Question
Which of the following countries are members of the European Union?
1Belarus
2Poland
3Germany
4Switzerland
A1, 2 and 4
B1 and 4 only
C2 and 3 ✓
D2 and 4 only
Each Country — EU Membership Status
1
✗ NOT an EU Member
🇧🇾 Belarus
Belarus has never been an EU member and has never applied. It is a post-Soviet authoritarian state under President Alexander Lukashenko (since 1994). Belarus is closely aligned with Russia and is a founding member of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The EU has imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Belarus — especially after the disputed 2020 election and the forced diversion of a Ryanair flight in 2021. Belarus borders EU members Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia but has no intention of joining the EU.
2
✓ EU Member since 2004
🇵🇱 Poland
Poland joined the EU on 1 May 2004 — part of the largest single EU enlargement (10 countries joined simultaneously). It is the largest of the 2004 accession countries by population and economy. Poland uses the złoty (PLN) — it has not adopted the euro yet. Poland shares borders with Germany (EU) and Belarus (non-EU). It has been a significant beneficiary of EU structural funds and is one of the fastest-growing EU economies.
3
✓ EU Founding Member — since 1957
🇩🇪 Germany
Germany (West Germany at the time) is one of the six founding members of the European Economic Community (EEC), signing the Treaty of Rome in 1957. The six founders were: France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg. Germany is the largest economy in the EU and uses the euro (€). It is the engine of European integration and a permanent presence in EU leadership.
4
✗ NOT an EU Member — deliberately
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Switzerland is famously and deliberately NOT an EU member. Swiss voters rejected EEA membership in a 1992 referendum (50.3% against). Switzerland maintains its independence through over 120 bilateral agreements with the EU. It is also not a NATO member. Switzerland is surrounded by EU countries (France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein) but has maintained its neutrality and sovereignty tradition since 1815. It uses the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro.
Key European Countries — EU Membership Quick Reference
| Country | EU Member? | Year Joined / Status | Key Note |
| Belarus | No ✗ | Never applied | Authoritarian state allied with Russia · EAEU member · EU has imposed sanctions |
| Poland | Yes ✓ | 1 May 2004 | Largest 2004 enlargement country · Uses złoty (not euro yet) · Eastern border = Belarus |
| Germany | Yes ✓ | Founding member — 1957 (Treaty of Rome) | Largest EU economy · Uses euro · One of 6 original EEC founders |
| Switzerland | No ✗ | Deliberately non-member | Rejected EEA in 1992 referendum · Uses CHF · Also NOT in NATO · Bilateral agreements with EU |
| France | Yes | Founding member — 1957 | One of the 6 original EEC founders alongside Germany |
| UK | No (left) | Joined 1973 · Brexit 2020 | Left EU on 31 January 2020 (Brexit) |
| Ukraine | Candidate | Applied June 2022 · Candidate status 2022 | Candidate country — accession negotiations ongoing |
| Norway | No ✗ | Rejected in referendums (1972, 1994) | In EEA (Single Market access) but not EU · Like Switzerland situation |
EU Founding Members — The Original Six (1957)
Treaty of Rome 1957 — Six Founding Members of EEC
🇩🇪 Germany
🇫🇷 France
🇮🇹 Italy
🇧🇪 Belgium
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
Memory Trick
🧠 Four Countries — EU Status Lock-In
Belarus = Russia’s ally, never EU: Belarus–Russia linkage is ironclad. Lukashenko’s Belarus is the antithesis of EU values (democracy, rule of law). The EU has sanctioned Belarus multiple times. Belarus joined the Russia-led EAEU instead.
Switzerland = The Famous Non-Member: Switzerland deliberately chose not to join the EU — Swiss voters rejected EEA membership in 1992. It is surrounded by EU countries but uses bilateral agreements. Also not in NATO. “Swiss neutrality = no EU, no NATO.”
Germany = Founder, Poland = 2004: Germany signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957 as a founding member. Poland joined in 2004 (the “Big Bang” enlargement of 10 countries). Both are current EU members with 27 member states total.
Famous EU non-members to remember: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein (EEA but not EU) · Belarus, Russia, Ukraine (candidate) · UK (left 2020 — Brexit) · Turkey (candidate since 1999, negotiations stalled)
