Why can Turkey play in the Euro 2008 finals if they are not a member of the European Union?

The Euro 2008 complement is based on UEFA membership (the governing body of European football), of which Turkey is a member, rather than EU membership. Membership with UEFA is independent of affiliation with the EU. 25% of the 16 teams who advanced to the Euro 2008 finals were not from EU member states: they are Turkey, Switzerland, Russia, and Croatia. Turkey and Croatia have made applications for EU membership, Switzerland and Russia have not.