Which European countries have not applied for membership to the European Union?

Per Wikipedia:

“Four Western European countries that have chosen not to join the EU have partly committed to the EU’s economy and regulations: Iceland, which has now applied for membership, Liechtenstein and Norway, which are a part of the single market through the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, which has similar ties through bilateral treaties.” In other words, three of these have not joined because they already have some of the same economic benefits, and one has now applied to be a member.

And “the European microstates, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican include the use of the euro and other areas of co-operation.” but are not actually members.

Greenland was a member but withdrew in 1985 basically because the populace voted to withdraw once Greenland was granted home rule by Denmark. They didn’t want anyone else to have a say in their fishing industry..

“One of the first political tasks for the Greenland Home Rule Government was to withdraw from the EU due to the wish of having full sovereignty over Greenlandic fishing territory but also due to an overall wish of minimizing the direct influence from outside of Greenland.” Source

great! thanks a ton

There are 50 states in Europe, whereas 27 are Union members. Some non-members, the micro states as @Darwin said, are in the EEC or enjoy the benefits of EU through bilateral agreement with surrounding countries.

It is a bit more complex than to just join. In order to do so a country has to meet the Copenhagen Criteria and not have capital punishment, as the Union is abolitionist. There is also a geographic criteria that could be up for debate.

Any European country could apply to join the EU, as Iceland recently did. This application will either be accepted or rejected by the European Council.

For a country to become an EU member state, it must first apply. Further, it must have achieved a stable democratic system, respect for human rights – the existence of a competitive market economy, and the ability to adopt the EU law, the Acquis, which embodies laws of the treaties – in order to become a Candidate Country. Belarus don’t qualify, for one, due to having capital punishment, and Russia will not become a member.

EU have enlargement processes, where it deems it is ready to accept new members. The Fifth Enlargement of the EU was carried out 2004–2007. The existing enlargement agenda encompasses the Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey. These countries have been offered the opportunity to become EU members in the near future, and have the status as candidates.

Once a candidate, the Union and the candidate starts a negotiation process which is carried out in many steps, in order to integrate the country with the Acquis. Turkey, however, does have some democratic problems and with the treatment of minorities, which must be resolved.

Countries like the Ukraine, Georgia and Azerbaijan might be future members, as well as Armenia. There are voices for countries like the Cape Verde islands and Israel to join. The geographic criteria is not legitimate in itself, as non-european territory is part of the Union already. French Guyana in South America, for instance, is a part of the EU as is Reunion outside of Madagaskar. These are however pre-existent parts of member countries, but is an argument in favor for non-european countries to join.

The Union also cooperates with the surrounding neighbour countries in the European Neighbourhood Policy. This includes north Africa.

Either the question changed or I got carried away but the sentence Why have they chosen not to join?.

These countries have not applied: Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Moldavia, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, The Holy See, Russia.

Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia are not yet ready for membership for several reasons. They are however a part of the European Neighborhood Policy ENP, and will in time of further enlargement be eligible for candidacy.

And Russia is too big with it’s own agenda. There is mutually no interest between the EU and Russia of membership in the Union.

@oratio you more than exceeded my expectations with those =p. thanks a lot