European Union. Map of the member states based on satellite data. North is a top of image. Member states of the EU are seen as the non-shaded areas. There are 25 member states in all,the latest member states joined on 1st May 2004. Those countries were Cyprus,the Czech Republic,Estonia,Hungary,Latvia,Lithuania,Malta,Poland,Slovakia and Slovenia. Notable absentees from the EU include Norway on the north-western flank of Scandinavia,Iceland in the Atlantic Ocean to the north west of mainland Europe and Switzerland in central Europe. Russia,Turkey,Romania,and Bulgaria (all non-EU states) are to the east of Europe,at right of image |