Multi-speed Europe
{{Short description|Political idea}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Politics of the European Union}}
{{Broader|Multi-speed integration}}
Multi-speed Europe or two-speed Europe (called also "variable geometry Europe" or "Core Europe" depending on the form it would take in practice) is the idea that different parts of the European Union should integrate at different levels and pace depending on the political situation in each individual country. Indeed, multi-speed Europe is currently a reality, with only a subset of EU countries being members of the eurozone and of the Schengen area. Like other forms of differentiated integration such as à la carte and variable geometry, "multi-speed Europe" arguably aims to salvage the "widening and deepening of the European Union" in the face of political opposition.
Reasons and actuality of the concept
The concept entered political discourse when, after the end of the Cold War, an eastward enlargement of the European Union began to materialise and the question arose how "widening" could be made compatible with "deepening",Marcin Zaborowski: Germany and EU Enlargement: From Rapprochement to "Reaproachment"? In: Helene Sjursen (Ed.), [https://web.archive.org/web/20060514063013/http://www.uned.es/dcpa/invest/cidel/documents/ARENA_Report22005_text.pdf Enlargement in perspective], ARENA Report February 2005, p. 46. i.e., how the imminent enlargement process could be prevented from diluting the idea of an "ever closer union among the peoples of Europe", as the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community of 1957 had put it. In 1994 – still at a time of the EU12 – the German Christian Democrats Wolfgang Schäuble and Karl Lamers published a documentKarl Lamers / Wolfgang Schäuble: [https://web.archive.org/web/20160318173446/https://www.cducsu.de/upload/schaeublelamers94.pdf Überlegungen zur europäischen Politik] (Reflections on European Policy). See also Gilles Andréani: [https://web.archive.org/web/20060925212346/http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/e335_federalism.pdf What future for federalism?], Centre for European Reform Essays, September 2002, {{ISBN|1-901229-33-5}}, p. 7-8. in which they called for a Kerneuropa (= core Europe). This idea envisaged that "core Europe" would have a "centripetal effect", a magnetic attraction for the rest of Europe. A precursor to that concept had been a proposal by two advisors to German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Michael Mertes and Norbert J. Prill, published as early as July 1989. Mertes and Prill called for a concentric circles Europe, built around a federal core consisting of the Inner Six (EU6) and like-minded EU member states.Michael Mertes / Norbert J. Prill: Der verhängnisvolle Irrtum eines Entweder-Oder. Eine Vision für Europa, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 19 July 1989. In 1994 they partly revoked their original idea, arguing that the post-Cold War EU would rather look like a "Europe of Olympic rings" than a "Europe of concentric circles".Michael Mertes / Norbert J. Prill: Es wächst zusammen, was zusammengehören will. "Maastricht Zwei" muss die Europäische Union flexibel machen, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 9 December 1994, p. 11.
The multi-speed Europe concept has been debated for years in European political circles, as a way to solve some institutional issues. The concept is that the more members there are in the Union, the more difficult it becomes to reach consensus on various topics, and the less likely it is that all would advance at the same pace in various fields.
Image:Inner Six and Outer Seven.svg alongside the Outer Seven from 1960 to 1972{{legend|#039|Inner Six (EEC)}}{{legend|#393|Outer Seven (EFTA)}}]]
Intermediate forms could be limited to some areas of close cooperation, as some historical examples are given below. It is also possible now for a minimum of nine EU member states to use enhanced co-operation, but this new framework has been used only once. A second proposal, a unified European patent, is nearing completion [as of December 2010] with only two countries (Italy and Spain) not participating.[http://www.out-law.com/page-11672 "Countries press ahead with limited single EU patent plan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230090500/http://www.out-law.com/page-11672 |date=30 December 2010 }}, out-law.com, 17 December 2010.
The idea of a multi-speed Europe has been revived because of the following initiatives:
- the eurozone, with 20 member states and two more in ERM II (Bulgaria and Denmark). Every EU member except Denmark has agreed by treaty to join, but many currently have no plans to do so.
- the Schengen Area, with 29 member states, 25 EU members and four non-EU members (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). It excludes two EU members: Cyprus, which is legally obligated to join in the future, and Ireland, which has an opt-out from participating.
- other initiatives limited to some states, such as the European Defence initiative and Prüm Convention.
Furthermore, important events were:
- the enlargement of the European Union to 28 member-states and in the forthcoming years other candidates (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine) where new members initially don't join the Schengen area and the Eurozone for some time.
