<P> In 1957, six core states founded the EU's predecessor, the European Economic Community (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West Germany). The remaining states have acceded in subsequent enlargements . On 1 July 2013, Croatia became the newest member state of the EU . In order to accede, a state must fulfill the economic and political requirements known as the Copenhagen criteria, which require a candidate to have a democratic, free market government together with the corresponding freedoms and institutions, and respect for the rule of law . Enlargement of the Union is also contingent upon the consent of all existing members and the candidate's adoption of the existing body of EU law, known as the acquis communautaire . </P> <P> There is disparity in the size, wealth and political system of member states, but all have de jure equal rights . In practice, certain states are considerably more attractive than others, with the exception of Portugal, all EU states with consistent falling population trends from 2010 - 2017 are in Eastern Europe, exacerbating the East - West divide . While in some areas majority voting takes place where larger states have more votes than smaller ones, smaller states have disproportional representation compared to their population . No member state has withdrawn or been suspended from the EU, though some dependent territories or semi-autonomous areas have left . In June 2016, the United Kingdom held a referendum on membership of the EU, resulting in 51.89% of votes cast in favour to leaving . Prime Minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 on 29 March 2017 to formally initiate the withdrawal process . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Country name </Th> <Th> Native name </Th> <Th> Arms </Th> <Th> Flag </Th> <Th> Capital </Th> <Th> Accession </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th> Area (km2) </Th> <Th> GDP (Millions of US $) </Th> <Th> GDP per cap . (PPP) </Th> <Th> Currency </Th> <Th> Gini </Th> <Th> HDI </Th> <Th> Council votes </Th> <Th> EP seats </Th> <Th> Languages </Th> <Th> Territories </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Austria </Td> <Td> Österreich </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Vienna </Td> <Td> 1995 </Td> <Td> 7006858150000000000 ♠ 8,581,500 </Td> <Td> 7004838550000000000 ♠ 83,855 </Td> <Td> 7005437582000000000 ♠ 437,582 </Td> <Td> 7004470310000000000 ♠ 47,031 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001291000000000000 ♠ 29.1 </Td> <Td> 6999885000000000000 ♠ 0.885 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> German </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Belgium </Td> <Td> België / Belgique / Belgien </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Brussels </Td> <Td> 1957 Founder </Td> <Td> 7007112584340000000 ♠ 11,258,434 </Td> <Td> 7004305280000000000 ♠ 30,528 </Td> <Td> 7005534230000000000 ♠ 534,230 </Td> <Td> 7004438000000000000 ♠ 43,800 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001330000000000000 ♠ 33.0 </Td> <Td> 6999890000000000000 ♠ 0.890 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Dutch French German </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Bulgaria </Td> <Td> България (Bǎlgariya) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Sofia </Td> <Td> 2007 </Td> <Td> 7006720219800000000 ♠ 7,202,198 </Td> <Td> 7005110994000000000 ♠ 110,994 </Td> <Td> 7004558240000000000 ♠ 55,824 </Td> <Td> 7004183260000000000 ♠ 18,326 </Td> <Td> lev </Td> <Td> 7001292000000000000 ♠ 29.2 </Td> <Td> 6999782000000000000 ♠ 0.782 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> Bulgarian </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Croatia </Td> <Td> Hrvatska </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Zagreb </Td> <Td> 2013 </Td> <Td> 7006422531600000000 ♠ 4,225,316 </Td> <Td> 7004565940000000000 ♠ 56,594 </Td> <Td> 7004570730000000000 ♠ 57,073 </Td> <Td> 7004211690000000000 ♠ 21,169 </Td> <Td> kuna </Td> <Td> 7001290000000000000 ♠ 29 </Td> <Td> 6999818009999900000 ♠ 0.818 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> Croatian </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Cyprus </Td> <Td> Κύπρος / Kıbrıs </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Nicosia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7005847008000000000 ♠ 847,008 </Td> <Td> 7003925100000000000 ♠ 9,251 </Td> <Td> 7004232630000000000 ♠ 23,263 </Td> <Td> 7004307690000000000 ♠ 30,769 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001312000000000000 ♠ 31.2 </Td> <Td> 6999850000000000000 ♠ 0.850 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Greek