Enlargement of the European Union

File:EC-EU-enlargement animation.gif

The territories of the member states of the European Union (European Communities pre-1993), animated in order of accession. Territories outside Europe and its immediate surroundings are not shown.

The European Union (EU) has expanded a number of times throughout its history by way of the accession of new member states to the Union. To join the EU, a state needs to fulfil economic and political conditions called the Copenhagen criteria (named after the Copenhagen summit in June 1993), which require a stable democratic government that respects the rule of law, and its corresponding freedoms and institutions. According to the Maastricht Treaty, each current member state and the European Parliament must agree to any enlargement. The process of enlargement is sometimes referred to as European integration. This term is also used to refer to the intensification of co-operation between EU member states as national governments allow for the gradual harmonisation of national laws.

The EU's predecessor, the European Economic Community,<ref>Current Article 1 of the Treaty on European Union reads:"The Union shall be founded on the present Treaty and on the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Those two Treaties shall have the same legal value. The Union shall replace and succeed the European Community".</ref> was founded with the Inner Six member states in 1958, when the Treaty of Rome came into force. Since then, the EU's membership has grown to twenty-seven, with the latest member state being Croatia, which joined in July 2013. The most recent territorial enlargement of the EU was the incorporation of Mayotte in 2014. Campione d'Italia joined the EU Customs Union in 2020. The most notable territorial reductions of the EU, and its predecessors, have been the exit of Algeria upon independence in 1962, the exit of Greenland in 1985, and the withdrawal of the United Kingdom in 2020.

Accession negotiations are currently ongoing with Montenegro (since 2012), Serbia (since 2014), Albania (since 2020), North Macedonia (since 2020), Moldova (since 2024), and Ukraine (since 2024). Negotiations with Turkey were opened in October 2005,<ref name="TUR2006">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but have been effectively frozen by the EU since December 2016,<ref name="Yahoo">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="CouncilDecisions2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="CouncilDecisions2023">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> due to backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights.<ref name="Yahoo"/><ref name="AljazeeraSep2023">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="TurkeyStatus">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia were granted official candidate status respectively in December 2022<ref name="BIHcandidate">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="BIHstatus">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and December 2023,<ref name="GEOstatus">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> but were asked to complete additional reforms before qualifying for the formal start of membership negotiations. Kosovo submitted an application for membership in December 2022.<ref name="KosovoApli">Template:Cite news</ref> For Kosovo to be granted official candidate status, the Council will need to unanimously agree to start Kosovo's accession process by requesting an opinion from the European Commission on its application. The EU however remains divided on its policy towards Kosovo, with five EU member states not recognising its independence.

Criteria

According to the EU treaties, membership of the European Union is open to "any European State which respects the values referred to in Article 2 and is committed to promoting them" (TEU Article 49). Those Article 2 values are "respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities." This is based on the 1993 "Copenhagen criteria" agreed as it became clear many former Eastern Bloc countries would apply to join:

In December 1995, the Madrid European Council revised the membership criteria to include conditions for member country integration through the appropriate adjustment of its administrative structures: since it is important that European Community legislation be reflected in national legislation, it is critical that the revised national legislation be implemented effectively through appropriate administrative and judicial structures.

Finally, and technically outside the Copenhagen criteria, comes the further requirement that all prospective members must enact legislation to bring their laws into line with the body of European law built up over the history of the Union, known as the acquis communautaire.

Process

File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Schuman - Berlaymont - 01.jpg

The European Commission, which plays a central role in the enlargement process.

Today the accession process follows a series of formal steps, from a pre-accession agreement to the ratification of the final accession treaty. These steps are primarily presided over by the European Commission (Enlargement Commissioner and DG Enlargement), but the actual negotiations are technically conducted between the Union's Member States and the candidate country.

Before a country applies for membership it typically signs an association agreement to help prepare the country for candidacy and eventual membership. Most countries do not meet the criteria to even begin negotiations before they apply, so they need many years to prepare for the process. An association agreement helps prepare for this first step.

