How do you join the European Unions?

only countries can join and it's a long and tedious process.

first of all you have to comply with a number of standards (economic, political, social). then the head of state of your country makes an official application. it is then up to the EU to consider this application.

at this moment there is a membership stop as the EU has to adapt to the recent enlargements. once the present situation is firmly under control, new countries can apply. however, some countries are more prone to be accepted than others. Muslim countries (like turkey) will face stiff opposition compared to non-Muslim countries. and of course the applicant country must be on the European continent.

a head of state may wish his country join the EU, but he will also have to deal with his electorate back home. not all people are in favour of joining the EU and in some cases the national population has opted out for fear of being dominated by the EU parliament in brussels of for fear of economic and social reasons (e.g. minority rights, the dumping of agricultural goods, ....)