EU Enlargement - Introduction
Enlargement remains the EU’s primary tool to achieve prosperity and security in our continent. The Government remains a strong supporter but that support is contingent upon applicant countries fully meeting the entry criteria and we will be contributing to the Commission’s rigorous assessment and benchmarking process.
The accession of Bulgaria and Romania on 1 January 2007 completed the fifth enlargement, following the EU’s biggest single expansion - by 10 Member States - in May 2004. Membership negotiations opened with Turkey and Croatia under the UK Presidency of the EU in October 2005 are ongoing.
Who makes up the EU?
There are currently 27 members of the EU. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, The Republic of Cyprus, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
Who can join?
Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union states that: “Any European state… may apply to become a Member of the Union”.
What are the criteria for joining?
The Copenhagen European Council in 1993 agreed the following basic standards, often described as the “Copenhagen Criteria”, that all countries must meet before membership of the EU:
- The existence of a functioning market economy and the capacity to cope with market forces and competition within the EU (the Economic Criteria)
- Stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities (the Political Criteria)
- Adoption and implementation of the entire body of EU law (the acquis communitaire) and adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.
UK support is contingent upon applicant countries fully meeting the entry criteria.