In the case of the Western Balkans, a special process, the Stabilisation and Association Process exists to deal with the special circumstances there.

When a country formally applies for membership, the Council asks the commission to prepare an opinion on the country's readiness to begin negotiations. The council can then either accept or reject the commission's opinion (The council has only once rejected the commission's opinion when the latter advised against opening negotiations with Greece).<ref>Article : A success for Konstantinos Karamanli on CVCE.eu</ref>

If the Council agrees to open negotiations the screening process then begins. The commission and candidate country examine its laws and those of the EU and determine what differences exist. The Council then recommends opening negotiations on "chapters" of law that it feels there is sufficient common ground to have constructive negotiations. Negotiations are typically a matter of the candidate country convincing the EU that its laws and administrative capacity are sufficient to execute European law, which can be implemented as seen fit by the member states. Often this will involve time-lines before the Acquis Communautaire (European regulations, directives and standards) has to be fully implemented.

File:EU-GDP-Population.svg

2010 population and GDP per capita of individual EU member states compared with those of non-member states in Europe.

A chapter is said to be closed when both sides have agreed it has been implemented sufficiently, however it can still be re-opened if the Commission feels that the candidate has fallen out of compliance.

To assess progress achieved by countries in preparing for accession to the European Union, the European Commission submits regular reports (yearly) to the European Council. These serve as a basis for the council to make decisions on negotiations or their extension to other candidates.

Once the negotiations are complete, a Treaty of Accession will be signed, which must then be ratified by all of the member states of the Union, as well as the institutions of the Union, and the candidate country. Once this has been completed it will join the Union on the date specified in the treaty.

The entire process, from application for membership to membership has typically taken about a decade, although some countries, notably Sweden, Finland, and Austria have been faster, taking only a few years. The process from application for association agreement through accession has taken far longer, as much as several decades (Turkey, for example, first applied for association in the 1950s and has yet to conclude accession negotiations).

On 18 October 2019, France vetoed starting of negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, citing problems with the current enlargement process.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In November 2019, France proposed a seven-stage accession plan for membership.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The reformed accession strategy proposes participation in different programs, such as Erasmus, Banking Union, Capital Markets Union, Customs Union, etc.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Example

The following is an example of the accession process—Estonia's path to membership from its restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in November 1991 with recognition from the EU the same month to membership in May 2004. Ease of accession depends on the state: how integrated it is with the EU beforehand, the state of its economy and public institutions, any outstanding political issues with the EU and (historically) how much law to date the EU has built up that the acceding state must adopt. This outline also includes integration steps taken by the accession country after it attains membership.

Estonia EU membership timeline

Year	Date	Event	Notes
1991	20 August	Restoration of independence from USSR	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1994	18 July	Free trade agreement concluded<ref name="EE Over" />
1995	1 January	Free trade agreement in force<ref name="EE Over" />
	12 June	Europe Agreement concluded<ref name="EE Over" />
	24 November	Applied for Membership<ref name="EE Over" />
1998	1 January	Europe Agreement comes into force<ref name="EE Over" />	Aiding pre-integration
	March	Membership negotiations open<ref name="EE Over" />	6 chapters opened<ref name="Chapters 2004">Timetable for accession negotiations by chapter and by country (1998–2004) CVCE.eu</ref>
1999		17 chapters opened<ref name="Chapters 2004" />
2000		6 chapters opened<ref name="Chapters 2004" />
2002	December	All chapters closed<ref name="Chapters 2004" /> and negotiations concluded	Final chapter (No. 30) was opened and closed at the same time.
2003	8 April	Draft accession treaty approved by Estonian government
	16 April	Treaty of Accession signed
	14 September	Referendum on membership approved	66.84% in favour, turnout : 64.02%
2004	1 May	Acceded to EU
	28 June	Joined ERM	Requires 2 years in ERM before euro adoption
2007	21 December	Entered the Schengen area
2011	1 January	Adoption of the euro
	1 May	Right to limit migration from 2004 countries expired	Only Austria and Germany applied this, the rest of EU countries abolished restrictions before 2011

