European Union, 2007. North is at top. This is a mosaic of satellite images showing the member states (highlighted) and candidate states (elevated) of the European Union (EU) as of 1st January 2007. On this date, Bulgaria (northeast of Greece at centre right) and Romania (Bulgaria's northern neighbour) joined the EU, taking its membership to 27 states. In early 2007, the EU contained around 490 million people. Notable non-members (not highlighted) include Switzerland (east of France at centre) and Norway (occupying the western part of the Scandinavian Peninsula). Croatia (east of Italy), the Republic of Macedonia (north of Greece) and Turkey (east of Greece) will need to fulfil economic and political conditions before admission to the EU.