<P> There are five recognised candidates for future membership of the European Union : Turkey ( applied in 14 April 1987 ) , Macedonia ( applied in 22 March 2004 ) , Montenegro ( applied in 2008 ) , Albania ( applied in 2009 ) and Serbia ( applied in 2009 ) . All except Albania and Macedonia have started accession negotiations . Kosovo , whose independence is not recognised by five EU member states , and Bosnia and Herzegovina are recognised as potential candidates for membership by the EU . Bosnia and Herzegovina has formally submitted an application for membership , while Kosovo has a Stabilisation and Association Agreement ( SAA ) with the EU , which generally precedes the lodging of membership application . In July 2014 , Jean - Claude Juncker announced that the EU has no plans to expand before 2019 while Serbia and Montenegro , the most advanced candidates , are expected to join before 2025 . While the others are progressing , Turkish talks are at an effective standstill . </P>
list of countries trying to join the eu
Turkey Macedonia Montenegro Albania Serbia Kosovo Bosnia and Herzegovina