Success and fatigue

Enlargement has been one of the EU's successful foreign policies,<ref name="ISS">Piket, Vincent EU Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Template:Webarchive, Institute for Strategic Studies</ref> yet has equally suffered from considerable opposition from the start. French President Charles de Gaulle opposed British membership.<ref name="Bache 1" /> A later French President, François Mitterrand, opposed Greek, Spanish and Portuguese membership, fearing that the former dictatorships were not ready and that the countries' inclusion would reduce the union to a free-trade area.<ref name="ESI">Beyond Enlargement Fatigue? The Dutch debate on Turkish accession, European Security Initiative 2006</ref>

The reasons for the first member states to apply, and for them to be accepted, were primarily economic while the second enlargement was more political. The southern Mediterranean countries had just emerged from dictatorships and wanted to secure their democratic systems through the EEC, while the EEC wanted to ensure the same thing and that their southern neighbours were stable and aligned to NATO.<ref name="Bache 1">Template:Cite book</ref> These two principal forces, economic gain and political security, have been behind enlargements since. After the large enlargements in 2004, public opinion in Europe turned against further expansion.<ref name="ESI" />

It has also been acknowledged that enlargement has its limits; the EU cannot expand endlessly.<ref name="ISS" /> Former Commission President Romano Prodi favoured granting "everything but institutions" to the EU's neighbour states, allowing them to co-operate deeply while not adding strain on the EU's institutional framework.<ref name="ISS" /> This has in particular been pushed by France and Germany as a privileged partnership for Turkey, membership for which has faced considerable opposition on cultural and logistical grounds.<ref>Kardas, Saban (13 May 2009) Merkel and Sarkozy Call for Privileged Partnership Angers Turkey, Jamestown Foundation</ref><ref>Schauble, Wolfgang (2004) Talking Turkey, Foreign Affairs</ref>

Historical enlargements

Applications for accession to the EU, ECSC or EC

Applicant	Submitted	Accession / failure rationale
Template:Flagicon Albania	Template:Dts	A<ref name="July2022AlMk">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>Negotiating
Template:Flagicon Austria	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Belgium	Template:DtsFounder	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Bosnia and Herzegovina	Template:Dts	B<ref name="md-uk-candidacy">Template:Cite news</ref> Candidate
Template:Flagicon Bulgaria	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Croatia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Cyprus	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Czech Republic	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Denmark	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-uaWithdrawn
	Template:Right Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Estonia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Finland	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon France	Template:DtsFounder	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Georgia	Template:Dts	B<ref name="ge-candidacy">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Candidate
Template:Flagicon West GermanyTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:DtsFounder	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Greece	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Hungary	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Iceland	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-ua<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Withdrawn
Template:Flagicon Ireland	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-uaWithdrawn
	Template:Right Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Italy	Template:DtsFounder	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Kosovo<ref name="European Commission">Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:Dts	C<ref name="Enlargement">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>Applicant
Template:Flagicon Latvia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Lithuania	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Luxembourg	Template:DtsFounder	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Malta	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-ua<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Frozen
		Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Moldova	Template:Dts	A<ref name="June2024UkrMol">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>Negotiating
Template:Flagicon Montenegro	Template:Dts	A<ref name="Enlargement" />Negotiating
Template:Flagicon Morocco	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-ua<ref>Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref> Rejected
Template:Flagicon Netherlands	Template:DtsFounder	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon North MacedoniaTemplate:Efn-ua	Template:Dts	A<ref name="July2022AlMk" />Negotiating
Template:Flagicon Norway	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-uaWithdrawn
	Template:Right Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-ua<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Withdrawn
	Template:Right Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-ua<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Withdrawn
Template:Flagicon Poland	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Portugal	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Romania	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Serbia	Template:Dts	A<ref name="Enlargement" />Negotiating
Template:Flagicon Slovakia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Slovenia	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Spain	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-ua<ref name=ARTEHISTORIA>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rejected
	Template:Right Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Sweden	Template:Dts	Template:Dts
Template:Flagicon Switzerland	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-ua<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Reimann>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Swiss Federal Council">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> Withdrawn
Template:Flagicon Turkey	Template:Dts	E<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Enlargement" />Frozen negotiations
Template:Flagicon Ukraine	Template:Dts	A<ref name="June2024UkrMol" />Negotiating
Template:Flagicon United Kingdom	Template:Dts	Template:DtsTemplate:Efn-uaVetoed
	Template:Right Template:Dts	Template:Dts

