England is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom (the UK)The UK joined the European Union in 1973.On Thursday 23rd of June 2016 there will be a referendum to decide if the UK remains in the EU.
Britain joined the European Economic Community (EEC), as it then was, with effect from 1 Janaury 1973. The EEC has since then evolved into the EU.
The European Union is an organisation for countries in Europe, so the US could not join. There are over 50 countries in Europe, 28 of which are members of the European Union. There is no reason why the US would even want to join the European Union. It would make no sense for them to do so.
All the members of the European Union are European countries. Not all European countries are members. There are no countries in it that are not from Europe. However, Turkey, which is mainly in Asia, having just a very small part of it in Europe is currently a candidate for admission. For a country to even be considered for admission, they must be seen as a European or Europeanized country. Europeanized meaning having heavy European influence, relatable culture and views, and a majority or large European population.
After World War 2 there was a need to make European countries work together and build better relationships. What is now the European Union grew out of that need and it has helped to make Europe more stable.
You need to specify what you are referring to if you want to make it possible to answer your question.
In 1957 there was no European Union. Instead, it was called the European Economic Community (which later transformed into the European Union). It had six founding members: Italy, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and West Germany. The United Kingdom was offered to be a founding member, but refused. Denmark, Ireland, and the UK later joined in 1973, Greece was added in 1981, and Spain and Portugal both joined in 1986. West and East Germany later reunified in 1990, three years before the EEC would be engulfed by the EU.
There are 28 different countries that make up the EU (European Union). All of them countries would definately not be able to fit inside Australia.
Great Britain is in Europe
France was one of the six founding members of the European Union (known then as the European Coal and Steel Community), and in fact, the idea of the EU was formulated by France. France established an economic union with Germany in order to make war between the two nations impossible, but the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Italy also got in on the deal.
Cypus is the only European Union member in the Middle East. All other European Union countries (as could be guessed) are in Europe. Turkey is a Middle Eastern country that has tried to accede to the European Union, but has not had its accession accepted. To read more about that read the Related Question. The European Union is very active politically in the Middle East, often serving as a bloc to negotiate against different Middle Eastern countries and therefore make negotiations more favorable in the Middle East.
There are currently no plans for Russia to join the European Union. It would have to make changes to many aspects of its society and economy in order to join, but it is not interested in joining.