Map of 1914 before WW1 (Blank map) by Hurricanehunter03 on DeviantArt - Free Printable

The image provided is a map of Europe with certain countries highlighted in blue. The task appears to be identifying the countries that are shaded in blue and explaining why they might be highlighted.

Step-by-Step Solution:

1. Identify the Countries Highlighted in Blue:
- By examining the map, the countries shaded in blue include:
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Ireland
- Norway
- Sweden
- Finland
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Romania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Cyprus
- Malta

2. Analyze the Pattern or Commonality:
- Upon closer inspection, all the highlighted countries are members of the European Union (EU).
- The European Union is a political and economic union of member states located primarily in Europe. The map highlights these countries because they are part of this union.

3. Conclusion:
- The countries shaded in blue are those that are members of the European Union. This is likely the reason for their highlighting on the map.

Final Answer:

The countries highlighted in blue are the member states of the European Union (EU). These countries include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, and Malta.

Boxed Answer:
\[
\boxed{\text{European Union (EU) Member States}}
\]