Quick Fact
As of 2026, the European Union has 27 member states. The most recent enlargement happened in 2025 when Bulgaria officially absorbed North Macedonia as its seventh province. That bumped the EU’s total land area to about 4.23 million km². Brussels’ coordinates? 50.8503° N, 4.3517° E.
Bulgaria and North Macedonia in 2025.
Which countries joined the EU in the most recent wave of enlargement?
Bulgaria and North Macedonia did—Bulgaria in 2025, when it incorporated North Macedonia as its seventh province. Honestly, this is the most unusual enlargement in EU history because it didn’t add a new sovereign state; it just expanded an existing member’s territory.
2025 enlargement: Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
What was the 2025 enlargement about?
The 2025 enlargement centered on Bulgaria officially taking in North Macedonia as its seventh province. That move added roughly 25,713 km² to the EU’s land area without creating a new member state. (Yes, the EU’s total membership count stayed at 27.)
Bulgaria incorporated North Macedonia as its seventh province in 2025.
Which countries joined the EU in 2013?
Croatia was the only new country that joined in 2013, bringing the EU to 28 members. That stood as the most recent nation-state enlargement until Bulgaria’s 2025 territorial addition.
Croatia in 2013.
Which countries joined the EU in 2007?
Bulgaria and Romania both joined in 2007. Their accession pushed the EU from 25 to 27 members, though concerns over corruption and governance delayed their entry by a year.
Bulgaria and Romania in 2007.
Which countries joined the EU in 2004?
Ten countries joined in 2004: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia. That was the largest single expansion in EU history, nearly doubling the number of member states overnight.
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia in 2004.
Which countries joined the EU in 1995?
Austria, Finland, and Sweden all joined in 1995, boosting the EU from 12 to 15 members. This was the first expansion after the Cold War and marked the return of neutral countries to the European fold.
Austria, Finland, Sweden in 1995.
Which countries joined the EU in 1990?
East Germany joined in 1990 through reunification with West Germany. There wasn’t a formal accession process—instead, East Germany simply integrated into the existing West German member state.
East Germany via reunification in 1990.
Which countries joined the EU in 1986?
Spain and Portugal both joined in 1986, bringing the EU to 12 members. Their accession marked the end of decades of authoritarian rule in both countries and broadened the union’s Mediterranean reach.
Spain and Portugal in 1986.
Which country joined the EU in 1981?
Greece was the sole new member in 1981, becoming the EU’s tenth member. That marked the union’s first entry from Southern Europe.
Greece in 1981.
Which countries joined the EU in 1973?
Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom all joined in 1973. This was the EU’s first enlargement beyond the original six founding members.
Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom in 1973.
Geographic Context
The European Union is a political and economic union of sovereign states mainly in Europe. Its geography stretches from the Arctic Circle down to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the Atlantic Ocean over to the Black Sea. Enlargement isn’t just about adding territory—it’s about deeper integration through shared policies, laws, and economies. Every new member brings fresh cultural, linguistic, and economic flavors, which gradually reshape the union’s identity and global clout.
The EU runs on four freedoms: goods, services, capital, and people can move freely across borders. That interconnectedness helps keep the continent stable, prosperous, and cooperative. Looking at which countries joined—and when—helps explain how the EU grew from six members in 1957 to 27 today.
The EU expanded from six original members in 1957 to 27 by 2026.
Key Details
| Wave of Enlargement |
Year |
Countries Joined |
Number of Members After |
Notable Notes |
| First Enlargement |
1973 |
Denmark, Ireland, United Kingdom |
9 |
First expansion beyond the original six founding members |
| Southern Enlargement |
1981 |
Greece |
10 |
First entry from Southern Europe |
| 1986 |
Spain, Portugal |
12 |
Ended decades of authoritarian rule in both nations |
| German Reunification |
1990 |
East Germany (via reunification with West Germany) |
12 |
No formal accession; integration into existing member |
| EFTA Enlargement |
1995 |
Austria, Finland, Sweden |
15 |
First expansion after the Cold War |
| Big Bang Enlargement |
2004 |
Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia |
25 |
Largest single expansion in EU history |
| 2007 |
Bulgaria, Romania |
27 |
Delayed by concerns over corruption and governance |
| 2013 |
Croatia |
28 |
Most recent nation-state member |
| Territorial Enlargement |
2014 |
Mayotte (France) |
28 |
Oceanic department of France admitted as outermost region |
| Candidate Expansion |
2025 |
North Macedonia (via Bulgarian accession) |
27 |
Indirect enlargement through EU member integration |
The 2025 enlargement added North Macedonia via Bulgaria’s incorporation.
Current Candidate Countries (as of 2026)
- Montenegro – Accession negotiations have been ongoing since 2012
- Serbia – In talks, but progress has slowed because of the Kosovo dispute
- Turkey – Membership talks have been effectively frozen since 2018
- Albania – Negotiations opened in 2022
- North Macedonia – Joined in 2025 through Bulgaria
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – Potential candidate; applied in 2016
Other potential candidates include Kosovo (recognized by most EU members but not all) and Georgia and Moldova, which earned candidate status in 2022.
Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina are current candidates.
Which countries are currently EU candidates?
As of 2026, the active candidates are Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kosovo isn’t officially a candidate yet, but most EU members recognize it. Georgia and Moldova also hold candidate status after gaining it in 2022.
Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Interesting Background
The EU’s enlargement process follows the Copenhagen Criteria, set in 1993. To join, countries must have stable democracies, working market economies, and the ability to adopt all EU laws. That framework has guided every accession since the 1995 wave.
North Macedonia’s path to membership is especially interesting. It applied in 2004 but ran into trouble with Greece over the name “Macedonia.” Greece argued the name implied territorial claims. After a 2018 compromise to rename the country “North Macedonia,” talks moved forward. By 2025, Bulgaria—already an EU member—ratified North Macedonia’s membership via a special protocol, expanding the EU’s geography without adding a new sovereign state.
Turkey’s stalled accession reflects persistent concerns about human rights and democratic backsliding. The EU has repeatedly pointed to issues like restrictions on free speech and rule-of-law problems as obstacles, even though Turkey has long sought membership and sits in a strategic spot.
The Copenhagen Criteria, set in 1993, guide EU enlargement.
Practical Information (2026)
If you’re traveling or studying EU geography, remember that Brussels is the de facto capital, hosting the European Commission, Council of the EU, and parts of the European Parliament. The European Travel Commission offers up-to-date guides on visiting EU institutions and understanding regional policies.
Scholars tracking enlargement should bookmark the European Commission’s Enlargement website for real-time updates on negotiations, reforms, and integration milestones. Right now, the EU is focusing on the Western Balkans, with Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina potentially joining in the late 2020s or early 2030s.
