Enlargement of The European Union - Historical Enlargements

Historical Enlargements

Applications for accession to the European Union*
Applicant Issued Accession/
failure rationale
Albania 28 April 2009 Potential candidate
Austria 17 July 1989 1 January 1995
Belgium N/A 23 July 1952
Bosnia and Herzegovina — Potential candidate
Bulgaria 14 December 1995 1 January 2007
Croatia 21 February 2003 acceding
Cyprus 3 July 1990 1 May 2004
Czech Republic 17 January 1996 1 May 2004
Denmark 10 August 1961 Details

Withdrawn due to
veto of UK application
11 May 1967 1 January 1973
Estonia 24 November 1995 1 May 2004
Finland 18 March 1992 1 January 1995
France N/A 23 July 1952
Germany, W. N/A 23 July 1952
Greece 12 June 1975 1 January 1981
Hungary 31 March 1994 1 May 2004
Iceland 17 July 2009 Official candidate
Ireland 31 July 1961 Details

Withdrawn due to
veto of UK application
11 May 1967 1 January 1973
Italy N/A 23 July 1952
Kosovo — Potential candidate
Latvia 13 September 1995 1 May 2004
Lithuania 8 December 1995 1 May 2004
Luxembourg N/A 23 July 1952
Macedonia 22 March 2004 Official candidate
Malta 3 July 1990 1 May 2004
Montenegro 15 December 2008 Official candidate
Morocco 20 July 1987 Details

Rejected by the
European Council
Netherlands N/A 23 July 1952
Norway 30 April 1962 Details

Withdrawn due to
veto of UK application
21 July 1967 Details

Rejected by Norway
in referendum
25 November 1992 Details

Rejected by Norway
in referendum
Poland 5 April 1994 1 May 2004
Portugal 28 March 1977 1 January 1986
Romania 22 June 1995 1 January 2007
Slovakia 27 June 1995 1 May 2004
Slovenia 10 June 1996 1 May 2004
Spain 28 June 1977 1 January 1986
Serbia 22 December 2009 Official candidate
Sweden 1 July 1991 1 January 1995
Switzerland 25 May 1992 Details

Frozen due to
public opinion
Turkey 14 April 1987 Official candidate
United Kingdom 10 August 1961 Details

Vetoed
10 May 1967 1 January 1973
* Applications to the European Coal and Steel Community,
European Communities and European Union depending on date.
See also: History of the European Union and Statistics relating to enlargement of the European Union

Read more about this topic:  Enlargement Of The European Union

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