Turkish </Td> <Td> 2 excluded (show) excludes: <Ul> <Li> Northern Cyprus </Li> <Li> UN buffer zone </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Czech Republic </Td> <Td> Česko </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Prague </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7007104197430000000 ♠ 10,419,743 </Td> <Td> 7004788660000000000 ♠ 78,866 </Td> <Td> 7005205270000000000 ♠ 205,270 </Td> <Td> 7004308950000000000 ♠ 30,895 </Td> <Td> Czech koruna </Td> <Td> 7001258000000000000 ♠ 25.8 </Td> <Td> 6999870000000000000 ♠ 0.870 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Czech </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Denmark </Td> <Td> Danmark </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Copenhagen </Td> <Td> 1973 </Td> <Td> 7006565335700000000 ♠ 5,653,357 </Td> <Td> 7004430750000000000 ♠ 43,075 </Td> <Td> 7005342362000000000 ♠ 342,362 </Td> <Td> 7004454510000000000 ♠ 45,451 </Td> <Td> krone (DKK) </Td> <Td> 7001247000000000000 ♠ 24.7 </Td> <Td> 6999923000000000000 ♠ 0.923 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> Danish </Td> <Td> 2 excluded (show) excludes: <Ul> <Li> Faroe Islands </Li> <Li> Greenland </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Estonia </Td> <Td> Eesti </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Tallinn </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7006131327100000000 ♠ 1,313,271 </Td> <Td> 7004452270000000000 ♠ 45,227 </Td> <Td> 7004265060000000000 ♠ 26,506 </Td> <Td> 7004279940000000000 ♠ 27,994 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001360000000000000 ♠ 36.0 </Td> <Td> 6999861000000000000 ♠ 0.861 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Estonian </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Finland </Td> <Td> Suomi / Finland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Helsinki </Td> <Td> 1995 </Td> <Td> 7006547175300000000 ♠ 5,471,753 </Td> <Td> 7005338424000000000 ♠ 338,424 </Td> <Td> 7005272649000000000 ♠ 272,649 </Td> <Td> 7004408380000000000 ♠ 40,838 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001269000000000000 ♠ 26.9 </Td> <Td> 6999883000000000000 ♠ 0.883 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> Finnish Swedish </Td> <Td> 1 (show) includes: <Ul> <Li> Åland Islands </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> France </Td> <Td> France </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Paris </Td> <Td> 1957 Founder </Td> <Td> 7007663524690000000 ♠ 66,352,469 </Td> <Td> 7005632833000000000 ♠ 632,833 </Td> <Td> 7006283368700000000 ♠ 2,833,687 </Td> <Td> 7004410180000000000 ♠ 41,018 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001327000000000000 ♠ 32.7 </Td> <Td> 6999888000000000000 ♠ 0.888 </Td> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> 74 </Td> <Td> French </Td> <Td> 6 + 7 excluded (show) includes: <Ul> <Li> French Guiana </Li> <Li> Guadeloupe </Li> <Li> Martinique </Li> <Li> Mayotte </Li> <Li> Réunion </Li> <Li> Saint Martin </Li> </Ul> excludes: <Ul> <Li> New Caledonia </Li> <Li> Clipperton Island </Li> <Li> French Polynesia </Li> <Li> Saint Barthélemy </Li> <Li> Saint Pierre and Miquelon </Li> <Li> TAAF </Li> <Li> Wallis and Futuna </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Germany </Td> <Td> Deutschland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Berlin </Td> <Td> 1957 Founder </Td> <Td> 7007810893310000000 ♠ 81,089,331 </Td> <Td> 7005357021000000000 ♠ 357,021 </Td> <Td> 7006387443700000000 ♠ 3,874,437 </Td> <Td> 7004468950000000000 ♠ 46,895 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001283000000000000 ♠ 28.3 </Td> <Td> 6999916000000000000 ♠ 0.916 </Td> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> 96 </Td> <Td> German </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Greece </Td> <Td> Ελλάδα (Elláda) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Athens </Td> <Td> 1981 </Td> <Td> 7007108469790000000 ♠ 10,846,979 </Td> <Td> 7005131990000000000 ♠ 131,990 </Td> <Td> 7005237970000000000 ♠ 237,970 </Td> <Td> 7004267730000000000 ♠ 26,773 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001343009999900000 ♠ 34.3 </Td> <Td> 6999865000000000000 ♠ 0.865 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Greek </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Hungary </Td> <Td> Magyarország </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Budapest </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7006985557100000000 ♠ 9,855,571 </Td> <Td> 7004930300000000000 ♠ 93,030 </Td> <Td> 7005136989000000000 ♠ 136,989 </Td> <Td> 7004258950000000000 ♠ 25,895 </Td> <Td> forint </Td> <Td> 7001300000000000000 ♠ 