Why did several countries decide not to join the EU?

Answer 1

With all the benefits to the EU you still find countries that do not want to join. I find that there are two types of countries which don't want to join the EU. The first types are nations that have substantially higher standards of living then the rest of the EU. The EU would be detrimental to their country and lower the standard of living because countries in the EU that aren't as successful would be getting part of their profits. Norway for example would not benefit because the EU is a system in where everyone contributes money and resources. The wealthier nations contribute to balance the less wealthy nations, helping everyone gain stability. Also countries that is rich in a resource and lack in another trade with countries that have that resource. All political and economic decisions are made on a larger scale through the EU's system of government. Although the EU does give countries access to a rich market and protection from countries outside of the EU making the EU a sort of "super-nation" that collaborates on issues in any of their included nations.

Norway is a NATO country, with a lot of oil reserves generating a high profit for the nation which only has 4 million inhabitants and highest living standards in the world. It is protected by NATO because of its strategic importance of its oil resources. It also has access to the European market through the EFTA (European Free Trade Association). With all those factors in mind there is nothing for it to gain by joining the EU but only something to loose. This is common between many nations that are not in the EU.

The second kind is are the Eastern European countries that have difficulty agreeing with the EU on a few ideology issues such as control and higher government and because they are still emerging nations they are not ready to turn their sovereignty to this higher level. Many of the EU's strict regulations placed on the countries are directed to ensure that the involved countries become dependent on the EU and wouldn't be able to make it if they ever wanted to withdraw from the EU. Just in case another nation such as Russia created a band of nations that offered a different more appealing union for them to join into to make themselves a sort of "super-nation" that can monopolize the market and trade. This would make Russia an "untouchable" empire that would be able to wage war and control market prices on many resources that they control. The EU has a valid point in ensuring that no nation get to large, although there are some nations that are reluctant to join the EU because of the control that the EU would ultimately gain by the addition of their nation and the inability for them to get out if a situation ever did arrive in which they would want to become a sovereign nation again. There is Eastern European countries that feel with the boom in technology and the use for previously useless resources that it would be beneficial for them to conduct business on their own to guarantee a potential economic boom in a new field of technology or resources that they are rich in.

Answer 2

Depends on each individual countries. Usually, because they believe joining would harm their economical/political interests.

For example, Switzerland and Norway still have an economical base (banks and oil) to stand on their own without joining in, just by haing EU as their trading partner.

Iceland as well, but it is a member of the European Economic Area. As is norway.

In reality, they all have EU as their most important trading partner, so it doesn't matter that much. They will all join in eventually, sooner or later.

Other countries, (south eastern Europe) will join as soon as they finish their diplomatic missions, and agree to all terms that EU requires.

Answer 3

Currently, the European Union is being troubled by the European debt crisis. The external and internal debt rates of most member nations are considerably high, the Euro has been threatened by the debt crisis, trading and manufacturing has taken some blows, unemployment runs high in most places, etc.

However, despite the debt crisis, few countries say they do not want to join the European than before. This year will be the sixth enlargement of the European Union, where Croatia will join the EU on 1 July, 2013. In addition, there are four candidates, one new applicant, and two countries of interest.

CANDIDATES:

Iceland: Iceland was announced as a candidate in 2010, after applying for membership in 2009. Iceland was expected to join the EU the same time as Croatia (July 2013), but slow negotiations led to a setback. Recently, Iceland has announced it is suspending accession and negotiations until the parliamentary elections in April 2013, which will further slow down the accession process. However, Iceland will continue to negotiate on open chapters that have already been opened. Currently, 27 chapters have been opened of which 11 are closed. An additional 6 chapters remain untouched.

Macedonia: Macedonia was announced as a candidate in 2005, after applying for membership in 2004. Macedonia's accession to the EU will be a medium to long term prospect, as it has constrained relations with Bulgaria and Greece (two member states). However, the government has expressed that the accession of Macedonia is at top priority. As of today, 0 chapters are opened while 0 chapters have been closed. All chapters remain untouched and the screening process has not even begun yet.

Turkey: Turkey was announced as a candidate in 1999, after applying for membership over a decade earlier in 1987. Turkey's process is definitely the most controversial of any country's ever. Some oppose Turkey's accession because if it did become a member, it would soon join the majority in politics, as Turkey would soon be the most populous country, exceeding Germany. Others welcome Turkey to the EU, as they think Turkey's accession will benefit the organization, as Turkey is a growing economic power.

Serbia and Montenegro: Serbia and Montenegro split into two separate countries, Serbia and Montenegro respectively, in 2006. However, Serbia and Montenegro applied for membership to the EU in 2005. Serbia and Montenegro's negotiations carried on under Serbia's name, but a new negotiation process had to be created for Montenegro. Montenegro's population is overwhelmingly for accession to the EU, with over three-fourths approving. However, only one chapter remains opened and closed for Montenegro, with most of the screening process untouched. Serbia's is a different story, with absolutely no screening started or chapters touched.

APPLICANTS:

Albania: Albania applied for membership in 2009 and has yet to be considered a candidate for accession to the EU. In October 2012, the European Commission recommended that Albania be granted candidate status, but nothing has come of it. The future of Albania and the EU is riding on Albania's parliamentary elections in March 2013. If Albania manages to hold a fair and democratic election, and implements the remaining changes to comply with the 8 key priorities for accession, then the Council of the European Union would be recommended to grant Albania official candidate status.

POSSIBLE FUTURE CANDIDATES:

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Still recovering from economic and politic turmoil, Bosnia and Herzegovina started negotiations on the Stabilization and Association Agreement in 2005, which were concluded in 2007. This is the first step in applying for accession to the EU. Foreign Minister, Sven Alkalaj, announced that Bosnia and Herzegovina planned to submit an application in 2009, but no application was sent. He announced in February 2010 that an application would be sent by the end of the year, and yet no application has been reached as of 2013. In 2010, Bosnia and Herzegovina was granted visa-free travel to the EU.

Kosovo: Kosovo is a newly independent country, proclaiming independence from Serbia in 2008. Kosovo is recognized by the majority of European, and world, countries: mainly in Western, Northern, and Central Europe. Kosovo is not recognized by five EU states (Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain) as well as one candidate (Serbia) and one possible future candidate (Bosnia and Herzegovina). However, Greece, Slovakia, and Spain are likely to recognize Kosovo in the future. Upon independence, Kosovo expected to join the EU by 2015, although this is highly unlikely. Before becoming a member, Kosovo must be recognized by all EU states, and sign a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which it has yet to do.

In addition to these eight countries in the process of accession or attempt to access to the European Union, all European countries, with the exception of Andorra and Vatican City, are either currently in the midst of becoming a candidate, has expressed desire to join the EU in the future, or its negotiation process has been put on hold for some reason.

I will refer you to the link below, titled Future Enlargement of the European Union. It has articles and information on all European countries in relationship to the European Union and their intentions, in addition to countries outside of Europe. You will find additional information on the eight countries in the process of joining the EU, as well as the additional sixteen non-EU European countries.

Answer 4

They dont want to lose all there money$$$$$$$. (and pesos) If they join they might have the same freedoms they have without the eu. TO BE CONTINUED IN 2056.......