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Introduction and progress since the Europe Agreements

What are the Europe Agreements?

The Europe Agreements were bilateral agreements between the EU and the different candidate countries applying for membership. They were a framework for the pre-accession strategy and provided the context for convergence between the EU and these countries in economic, political and social terms.

The Europe Agreements cover a wide range of issues such as: trade, political dialogue, legal approximation and other areas of cooperation, including industry, environment, transport and customs. The Europe Agreements have become the structure within which these countries are preparing for membership:

Requirements for EU membership

The timing of EU accession for each country is directly related to the progress made in preparing for membership. The European Council of Copenhagen in 1993 laid down the basic criteria in this respect. The Copenhagen criteria require:

1. Stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, stressing the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.
2. The existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the European Union.
3. The ability to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.

How do we measure the progress?

The progress made by the applicant countries in fulfilling the accession criteria is monitored by the European Commission, which submits annual Regular Reports to the Council on the performance of each country. Overall, candidate countries have reached a high degree of alignment in many areas, as a result of the considerable progress in transposing the acquis communautaire (the body of EU legislation and regulations that the accession countries have had to implement as a condition of joining the EU) over the last few years. In accordance with the Copenhagen criteria, the Regular Reports measure the progress made at all levels: political, economic, administrative and in the implementation of the acquis.

The negotiations with the 10 best-prepared candidate countries were concluded on the basis of their progress in implementing the acquis up to now, and on their commitment to continue doing so until their accession.

On the basis of its fifth set of Regular Reports, presented in October 2002, the Commission recommended to the European Council that:

“Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia fulfil the political criteria. Bearing in mind the progress achieved by these countries, the track record in implementing their commitments, and taking into account their preparatory work in progress and foreseen, the Commission considers that these countries will have fulfilled the economic and acquis criteria and will be ready for membership from the beginning of 2004. The Commission therefore recommends to conclude the accession negotiations with these countries by the end of this year with the aim to sign the Accession Treaty in spring 2003”.

The Commission continues to monitor their progress and report to the Council during 2003. It will also be providing additional support to ensure that the acquis can be efficiently implemented. Bulgaria and Romania will continue their preparations on the basis of road maps agreed with the Commission.

As for Bulgaria and Romania, the European Council agreed to support their objective of joining the EU in 2007, on condition that each country meet the accession criteria and conclude the negotiations. Regarding Turkey, the European Council agreed to support that the EU should further strengthen its support for Turkey's pre-accession preparations and that the Commission will report on progress at the end of 2004.

Is there any visible progress?

Even if the differences are still very significant, in the view of the European Commission visible progress has taken place in the following areas:

• Stable democracies have emerged, in a record period of time, with democratic institutions and increased respect for minorities.
• The economic reforms in those countries have proven truly successful, leading to high rates of economic growth (higher than the EU) and better employment prospects.
• EU’s financial assistance and the prospect of EU’s membership have proven to stimulate the path towards reform.
• The increasing level of trade and investment between the EU Member States and the candidate countries has resulted in more employment and growth.

What are we aiming at with enlargement?

It is not the first time that the EU has been enlarged. Each enlargement has confirmed the following trends:

• The creation of a deeper area of peace, stability and prosperity. After this enlargement, the biggest in the world.
• The addition of more than 100 million people, in rapidly growing economies, adding to a total of almost 500 million people, boosting economic growth and creating jobs all across the new EU
• Better quality of life for citizens throughout the protection of the environment, and the fight against crime, drugs and immigration.
• The arrival will enrich the EU in cultural diversity, exchange of ideas and better understanding of other peoples.
• Enlargement will strengthen the Union’s role in world affairs, mainly through security and trade policy and in the context of global governance.

What would happen without enlargement?

Political development in the EU over the last two years or so has been very much directed towards preparing for enlargement and it is therefore difficult to postulate the future of the EU without enlargement.  However, some opinions regarding outcomes should enlargement not proceed include:

• Delay in enlarging the single market would lead to continuing the trend of poor economic performance
• In the candidate countries this may stop the reforms taken towards democratisation, with potential repercussions for the European Union
• It would also weaken economic reform and, therefore, discourage foreign investment and reduce economic growth.
• Without enlargement it would be much more difficult for the EU to combat the problems of organised crime, illegal immigration and terrorism.
• It would encourage Euroscepticism in the current member states.

For more information:

• European Commission:
  http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/index.htm
• European Parliament:
  http://www.europarl.eu.int/enlargement/default_en.htm
• Economic and Social Committee: http://www.ces.eu.int/sections/enlargement/index_en.htm
• The costs and benefits of Eastern Enlargement: the impact on the EU and Central Europe, Richard E. Baldwin, Joseph E. Francois and Richard Portes
• Association, Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with East European Countries,
• Arianne van der Klugt, Researcher, European Istitute of Public Administration
• Enlarging the European Union: Achievements and Challenges. A report of Wim Kok for the European Commission

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