30.0 </Td> <Td> 6999828000000000000 ♠ 0.828 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Hungarian </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Ireland </Td> <Td> Éire / Ireland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Dublin </Td> <Td> 1973 </Td> <Td> 7006476186500000000 ♠ 4,761,865 </Td> <Td> 7004702730000000000 ♠ 70,273 </Td> <Td> 7005250814000000000 ♠ 250,814 </Td> <Td> 7004511180000000000 ♠ 51,118 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001343009999900000 ♠ 34.3 </Td> <Td> 6999916000000000000 ♠ 0.916 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> Irish English </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Italy </Td> <Td> Italia </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Rome </Td> <Td> 1957 Founder </Td> <Td> 7007614384800000000 ♠ 61,438,480 </Td> <Td> 7005301338000000000 ♠ 301,338 </Td> <Td> 7006214774400000000 ♠ 2,147,744 </Td> <Td> 7004358110000000000 ♠ 35,811 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001360000000000000 ♠ 36.0 </Td> <Td> 6999873000000000000 ♠ 0.873 </Td> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> 73 </Td> <Td> Italian </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Latvia </Td> <Td> Latvija </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Riga </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7006198609600000000 ♠ 1,986,096 </Td> <Td> 7004645890000000000 ♠ 64,589 </Td> <Td> 7004319720000000000 ♠ 31,972 </Td> <Td> 7004245400000000000 ♠ 24,540 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001357000000000000 ♠ 35.7 </Td> <Td> 6999819009999900000 ♠ 0.819 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Latvian </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Lithuania </Td> <Td> Lietuva </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Vilnius </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7006292126200000000 ♠ 2,921,262 </Td> <Td> 7004652000000000000 ♠ 65,200 </Td> <Td> 7004482880000000000 ♠ 48,288 </Td> <Td> 7004282100000000000 ♠ 28,210 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001358009999900000 ♠ 35.8 </Td> <Td> 6999839000000000000 ♠ 0.839 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> Lithuanian </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Luxembourg </Td> <Td> Luxembourg / Luxemburg / Lëtzebuerg </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Luxembourg </Td> <Td> 1957 Founder </Td> <Td> 7005562958000000000 ♠ 562,958 </Td> <Td> 7003258640000000000 ♠ 2,586.4 </Td> <Td> 7004656830000000000 ♠ 65,683 </Td> <Td> 7004931730000000000 ♠ 93,173 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001308000000000000 ♠ 30.8 </Td> <Td> 6999892000000000000 ♠ 0.892 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> French German Luxembourgish </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Malta </Td> <Td> Malta </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Valletta </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7005429344000000000 ♠ 429,344 </Td> <Td> 7002316000000000000 ♠ 316 </Td> <Td> 7004105140000000000 ♠ 10,514 </Td> <Td> 7004345440000000000 ♠ 34,544 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001258000000000000 ♠ 25.8 </Td> <Td> 6999839000000000000 ♠ 0.839 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Maltese English </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Netherlands </Td> <Td> Nederland </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Amsterdam </Td> <Td> 1957 Founder </Td> <Td> 7007171551690000000 ♠ 17,155,169 </Td> <Td> 7004415430000000000 ♠ 41,543 </Td> <Td> 7005880716000000000 ♠ 880,716 </Td> <Td> 7004483170000000000 ♠ 48,317 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001309000000000000 ♠ 30.9 </Td> <Td> 6999922000000000000 ♠ 0.922 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> 26 </Td> <Td> Dutch </Td> <Td> 6 excluded (show) excludes: <Ul> <Li> Aruba </Li> <Li> Curaçao </Li> <Li> Sint Maarten </Li> <Li> Bonaire </Li> <Li> Sint Eustatius </Li> <Li> Saba </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Poland </Td> <Td> Polska </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Warsaw </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7007380056140000000 ♠ 38,005,614 </Td> <Td> 7005312685000000000 ♠ 312,685 </Td> <Td> 7005547894000000000 ♠ 547,894 </Td> <Td> 7004262100000000000 ♠ 26,210 </Td> <Td> złoty </Td> <Td> 7001349000000000000 ♠ 34.9 </Td> <Td> 6999843000000000000 ♠ 0.843 </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> 51 </Td> <Td> Polish </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Portugal </Td> <Td> Portugal </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Lisbon </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> 7007103748220000000 ♠ 10,374,822 </Td> <Td> 7004923900000000000 ♠ 92,390 </Td> <Td> 7005229948000000000 ♠ 229,948 </Td> <Td> 7004276240000000000 ♠ 27,624 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001385000000000000 ♠ 38.5 </Td> <Td> 6999830000000000000 ♠ 0.830 </Td> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> Portuguese </Td> <Td> 2 (show) includes: <Ul> <Li> Azores </Li> <Li> Madeira </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Romania </Td> <Td> România </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Bucharest </Td> <Td> 2007 </Td> <Td> 7007198614080000000 ♠ 19,861,408 </Td> <Td> 7005238391000000000 ♠ 238,391 </Td> <Td> 7005199093000000000 ♠ 199,093 </Td> <Td> 7004205260000000000 ♠ 20,526 </Td> <Td> leu </Td> <Td> 7001315000000000000 ♠ 31.5 </Td> <Td> 6999793000000000000 ♠ 0.793 </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> 32 </Td> <Td> Romanian </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Slovakia </Td> <Td> Slovensko </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Bratislava </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7006540313400000000 ♠ 5,403,134 </Td> <Td> 7004490350000000000 ♠ 49,035 </Td> <Td> 7004998690000000000 ♠ 99,869 </Td> <Td> 7004292090000000000 ♠ 29,209 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001258000000000000 ♠ 25.8 </Td> <Td> 6999844000000000000 ♠ 0.844 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> Slovak </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Slovenia </Td> <Td> Slovenija </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Ljubljana </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 7006206287400000000 ♠ 2,062,874 </Td> <Td> 7004202730000000000 ♠ 20,273 </Td> <Td> 7004495700000000000 ♠ 49,570 </Td> <Td> 7004305080000000000 ♠ 30,508 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001312000000000000 ♠ 31.2 </Td> <Td> 6999880000000000000 ♠ 0.880 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> Slovene </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Spain </Td> <Td> España </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Madrid </Td> <Td> 1986 </Td> <Td> 7007464398640000000 ♠ 46,439,864 </Td> <Td> 7005504030000000000 ♠ 504,030 </Td> <Td> 7006140653800000000 ♠ 1,406,538 </Td> <Td> 7004348990000000000 ♠ 34,899 </Td> <Td> euro </Td> <Td> 7001320000000000000 ♠ 32.0 </Td> <Td> 6999876000000000000 ♠ 0.876 </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> <Td> 54 </Td> <Td> Spanish </Td> <Td> 4 (show) includes: <Ul> <Li> Canary Islands </Li> <Li> Ceuta </Li> <Li> Melilla </Li> <Li> Plazas de soberanía </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Sweden </Td> <Td> Sverige </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Stockholm </Td> <Td> 1995 </Td> <Td> 7006979000000000000 ♠ 9,790,000 </Td> <Td> 7005449964000000000 ♠ 449,964 </Td> <Td> 7005570591000000000 ♠ 570,591 </Td> <Td> 7004472280000000000 ♠ 47,228 </Td> <Td> krona (SEK) </Td> <Td> 7001250000000000000 ♠ 25.0 </Td> <Td> 6999907000000000000 ♠ 0.907 </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> Swedish </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> United Kingdom / Deyrnas Unedig </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> London </Td> <Td> 1973 </Td> <Td> 7007647671150000000 ♠ 64,767,115 </Td> <Td> 7005243610000000000 ♠ 243,610 </Td> <Td> 7006295003900000000 ♠ 2,950,039 </Td> <Td> 7004406760000000000 ♠ 40,676 </Td> <Td> pound sterling </Td> <Td> 7001360000000000000 ♠ 36.0 </Td> <Td> 6999907000000000000 ♠ 0.907 </Td> <Td> 29 </Td> <Td> 73 </Td> <Td> English Welsh </Td> <Td> 1 + 13 excluded (show) includes: <Ul> <Li> Gibraltar </Li> </Ul> excludes: <Ul> <Li> Akrotiri and Dhekelia </Li> <Li> Anguilla </Li> <Li> British Antarctic Territory </Li> <Li> Bermuda </Li> <Li> Cayman Islands </Li> <Li> Falkland Islands </Li> <Li> British Indian Ocean Territory </Li> <Li> Montserrat </Li> <Li> Pitcairn Islands </Li> <Li> Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha </Li> <Li> South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands </Li> <Li> Turks and Caicos Islands </Li> <Li> British Virgin Islands </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Country name </Th> <Th> Native name </Th> <Th> Arms </Th> <Th> Flag </Th> <Th> Capital </Th> <Th> Accession </Th> <Th> Population </Th> <Th> Area (km2) </Th> <Th> GDP (Millions of US $) </Th> <Th> GDP per cap . (PPP) </Th> <Th> Currency </Th> <Th> Gini </Th> <Th> HDI </Th> <Th> Council votes </Th> <Th> EP seats </Th> <Th> Languages </Th> <Th> Territories </Th> </Tr>

Is italy a member of the european union