Notes: Template:Notelist-ua

Membership of EU predecessors

The European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was proposed by Robert Schuman in his declaration on 9 May 1950 and involved the pooling of the coal and steel industries of France and West Germany.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Half of the project states, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, had already achieved a great degree of integration amongst themselves with the organs of Benelux and earlier bilateral agreements. These five countries were joined by Italy and they all signed the Treaty of Paris on 23 July 1952. These six members, dubbed the 'Inner Six' (as opposed to the 'outer seven' who formed the European Free Trade Association who were suspicious of such plans for integration) went on to sign the Treaties of Rome establishing two further communities, together known as the European Communities when they merged their executives in 1967.<ref name="janse18">Template:Cite journal</ref>

In 1962, Spain, ruled by the military dictator Francisco Franco, issued its first attempt to join the European Communities. Spanish Foreign Affairs minister Fernando María Castiella sent the request form to French Prime Minister Maurice Couve de Murville.<ref name=ARTEHISTORIA/> This request was rejected by all the member countries in 1964; Spain was not a democracy at the time, and thus unable to enter the EEC.<ref>Template:Cite thesis</ref>

The Community did see some loss of territory due to the decolonialisation occurring in their era. Algeria, which was an integral part of France, had a special relationship with the Community.<ref>European Economic Community Treaty, Article 7</ref> Algeria gained independence on 5 July 1962 and hence left the Community. There would be no further efforts at enlargement until the early 1970s.

Enlargement of the European Communities

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} <imagemap> File:Evolution of the European Union SMIL.svg|thumb|Interactive map of the enlargement and evolution of the European Union, excluding Greenland and Algeria default [1] </imagemap> The United Kingdom, which had refused to join as a founding member, changed its policy following the Suez crisis and applied to be a member of the Communities. Other EEC members were also inclined to British membership on those grounds. French President Charles de Gaulle vetoed British membership.<ref name="Bache 1" />

Once de Gaulle had left office, the door to enlargement was once again opened. The EEC economy had also slowed down and British membership was seen as a way to revitalise the community.<ref name="Bache 1" /> Only after a 12-hour talk between British Prime Minister Edward Heath and French President Georges Pompidou took place did Britain's third application succeed.<ref name="upi.com">"1971 Year in Review Template:Webarchive, UPI.com"</ref> After Britain was accepted Prime Minister Edward Heath said:

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As part of the deal for British entry, France agreed to allow the EEC its own monetary resources. However France made that concession only as Britain's small agriculture sector would ensure that Britain would be a net contributor to the Common Agricultural Policy dominated EEC budget.<ref name="Bache 1" /> Applying together with the UK, as on the previous occasions, were Denmark, Ireland, and Norway.<ref>For more on Ireland's attempts at membership see Michael J. Geary, An Inconvenient Wait: Ireland's Quest for Membership of the EEC, 1957–73 (Institute of Public Administration, 2009) (Template:ISBN)</ref> These countries were so economically linked to the UK that they considered it necessary to join the EEC if the UK did.<ref name="Bache 1" /> However the Norwegian government lost a national referendum on membership and hence did not accede with the others on 1 January 1973. Gibraltar joined the Community with the United Kingdom at this point, as can be seen in the long title of the UK European Communities Act 1972.