- the European Convention that led to the European Constitution that was signed in 2004 by the 25 Heads of State, but was not ratified by all national parliaments or assemblies and so failed. Later most of its provisions were adopted through the Treaty of Lisbon that included additional opt-outs for some states.
- differences of view between EU members on some foreign diplomatic and military issues. In a 2004 article The Economist compared the variances of Europe to a lake that has many deep parts (areas in which countries are similar) and many shallow parts (areas in which countries have major differences).[http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8629365 'Coalitions for the willing'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070206162947/http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8629365 |date=6 February 2007 }}, The Economist, 1 February 2007.
{{Supranational European Bodies|size=400px|align=right}}
Currently in the EU there are the following cases of non-uniform application of the European Union law:
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
| permanent deviations{{efn|In addition to the permanent deviations there are temporary transition periods for the application of certain EU law provisions in some member states, but these have an already set dates for lapsing.}} | request by states to cooperate more than EU | request by states to cooperate less than general EU level |
| allowed by the EU
| Opt-outs in the European Union |
| not allowed by the EU
| Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification | |
Overview of non-uniformity inside the EU
Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Slovenia participate in all EU provisions.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%; text-align:center"
! rowspan=2 | Participant ! colspan=4 | European Union Agreements ! colspan=4 | Enhanced cooperation ! rowspan=2 | PESCO ! colspan=3 | Related Intergovernmental treaties ! rowspan=2 | Symbols |
| Schengen
! AFSJ ! CFR ! Euro ! Patent ! Divorce ! EPPO ! Euro+ ! SRM ! ESM ! Prüm |
|---|
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Bulgaria
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Croatia}} Croatia
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Cyprus}} Cyprus
| style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Czech Republic
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Denmark}} Denmark
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Estonia}} Estonia
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Finland}} Finland
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Greece}} Greece
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Hungary}} Hungary
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Ireland}} Ireland
| style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Italy}} Italy
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Latvia}} Latvia
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Lithuania
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Malta}} Malta
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Poland}} Poland
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Portugal}} Portugal
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Romania}} Romania
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Slovakia}} Slovakia
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Spain}} Spain
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Sweden
| style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#cfc" | x | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#fcc" | o | style="background:#ffc" | c | style="background:#fcc" | o |
| class="sortbottom"
| colspan=15 | {{plainlist}}
{{endplainlist}} |
Membership in European Union agreements
[[File:EU-Agreements current.svg|upright=1.45|thumb|{{legend|#000080|EU, Schengen, EMU, AFSJ (All agreements): 18 c.}}
{{legend|#008080|EU, Schengen, AFSJ: 6 c.}}
{{legend|#008000|EU, EMU, AFSJ: 1 c.}}
{{legend|#00ffff|EU, Schengen: 1 c.}}
{{legend|#0000ff|EU, EMU: 1 c.}}
{{legend|#800080|EEA, Schengen: 3 c.}}
{{legend|#803300|Schengen, Bilateral treaties: 1 c.}}
{{legend|#FF6600|Candidates, some agreements: 9 c.}}
{{legend|#F5FF52|Microstates, some agreements: 4 c.}}
{{legend|#000000|Association Agreement: 1 c.}}
{{legend|grey|some agreements: 0 c.}}]]
A small group of EU member states have joined all European treaties, instead of opting out on some. They drive the development of a federal model for the European integration. This is linked to the concept of Multi-speed Europe where some countries would create a core union; and goes back to the Inner Six references to the founding member states of the European Communities.
At present, the formation of a formal Core Europe Federation ("a federation within the confederation") has been held off at every occasion where such a federation treaty had been discussed.{{Citation needed|date=July 2009}} Instead, supranational institutions are created that govern more areas in "Inner Europe" than existing European integration provides for.
Among the 27 EU state members, 18 states have signed all integration agreements: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. The agreements considered include the fifth stage of economic integration or EMU, the Schengen agreement, and the Area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ).
Thus, among the 27 EU countries, 20 have joined the Eurozone, 25 have joined Schengen, and also 25 have no opt-outs under AFSJ.
Further, some countries which do not belong to the EU have joined several of these initiatives, albeit sometimes at a lower stage such as the Customs Union, the Common Market (EEA), or even unilaterally adopting the euro, and by taking part in Schengen, either as a signatory state, or de facto.
Thus, 6 non-EU countries have adopted the euro (4 through an agreement with the EU and 2 unilaterally), and 4 non-EU states have joined the Schengen agreement officially.
