EUROPE Lou 1957 (Founding Members) 1973 1981 1986 1995 2004 2007 2013 Click on every point 3e Euro

GERMANY Return Map Germany was one of the founding members of the European Union in 1957. Money : euro Capital : Berlin Total area: 356 854 km² Germany has the largest population of the European Union countries : 82 Millions. Traditional foods are spicy sausages called wurst, cooked meats, cabbage, potatoes and many types of bread as bread rolls. Rote Grütze is the popular red fruit pudding often served with cream.

SPAIN Spain joined the European Union in 1986. Capital : Madrid Return Map Spain joined the European Union in 1986. Capital : Madrid Money : euro Spanish people : 45.8 million Total area : 504 782 km²  The summer in Spain is hot and dry. Flamenco is the traditional Spanish dance. The football team won the World Cup in 2010. The traditional Spanish meal is paella. Spanish people enjoy tapas, tortilla (potato omelette), Gazpacho ( cold tomato soup) and olives.

FINLAND Finland joined the European Union in 1995. Capital : Helsinki Return Map Finland joined the European Union in 1995. Capital : Helsinki Money : euro Netherlands people : 5.3 million Total area : 338 000 km² It’s the most northerly country in the E.U. The traditional food is pickled herring, lihaupullat (it’s meatballs) and graavilohi (it’s raw salmon cooked in salt)

UNITED KINGDOM United Kingdom joined the European Union in 1973 Return Map United Kingdom joined the European Union in 1973 Spanish people : 61,7 Millions Money : Pound Sterling Capital : London Total area: 244 820 km² England, Scotland, Wales together and Northern Ireland compose the United Kingdom. The traditional food is “fish’n’chips”, roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and chutney.

NETHERLANDS Return Map Netherlands was one of the founding members of the UE, in 1957. Capital : Amsterdam Money : euro Netherlands people : 17 Millions Total area : 41 526 km² The traditional food is a Bitterballen, a Brikandel, a Erwtensoep and cheeses : Gouda and Edam In spring, there are the traditional flowers called tulips in the countryside.

Croatia Croatia joined the European Union in 2013. Capital : Zagreb Return Map Croatia joined the European Union in 2013. Capital : Zagreb Money : kuna Croatian people : 4 398 150 Total area :  56 594 km² The traditional food is lamb, veal, vegetables and pasta.

Malta Malta joined the European Union in 2004. Capital : Valletta Return Map Malta joined the European Union in 2004. Capital : Valletta Money : euro Malta people : 0.4 million Total area:  316 km² The traditional food is lampuki pie ( it’s a fish pie), rabbit stew and Bragioli ( it’s a beef with olives).

Czech Republic Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004. Return Map Czech Republic joined the European Union in 2004. Capital : Prague Money :  Czech koruna (Kč) Czech people : 78 866km² Population:  10.5million The Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe. Tke traditional food consists of pork or beef with sauce and a side dish. The most popular meal is knedliky ( it’s made of potatoes with bread).

POLAnd Poland joined the European Union in 2004. Capital : Warsaw Return Map Poland joined the European Union in 2004. Capital : Warsaw Money : Zloty Population: 312 679 km² Population: 38.1 million Poland ‘s traditional dishes include groch ówka (a yellow split pea soup with potatoes, carrots and sausages), bigos (a meaty stew) and pierogi, (dumplings stuffed with meat, cheese, mushrooms or strawberries). A popular dessert is sernik ( it’s a raisin-covered orange cheesecake).

Bulgaria Bulgaria entered Europe in 2007. The capital city is Sofia. Return Map Bulgaria entered Europe in 2007. The capital city is Sofia. Its money is the lev. Its total area is 111 910 km². 7.6 million of people live there. Its the only country which uses the Cyrillic alphabet. The Central Balkan National Park is one of the most important protected areas in the EU.

Estonia Return Map Estonia entered Europe in 2004. Its capital city is Tallinn. Its money is the euro since 2011. Its total area is 45 000 km². 1.3 million of people live there. Estonian people have to cope with long winters with only 6 hours of sunlight each day. Estonian people enjoy a variety of food such as fish, pork, sausages, soups, potatoes, beetroot, cabbage and popular vegetables.

Hungary Hungary entered Europe in 2004. Its capital city is Budapest. Return Map Hungary entered Europe in 2004. Its capital city is Budapest. Its money is the forint. Its total area is 93 000 km². 10 million of people live there. Hungary has a strong musical tradition especially in classical and folk music. The Rubik’s cube toy is from Hungary.

Romania Romania entered European Union in 2007. Return Map Romania entered European Union in 2007. Its capital city is Bucharest. Its money is the Romanian leu. Its total area is 237 500 km². 21.5 million of people live there. Romania boasts the largest population of brown bears in Europe. The story of the vampire Dracula is based on the 15th century Prince Vlad Tepes.

Portugal Return Map Portugal entered Europe in 1986. Its capital city is Lisbon. Its money is euro since 1999. Its total area is 92 072 km². 10.6 million of people live there. The traditional food of Portugal are fish and cod. Portugal has a strong tradition in athletics, especially in long distance, and has won many Olympic medals.

