Changes

In 2004, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the EU, and in 2007 Bulgaria and Romania acceded, bringing total membership to 27. Candidate countries currently include  Turkey, FYR Macedonia and Croatia, and potential candidates include the rest of the Western [[Balkans|Balkan]] states.   

In 2004, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the EU, and in 2007 Bulgaria and Romania acceded, bringing total membership to 27. Candidate countries currently include  Turkey, FYR Macedonia and Croatia, and potential candidates include the rest of the Western [[Balkans|Balkan]] states.   

In October 2004, member states signed an EU Constitutional Treaty designed to replace all previous treaties. French and Dutch voters rejected the treaty through referendums in 2005, thereby suspending the ratification process. In 2007, a modified '''Treaty of Lisbon''' was agreed upon, which retains most of the reforms of the Constitution, but amends rather than replaces previous treaties.  

In October 2004, member states signed an EU Constitutional Treaty designed to replace all previous treaties. French and Dutch voters rejected the treaty through referendums in 2005, thereby suspending the ratification process. In 2007, a modified '''Treaty of Lisbon''' was agreed upon, which retains most of the reforms of the Constitution, but amends rather than replaces previous treaties.

 

At the late 2009 the [[European sovereign-debt crisis]] started. [[Greece]], [[Ireland]], [[Portugal]], [[Cyprus]], [[Spain]] and [[Italy]] are most affected.

==Candidates for membership==

==Candidates for membership==