The following table shows the status of each state membership to the different agreements promoted by the EU. It lists 47 countries, including the 27 EU member states, 9 candidate states, 3 members of the EEA and Switzerland, Kosovo which has applied for membership, 4 microstates, and the United Kingdom and Armenia as special cases.
Hence, this table summarises some components of EU laws applied in most European states. Some territories of EU member states also have a special status in regard to EU laws applied. 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. For member states that do not have special-status territories the EU law applies fully with the exception of the opt-outs in the European Union and states under a safeguard clause or alternatively some states participate in enhanced co-operation between a subset of the EU members. Additionally, there are various examples of non-participation by some EU members and non-EU states participation in particular Agencies of the European Union, the programmes for European Higher Education Area, European Research Area and Erasmus Mundus.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="float: center; margin: 0 0 1em 1em;"
|+ style="font-size: 130%;" | European Union Agreements ! State ! Map ! EU ! EEA ! Schengen ! AFSJ |
| {{flagicon|Austria}} Austria
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Belgium|state}} Belgium
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Croatia}} Croatia
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Estonia}} Estonia
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Finland}} Finland
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|France}} France
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Germany}} Germany
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes3 October 1990 for East Germany | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Greece}} Greece
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Italy}} Italy
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Latvia}} Latvia
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Lithuania}} Lithuania
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Luxembourg}} Luxembourg
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Malta}} Malta
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Portugal}} Portugal
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Slovakia}} Slovakia
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Slovenia}} Slovenia
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Spain}} Spain
| style="background:navy;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Bulgaria
| style="background:teal;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| ERM II | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Czech Republic
| style="background:teal;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| Obliged to join | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Hungary}} Hungary
| style="background:teal;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| Obliged to join | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Poland}} Poland
| style="background:teal;" | | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" | Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | Obliged to join | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" | CFR partial opt-out |
| {{flagicon|Romania}} Romania
| style="background:teal;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| Obliged to join | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Sweden}} Sweden
| style="background:teal;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| Obliged to join | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Cyprus}} Cyprus
| style="background:green;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Obliged to join | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes |
| {{flagicon|Denmark}} Denmark
| style="background:#00ffff;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Opt-out, ERM II | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| Opt-out |
| {{flagicon|Ireland}} Ireland
| style="background:#0000ff;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| Opt-out, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Opt-out (Opt-in) |
| {{flagicon|Liechtenstein}} Liechtenstein
| style="background:#800080;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No (Swiss-Liecht CU) | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Norway}} Norway
| style="background:#800080;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| Applications withdrawnaccession suspended (1962 and 1967). Then rejected in two referendums (1972 and 1994) | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Iceland}} Iceland
| style="background:#800080;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| Applications withdrawn{{cite web |url=http://www.dw.de/iceland-withdraws-eu-accession-bid/a-18313183 |title=Iceland withdraws EU accession bid | News | DW.COM | 12.03.2015 |publisher=Dw.de |access-date=6 January 2016 |archive-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110223/http://www.dw.de/iceland-withdraws-eu-accession-bid/a-18313183 |url-status=live }} | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Switzerland
| style="background:#803300;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| Application withdrawn{{cite web|url=https://www.eda.admin.ch/content/dam/dea/fr/documents/bundesrat/160727-Lettre-retrait-adhesion-CH_fr.pdf|date=27 July 2016|access-date=13 September 2016|publisher=Swiss Federal Council|title=Retrait de la demande d'adhesion de la Suisse a l'UE|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022054616/https://www.eda.admin.ch/content/dam/dea/fr/documents/bundesrat/160727-Lettre-retrait-adhesion-CH_fr.pdf|archive-date=22 October 2016|url-status=dead}} | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Bilateral treaties{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/switzerland/|title=Trade – Switzerland|access-date=15 September 2012|publisher=European Commission|archive-date=25 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325033255/http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/switzerland/|url-status=live}} | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No (Swiss-Liecht CU) | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Albania}} Albania
| style="background:#f60;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Candidate | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} Bosnia and Herzegovina
| style="background:#f60;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" | Candidate | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | No |
| {{flagicon|Georgia}} Georgia
| style="background:#f60;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" | Candidate | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" | No |
| {{flagicon|Moldova}} Moldova
| style="background:#f60;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Candidate | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Montenegro}} Montenegro
| style="background:#f60;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Candidate | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#bbf;"| Unilaterally adopted | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|North Macedonia}} North Macedonia
