DG Enlargement 1 The EU Enlargement Process: State of play October 2008

DG Enlargement 2 Enlargement overcoming divisions of Europe; contributing to peace and stability consolidating common principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law increasing prosperity and competitiveness enabling the EU to respond to globalisation.

DG Enlargement 3 Previous enlargements 1952: Coal and steel community 1958: Treaties of Rome: Economic & Atomic communities 1973: 1 st ) Denmark, Great Britain, Ireland 1981: 2 nd ) Greece 1986: 3 rd Portugal, Spain 1995: 4 th )Austria, Finland, Sweden 2004: 5 th ) Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia 2007: Bulgaria, Romania

DG Enlargement 4 The new European Union

DG Enlargement 5 Legal basis Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union: "any European State which respects the principles referred to in Article 6(1) may apply to become a member of the Union (…)". Article 6(1) : "The Union is founded on the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights, and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles which are common to the Member States".

DG Enlargement 6 Copenhagen Criteria 1993 Stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, rule of law, human rights, protection of minorities (political) Functioning market economy; capacity to withstand competitive pressure and market forces within EU (economic) Ability to take on obligations of membership (acquis) EU absorption capacity

DG Enlargement 7 Renewed consensus credible prospect of accession rigorous conditionality : progress in the negotiations to go hand in hand with progress in implementing reforms and in aligning with EU laws and policies.

DG Enlargement 8 The object of negotiations Candidate country adopts entire body of EU law (acquis communautaire). Negotiable are: Transition periods Financial arrangements (perspectives from 2014)

DG Enlargement 9 Developments related to candidate countries There are three candidate countries, Croatia, Turkey and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. CroatiaTurkeythe former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Accession negotiations started with Croatia and Turkey on 3 October 2005.

DG Enlargement 10 Turkey A total of 8 chapters were opened to negotiations (1 of them being provisionally closed) Since our last meeting (October 2007), negotiations started in Ch. 21 Trans-European Networks, Ch. 28 Consumer and Health Protection, Ch. 6 Company Law, and Ch.7 Intellectual Property Law. The Council decision on a revised Accession Partnership was published in February Commissioner Rehn paid a two-day visit to Turkey on October 2008 to meet with PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Mr. Ali Babacan.

DG Enlargement 11 Croatia A total of 21 chapters were opened to negotiations (3 of them being provisionally closed) Since our last meeting (October 2007), negotiations started in Ch. 29 Customs Union, Ch. 30 External Relations, Ch. 33 Financial and Budgetary Provisions, Ch. 1 Free Movement of Goods, Ch. 2 Freedom of Movement for Workers, Ch. 14 Transport Policy, Ch. 15 Energy, Ch. 19 Social Policy and Employment. The Council decision on a revised Accession Partnership was published in February 2008.

DG Enlargement 12 Developments related to potential candidate countries The Stabilisation and Association Process (SAP) is the EU’s policy framework for the Western Balkan countries, all the way to their eventual accession. In March 2008, the Commission adopted a Communication on "Western Balkans: Enhancing the European perspective", presenting new initiatives, and enhancing existing ones, to help accelerate the progress of the Western Balkans on the road towards EU membership.Western Balkans: Enhancing the European perspective

DG Enlargement 13 Developments related to potential candidate countries The European Council (Brussels, 19/20 June 2008) reaffirmed its full support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans. –The Council stressed that “by making solid progress in economic and political reform and by fulfilling the necessary conditions and requirements, the remaining potential candidates in the Western Balkans should achieve candidate status, according to their own merits, with EU membership as ultimate goal.” –The Council welcomed the significant progress in facilitating people-to-people contacts. The launching of the dialogue on visa liberalisation with Serbia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina was an important step.

DG Enlargement 14 Other recent developments and forthcoming events The Commission and Kosovo have signed an agreement for an EU investment of € million in the socio-economic development of Kosovo through the Commission's instrument for pre-accession (IPA) 2008 annual programme (10/10/2008).agreement The first meeting of the European Commission - Bosnia and Herzegovina interim committee was held on 7 October 2008 in Sarajevo. They worked for comprehensive trade liberalisation between the EU and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is an important step forward in the Stabilisation and Association Process of the country.meeting Progress reports will be published in November New negotiation chapters with candidate countries can be opened.

DG Enlargement 15 Financial assistance Western Balkans and Turkey will receive € 7.58 billion in financial assistance from the EU. The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) will be available from 2007 to Beneficiary countries are Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo. The IPA aims at enhancing political and economic reform and development of beneficiary countries, on their path towards EU membership.