalences, Title I of Part I of the consolidated Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, "Greek sovereignty to be massively limited: Juncker", Greece faces 'massive' loss of sovereignty, If Demography Is Destiny, Then India Has the Edge, How Brussels Is Trying to Prevent a Collapse of the Euro, "Netherlands: Indebted states must be made 'wards' of the commission or leave euro", 20 member states confirm the creation of a European Public Prosecutor's Office, Defence cooperation: Council establishes Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), with 25 member states participating, "Freedom in the World 2018: Democracy in Crisis", "Freedom in the World 2018: Table of Country Scores", "In Norway, EU pros and cons (the cons still win)", "Bosnia's 'Foreign' Flag Still Draws Mixed Feelings", Kosovo: the era of the EU protectorate dawns, European Union Institute for Security Studies, 'Kosovo Is not Independent, It Is an EU Protectorate', "Turkey's Tigers, Report Card: Turkey and EU Membership? The Treaty of Nice included a preventive mechanism whereby the Council, acting by majority, may identify a potential breach and make recommendations to the state to rectify it before action is taken against it as outlined above. Just under half of the population of the sovereign base areas are Cypriots, the rest are British military personnel, support staff and their dependants. [29][30], Each state has representation in the institutions of the European Union. ", "Human Development Report 2018 – "Human Development Indices and Indicators: 2018 Statistical Update", "Living in the EU - European Union - European Commission", "Portugal tem 92.212 quilómetros quadrados, por enquanto... - Sociedade - PUBLICO.PT", "Regional and minority languages in the European Union", "Council Directive 2013/61/EU of December 2013", "OECD Glossary of Statistical Terms - EU15 Definition", "OECD Glossary of Statistical Terms - EU21 Definition", "Macroeconomic Legal Trends in the EU11 Countries", Withdrawal and Expulsion from the EU and EMU, Some Reflections, "Theresa May to trigger article 50 by end of March 2017". off-island and northern Cyprus) borders of the base areas to ensure that the border between the sovereign base areas and the Republic of Cyprus could remain fully open and would not have to be policed as an external EU border. The most common type of proportional representation is the party-list system. The main reason for leaving is disagreements about the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and to regain control of Greenlandic fish resources to subsequently remain outside EU waters. [79], The United Nations buffer zone between north and south Cyprus ranges in width from a few metres in central Nicosia to several kilometres in the countryside. As of July 2014, there are still 13 OCTs (six with France, six with the Netherlands and one with Denmark)[24] of which all have joined OCTA. It is part of the customs union but outside the VAT area. Perhaps the best known example is taxation, which remains a matter of national sovereignty. # In accordance with Article 5, competences not conferred upon the Union in the Treaties remain with the member states. There is no provision to expel a member state, but TEU Article 7 provides for the suspension of certain rights. [citation needed] The exact areas where the member states have given legislative competence to the EU are as follows. Each member state is party to the founding treaties of the union and thereby shares in the privileges and obligations of membership. "[42][43][44] The situation of the bailed out countries (Greece, Portugal and Ireland) has been described as being a ward[45][46] or protectorate[44][47][48] of the EU with some such as the Netherlands calling for a formalisation of the situation. The overseas countries and territories (OCT) are dependent territories that have a special relationship with one of the member states of the EU. EU law only applies fully to the part of the island that is effectively controlled by the government of the Republic of Cyprus. The procedure for a state to leave is outlined in TEU Article 50 which also makes clear that "Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements". The US dollar is used on Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, while Curaçao and Sint Maarten utilize their own shared currency the Antillean guilder, and finally the currency of Aruba is the Aruban florin. "The provisions of Part Four of the Treaty were applied to Surinam, by virtue of a Supplementary Act of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (. [24], Beyond the formal withdrawal of a member state, there are a number of independence movements such as Catalonia or Flanders which could result in a similar situation to Greenland. In return, they pay a membership fee and have to adopt most areas of EU law (which they do not have direct impact in shaping). To ensure that Greece complied with the conditions set by the European troika (ECB, IMF, Commission), a 'large-scale technical assistance' from the European Commission and other member states was deployed to Greek government ministries. In most cases this is because those states have gained an opt-out from a certain policy area. [56] However, the exact political system of a state is not limited, with each state having its own system based on its historical evolution. The islands inherited their OCT status from the Netherlands Antilles which was dissolved in 2010. States such as France have a number of overseas territories, retained from their former empires. [3] They were listed in the Article 198 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which aside from inviting them to join OCTA, also provided them the opportunity to opt into EU provisions on the freedom of movement for workers[18] and freedom of establishment. [13] They all use the euro as their currency. [10] The Canary Islands are the most populous and economically strongest territory of all the outermost regions in the European Union. [16] However, Saint Barthélemy ceased being an outermost region and left the EU, to become an OCT, on 1 January 2012. [69], Cypriot nationality law applies to the entire island and is accordingly available to the inhabitants of Northern Cyprus and the British sovereign base areas on the same basis as to those born in the area controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. Prior to Cypriot accession to the EU in 2004, although the United Kingdom was an EU member at the time, EU law did not apply to the sovereign base areas. [78], Under a protocol to the Brexit withdrawal agreement, certain provisions of EU law on agriculture, customs, indirect taxation, social security and border control continue to apply to the sovereign base areas. [49], EU integration is not always symmetrical, with some states proceeding with integration ahead of hold-outs. ("Competences not conferred upon the Union in the Treaties remain with the member states"). Reference for a preliminary ruling: Giudice conciliatore di Milano - Italy. The obligations provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article shall not apply to treatment granted under measures providing for recognition of qualifications, licences or prudential measures in accordance with Article VII of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) or the GATS Annex on Financial Services. sister projects : Wikipedia article , Wikidata item . The Turkish language is not an official language of the European Union. Russian visas are not required for just passing through the canal, but a passport is needed and it is checked at the border. Some derogations from the application of EU law apply in regards to taxation, fishing and transportation. Contact the EU EU law, including the fundamental four freedoms, applies to Åland. Some territories of EFTA member states also have a special status in regard to EU laws applied as is the case with some European microstates.[112]. According to the Copenhagen criteria, membership of the European Union is open to any European country that is a stable, free-market liberal democracy that respects the rule of law and human rights. [87] The area is not part of the EU, it is a special part of Russia. [36][37] It concluded that the choice would be for the islands themselves to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of becoming part of the EU as outermost regions, and that nothing would be done absent the islands specifically requesting it. The Saimaa Canal and Värska–Ulitina road are two of several distinct travel arrangements that exist or existed because of changes in borders over the course of the 20th century, where transport routes and installations ended up on the wrong side of the border.