European Union Enlargement - An historic opportunity

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COPENHAGEN EUROPEAN COUNCIL Membership criteria require that the candidate country must have achieved ■ ■ ■ stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities; the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union; the ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims MADRID EUROPEAN COUNCIL Membership criteria also require that the candidate country must have created the conditions for its integration through the adjustment of its administrative structures, as underlined by the Madrid European Council in December 1995. While it is important that European Community legislation is transposed into national legislation, it is even more important that the legislation is implemented effectively through appropriate administrative and judicial structures. This is a prerequisite of the mutual trust required by EU membership.
An unprecedented enlargement AGENDA 2000 AND THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S OPINIONS The Madrid European Council in December 1995 called on the European Commission to submit an assessment of the candidates’ applications for membership, and to prepare a detailed analysis of what enlargement would mean for the EU. In July 1997, the Commission presented Agenda 2000, a single framework in which the Commission outlines the broad perspective for the development of the European Union and its policies beyond the turn of the century; the impact of enlargement on the EU as a whole; and the future financial framework beyond 2000, taking into account the prospect of an enlarged Union. It also included the Commission’s Opinions on the candidate countries’ applications for membership. The Commission’s Opinions evaluated the situation of each country in relation to the accession criteria (see previous page). The Commission took into account information provided by the candidate countries themselves; assessments made by the Member States; European Parliament reports and resolutions; the work of other international organisations and international financial institutions (IFIs); and progress made under the Europe Agreements. Finally, the Opinions were not only an assessment of the performance of each country up until 1997, but also a forward-looking analysis of expected progress. The Commission had already issued Opinions on Turkey in 1989 and Cyprus and Malta in 1993. Having evaluated the extent to which the candidates already met the accession criteria, the European Commission recommended in its 1997 Opinions that accession negotiations start with the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia and Cyprus. Following up on the Opinions, the Commission submits Regular Reports to the Council on further progress achieved by each candidate country (see below page 24). On the basis of the 1999 Regular Reports, the Commission recommended that accession negotiations be opened also with Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Slovak Republic, and, subject to certain specific conditions, with Bulgaria and Romania. Subsequently, based on the 2002 Regular Reports, the Commission recommended that accession negotiations be concluded with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia. The Commission recalled that these countries fulfilled the political criteria, and added that, bearing in mind the progress achieved by these countries, their track record in implementing their commitments, and taking into account their preparatory work in progress and foreseen, the Commission considered that these countries will have fulfilled the economic and acquis criteria and will be ready for membership from the beginning of 2004. Both in 1999 and 2002, the European Council endorsed the Commission’s recommendations. ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, AN HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY 9
Page 1 and 2: Enlargement of the European Union A
Page 3: General overview of the enlargement
Page 6 and 7: An unprecedented enlargement Enlarg
Page 8 and 9: ASSOCIATION AGREEMENTS (FOR MORE DE
Page 12 and 13: Pre-accession strategy At the end o
Page 14 and 15: THE EUROPE AGREEMENTS WITH THE COUN
Page 16 and 17: EXAMPLES OF PRIORITIES IN THE ACCES
Page 18 and 19: PRE-ACCESSION ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY
Page 20 and 21: In this way Twinning provides the f
Page 22 and 23: Initially, Twinning was limited to
Page 24 and 25: EXAMPLES OF CO-FINANCING BY ISPA AN
Page 26 and 27: REVIEW PROCEDURE - REGULAR REPORTS
Page 28 and 29: The Accession process from negotiat
Page 30 and 31: NEGOTIATIONS: ANALYTICAL EXAMINATIO
Page 32 and 33: The EU’s Preparations for Enlarge
Page 35 and 36: Annexes ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN
Page 37 and 38: Annexes 2001 JUNE OCTOBER NOVEMBER
Page 39 and 40: Annexes ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT Contr
Page 41 and 42: Annexes ROADMAP FOR THE ACCESSION N
Page 43 and 44: Annexes National Phare* MEDA Progra
Page 45 and 46: Annexes Lithuania 2% Bulgaria 2.6%
Page 47 and 48: Annexes The Community assistance he
Page 49 and 50: Annexes BUDGETARY ARRANGEMENTS MAXI
Page 51 and 52: European Commission Enlargement of

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