The European Union (EU 27) comprises the countries of the former European Union (EU 15) and the ten countries that joined the EU in 2004 plus Bulgaria and Romania, member states since 1 January 2007.
The EU 15 includes Belgium Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and Sweden.
The ten new member states since 1 May 2004 are Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The EU 25 includes Belgium Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.