| style="background:#f60;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Candidate | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Serbia}} Serbia
| style="background:#f60;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Candidate | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Turkey}} Turkey
| style="background:#f60;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Candidate | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Customs Union{{refn|In a customs union with the EU.{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_duties/rules_origin/customs_unions/article_412_en.htm |title=Andorra : Customs Unions and preferential arrangements |publisher=European Commission |access-date=12 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026034312/http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_duties/rules_origin/customs_unions/article_412_en.htm |archive-date=26 October 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_duties/rules_origin/customs_unions/article_413_en.htm|title=San Marino : Customs Unions and preferential arrangements|publisher=European Commission|access-date=12 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026034319/http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_duties/rules_origin/customs_unions/article_413_en.htm|archive-date=26 October 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/countries/turkey/index_en.htm|title=Trade : Turkey|publisher=European Commission|access-date=12 September 2012|archive-date=2 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090302094003/http://ec.europa.eu/trade/issues/bilateral/countries/turkey/index_en.htm|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_duties/rules_origin/customs_unions/article_414_en.htm|title=Turkey : Customs Unions and preferential arrangements|publisher=European Commission|access-date=12 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730093911/http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/customs/customs_duties/rules_origin/customs_unions/article_414_en.htm|archive-date=30 July 2012}}|name=CU|group=Note}} | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Ukraine
| style="background:#f60;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Candidate | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Andorra}} Andorra
| style="background:#F5FF52;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Customs Union{{refn|name=CU|group=Note}} | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes{{refn|Formal agreement with the EU to issue euros.|name=euros|group=Note}} | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Monaco}} Monaco
| style="background:#F5FF52;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#bbf;"| de facto, with France | style="text-align:center; background:#bbf;"| de facto, with France | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes{{refn|Formal agreement with the EU to issue euros.|name=euros|group=Note}} | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|San Marino}} San Marino
| style="background:#F5FF52;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;"| Customs Union{{refn|name=CU|group=Note}} | style="text-align:center; background:#bbf;"| Open border | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes{{refn|name=euros|group=Note}} | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Vatican City}} Vatican City
| style="background:#F5FF52;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#bbf;"| Open border | style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;"| Yes{{refn|name=euros|group=Note}} | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Kosovo}} Kosovo
| style="background:#000;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| Applicant, SAA signed | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;" | No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#bbf;"| Unilaterally adopted | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|Armenia}} Armenia
| style="background#000;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No ({{hilite | CEPA signed | #fdb}}) | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, EC, ECAA | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
| {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} United Kingdom
| style="background#000;"| | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No (withdrew) | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No (withdrew) | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fdb;"| No, Visa Free | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No | style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"| No |
Notes:
{{Reflist|group="Note"|2}}
Participation of European countries in non EU-only integration initiatives
{{more citations needed|section|date=January 2008}}
{{For|integration activities not initiated by the EU|European integration}}
A number of countries have special relations to the European Union implementing many of its regulations. Prominently there are Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein which are the only remaining EFTA members while all other former EFTA members have converted into EU members. Through agreements Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (not including Switzerland) are members of the European Economic Area since 1994. As a consequence of taking part in the EU single market they need to adopt part of the Law of the European Union. Formally they would not need to fund the EU government{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} but in practice they have opted to take on their part of financing EU institutions as required by EU law (see EEA and Norway Grants) with the financial footprint of Norway being equal to that of an EU member since 2009.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} Especially Norway and Iceland are known to forfeit EU membership on the basis of EU fishery regulations that they want to opt out on. Both Norway and Iceland have signed and implemented the Schengen zone agreements from the start. During the turmoils of the financial crisis, Iceland was looking into membership of the Eurozone and it did apply for EU membership in 2009. Norway has joined all EU political treaties{{vague|date=August 2019}} and it has applied to EU membership multiple times but while fulfilling the requirements the membership was rejected by referendums in 1972 and 1994. This leaves Norway to be integrated into Inner Europe's institutions while not being part their governing body.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||||
| bgcolor="#efefef"
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! | ||||||||||||||||||
| Participant
! EU ! OSCE ! CoE ! Schengen ! Euro ! EUCU ! EEA ! ECT ! ECAA ! EEA ! EMCDDA ! EMSA ! EASA ! ERA ! EDA ! ESA ! Prüm ! NATO | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Albania}} Albania | c{{efn|name=EU_candidate_negotiating|EU candidate negotiating}}
|x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Andorra}} Andorra | |x | x | s | s | x | |||||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Armenia}} Armenia | |x | x | o | x | x | |||||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Austria}} Austria | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} Azerbaijan | |x | x | x | |||||||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Belarus}} Belarus | |x | x | ||||||||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Belgium}} Belgium | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} Bosnia and Herzegovina | c