Cyprus Cyprus entered in Europe in 2004. Return Map Cyprus entered in Europe in 2004. The capital city of Cyprus is Nicosia. The money changed to euro in 2008. Its total area is  9 250 km². Its total population is 0.8 million. Cyprus is a very popular destination for tourists because there is Mediterranean climate with hot and dry summers and mild winters.

Latvia Latvia entered in Europe in 2004 Its capital is Riga Return Map Latvia entered in Europe in 2004 Its capital is Riga The money changed to euro in 2014. Its total area is 65 000 km² Its total population is 2.3 millions Latvia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Latvia is a low-lying country with large forests that supply timber for the construction and paper industries. Latvia experiences long, cold winters but its summers are usually warm and humid.

Slovakia Slovakia entered in Europe in 2004. Return Map Slovakia entered in Europe in 2004. The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava. Its total population is 5,4 millions. Its total area is 48 845 km². The money changed to euro in 2009. Slovakia is a country in the centre of Europe. In the north, the high Tetras from a mountainous landscape with the highest peak rising to 2 655m. The river Danube flows through southern Slovakia forming a broad and fertile lowland plain. Here farming thrives, producing wheat, potatoes, fruit and grapes.

Lithuania Lithuania entered in European Union in 2004. Return Map Lithuania entered in European Union in 2004. The capital city of Lithuania is Vilnius. Its total area is 65 000 km². Its total population is 3.3 millions. Its money is litas. It is the southernmost and largest of the three Baltic States. Despite its north latitude, summers can be warm and sunny.

Italy Population : 60 millions Capital : Rome Italy is a founding member. In the Alps, winters are very cold and snowy, so Italians can ski. In the south, summers are hot and sunny. Italy is an industrial known country for its sports cars, like Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini. Opera is very famous in Italy. Apart from pizzas, Italians eat many dishes like pasta, risotto, and wonderful ice creams! Return Map

Sweden Population : 9,5 millions Capital : Stockholm Sweden joined the European Union in 1995. The krona is their currency. Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia. Sweden has natural beauty with lakes, mountains and forests. In Sweden, beyond the Arctic circle, there is 24 hours of daylight in summer and 24 hours of night in winter. Football is a the most popular sport in Sweden. Return Map

Greece Population : 11, 28 million Capital : Athens Greece joined the EU in 1981. The euro is the currency. Greek cuisine is based on goat meat and mutton. Fish dishes are also popular. Olive oil, which is produced in large quantities, adds to the distinctive taste of Greek food. Return Map

LUXEMBOURG Population : 531 441 Capital : Luxembourg Return Map Population : 531 441 Capital : Luxembourg Luxembourg is a founding member of European Union The euro is the currency. Luxembourg is one of the smallest and least populous countries in the EU. The most popular individual sport are cycling, athletics and tennis. Luxembourg food has been highly influenced by France and Germany.  

Ireland Return Map Population: 4,6 millions Capital: Dublin Ireland joined the European Union in 1973. Euro is the currency. Traditional Irish cooking involves meat with root vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots and turnips which grow well in the cool, wet climate.

France Return Map France was one of the founding members of the E.U and the euro as their currency. The capital city is Paris. France is the largest country in the E.U. France is a country of great natural contrasts. The French revolution began on 1789 and brought “The Declaration of the rights of Man of the Citizen”. The president of the Republic has an important political role. He chairs the meetings of the Council of Ministers, and retains overall responsibility in key areas of foreign affairs and defense. France has a population of 64,3 millions.

Belgium Belgium is a federal state divided into three regions. Return Map Belgium is a federal state divided into three regions. The capital city is Brussels. Brussels hosts several international organizations : most of the European institutions are located here as well as the NATO headquarters. Belgium has a currency of euro and a population of 10,7 millions. Belgium has three official languages: Dutch, French and Germany. The Dutch-speaking population is mainly in the Flanders region in the north, with the French-speaking Wallonia region in the south and the German-speaking minority in the east.

Denmark Denmark joined the E.U in 1973 and its currency is the krone. Return Map Denmark joined the E.U in 1973 and its currency is the krone. Denmark has a population of 5,6 millions. His capital is Copenhagen. Denmark is a country in northern Europe between Germany and Sweden. It consists of a peninsula of low-lying land called « Jutland » and 442 named islands. Denmark is the leading producer of wind energy. In fact, almost 20% of Danish electricity consumption is produced by wind turbines. The E.U has supported renewable energy projects, including the use of wind turbines and solar panels on the island of Samso, which has become known as Denmark’s renewable energy island.

Austria Austria joined the E.U in 1995 and the euro as its currency. Return Map Austria joined the E.U in 1995 and the euro as its currency. 8,5 millions people live in Austria and its capital city is Vienna. In majority Austrian speaks german. Austria is one of the most mountainous country in the E.U . The Alpine mountain range extends eastwards into southern Austria, with peaks rising to nearly 3 800 m. The weather in the mountains is very changeable. In the summer, warm sunny days can be followed by violent thunderstorms and even snow at high levels. Winters are cold and snowy.

Slovenia Return Map Capital : Ljublijana Population : 2,1millions Slovenia joined the European Union in 2004. Slovenian food is strongly influenced by the diversity of its climate and history. Typical dishes include jota, bograc, saute potatoes. The EU has invested in many projects in Slovenia. Slovenia is sometimes called « Europe in miniature » because of its historic castles, palaces and modern buildings.