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Copenhagen criteria

(Photo: Notat)

The EU Summit in Copenhagen in June 1993 decided to open EU membership to the Central and East European countries.
The then established criteria are those to be followed by all countries applying for membership of the EU. The conditions are:

• stable democratic institutions and a functioning market economy
• respect of the rule of law, of human rights, and of minorities.

After initial transitional periods, countries must undertake all the obligations of the EU. At the Copenhagen Summit in December 2002, it was agreed to initiate negotiations on EU membership with ten applicant countries. The agreement was solemnly signed in Athens, 16^th April 2003, and the memberships started May 1st, 2004.

Notes

• Bulgaria and Romania are expected to become EU members by 2007.
• Turkey get pre-acession money from 1^st January 2004, despite its non-fulfilment to date of the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership. 

Links

http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/en/cig/g4000a.htm#a10