|x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Bulgaria | x
|x | x | x | c | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Croatia}} Croatia | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | x | |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Cyprus}} Cyprus | x
|x | x | c | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | ||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Czech Republic | x
|x | x | x | c | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Denmark}} Denmark | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | x | |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Estonia}} Estonia | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Finland}} Finland | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|France}} France | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Georgia}} Georgia | c
|x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Germany}} Germany | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Greece}} Greece | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | c | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Hungary}} Hungary | x
|x | x | x | c | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Iceland}} Iceland | |x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Ireland}} Ireland | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | ||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Italy}} Italy | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | c | x | |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} Kazakhstan | |x | x | ||||||||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Kosovo}} Kosovo | c{{efn|name=EU_applicant|EU applicant}}
| | x{{efn|name="deFacto"|De facto uses the euro.}} | x | x | ||||||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Latvia}} Latvia | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | x | |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Liechtenstein}} Liechtenstein | |x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Lithuania}} Lithuania | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | x | |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Luxembourg}} Luxembourg | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Malta}} Malta | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | ||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Moldova}} Moldova | c
|x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Monaco}} Monaco | |x | x | s | s | x | |||||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Montenegro}} Montenegro | c{{efn|name=EU_candidate_negotiating}}
|x | x | x{{efn|name="deFacto"}} | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Netherlands}} Netherlands | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|North Macedonia}} North Macedonia | c{{efn|name=EU_candidate_negotiating}}
|x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Norway}} Norway | |x | x | x | x | o | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Poland}} Poland | x
|x | x | x | c | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | o | x | |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Portugal}} Portugal | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | c | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Romania}} Romania | x
|x | x | x | c | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Russia}} Russia | |x | |||||||||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|San Marino}} San Marino | |x | x | s | s | x | |||||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Serbia}} Serbia | c{{efn|name=EU_candidate_negotiating}}
|x | x | x | x | ||||||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Slovakia}} Slovakia | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Slovenia}} Slovenia | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Spain}} Spain | x
|x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| align="left" |{{flagicon|Sweden}} Sweden | x
|x | x | x | c | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | c | x |
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Switzerland | |x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Turkey}} Turkey | c{{efn|name=EU_candidate_negotiations_frozen|EU candidate negotiations frozen}}
|x | x | x | o | x | x | x | x | ||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Ukraine}} Ukraine | c
|x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
| align="left" |{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} United Kingdom | |x | x | x | x | x | |||||||||||||
| align="left" | {{flagicon|Vatican City}} Vatican City | | |x | |o | s |
x – member
c – conditions to be fulfilled before joining
s – unilateral adoption/participation through another state who is a member/some instruments signed, but not yet ratified
o – observer
Post-Brexit-vote revival of "multispeed Europe" ideas
{{Update section|date=June 2022}}
In March 2017, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker released a five-point view of possible courses for the EC and its to-be-27 post-Brexit members, looking forward to the year 2025. The points, among which Juncker expressed no preference, "range from standing down from policing of government financing of companies, for example, to a broader pullback that would essentially strip the EU back to being merely a single market", per one report.
The updated possibilities would entail member countries or groups of countries adopting different levels of participation with the union. The EC was approaching a March meeting of the 27 members in Rome and Juncker's paper addressed the options that "once invited scorn from convinced Europhiles" and seemed maybe even to have some backing "of lifelong federalists" like the president.Valentine Pop, [https://www.wsj.com/articles/once-scorned-multispeed-europe-is-back-1488388260 "Once Scorned, ‘Multispeed Europe’ Is Back" (subscription)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302040209/https://www.wsj.com/articles/once-scorned-multispeed-europe-is-back-1488388260 |date=2 March 2017 }}, The Wall Street Journal, 1 March 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-01.
See also
- Agencies of the European Union – different examples of non-EU states participation and non-participation of some EU members
- Differentiated integration
- Enhanced co-operation
- European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
- European integration
- Euroscepticism
- Eurosphere
- Federal Europe
- Inner Six
- Mechanism for Cooperation and Verification
- Opt-outs in the European Union
- Open Balkan
- Pro-Europeanism
Notes
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References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090214194351/http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/multispeed_europe_en.htm Official EU glossary: Multi-speed Europe, Variable geometry Europe and other related concepts]
{{European Union topics|state=expanded}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Multi-Speed Europe}}