Mediterranean enlargements

The next enlargement would occur for different reasons. The 1970s also saw Greece, Spain, and Portugal emerge from dictatorship. These countries desired to consolidate their new democratic systems by binding themselves into the EEC. Equally, the EEC was unsure about which way these countries were heading and wanted to ensure stability along its southern borders.<ref name="Bache 1" /> However François Mitterrand initially opposed their membership fearing they were not ready and it would water the community down to a free trade area.<ref name="ESI" />

Greece joined the EEC in 1981 followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986. None of these nations had a referendum related to accession.

The year 1985, however, saw the first time a territory voted to leave the Community, when Greenland was granted home rule by Denmark and the territory used its new powers and voted to withdraw from the Community (see member state territories).

Morocco and Turkey applied for membership in 1987. Morocco's application was turned down as it was not considered European;Template:Citation needed Turkey's application was considered eligible on the basis of the 1963 Ankara Association Agreement but the opinion of the Commission on the possible candidate status was by then negative.Template:Citation needed Turkey received candidate status in 1999 and began full membership negotiations in 2005, which were still in progress as of 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Post–Cold War

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

File:Thefalloftheberlinwall1989.JPG

The Iron Curtain's fall enabled eastward enlargement. (Berlin Wall)

After the 1970s, Europe experienced an economic downturn which led to leaders launching of the Single European Act which set to create a single market by 1992. The effect of this was that EFTA states found it harder to export to the EEC and businesses (including large EFTA corporations such as Volvo) wished to relocate within the new single market making the downturn worse for EFTA. EFTA states began to discuss closer links with the EEC despite its domestic unpopularity.<ref name="Bache 2">Template:Cite book</ref>

Austria, Finland, and Sweden were neutral in the Cold War so membership of an organisation developing a common foreign and security policy would be incompatible with that. With the end of the Cold War in 1989, that obstacle was removed, and the desire to pursue membership grew stronger.<ref name="Bache 2" /> On 3 October 1990, the reunification of East and West Germany brought East Germany into the Community without increasing the number of member states.

The Community later became the European Union in 1993 by virtue of the Maastricht Treaty, and established standards for new entrants so their suitability could be judged. The Copenhagen criteria stated in 1993 that a country must be a democracy, operate a free market, and be willing to adopt the entire body of EU law already agreed upon. Also in 1993 the European Economic Area was established with the EFTA states except Switzerland. Most of the new EEA states pursued full EU membership as the EEA did not sufficiently satisfy the needs of their export based corporations. The EU has also preferred these states to integrate via the EEA rather than full membership as the EEC wished to pursue monetary integration and did not wish for another round of enlargement to occupy their attention. However, with the EEA's credibility dented following rejection by businesses and Switzerland, the EU agreed with full membership. This was more readily accepted with the prospect of poorer countries wishing to join; contributions from richer countries would help balance the EU budget.<ref name="Bache 2" /> On 1 January 1995 Austria, Finland, and Sweden acceded to the EU marking its fourth enlargement. The Norwegian government lost a second national referendum on membership.

Eastern enlargement

File:EU2004-2013.svg

EU enlargements, 2004–2013:Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend

In the late 1980s (shortly prior to the dissolution of the Soviet Union) Mikhail Gorbachev announced the Soviet Union would no longer intervene in other countries' internal affairs (Sinatra Doctrine), practically freeing Central and Eastern Europe from Soviet occupation (Czechoslovakia and Hungary) / Soviet backed authoritarian regimes. These countries wanted to consolidate their democracies through joining Western world international organisations (including participation in European integration) which would ensure the newly emerged democracies would not fall back under Russian control. The EU and NATO offered a guarantee of this, and the EU was also seen as vital to ensuring the economic success of those countries. However, the EU's desire to accept these countries' membership applications was less than rapid. The collapse of communism came quickly and was not anticipated. The EU struggled to deal with the sudden reunification of Germany with the addition of its poorer 17 million people and, while keeping its monetary union project on track, it was still at that early stage pointing the EFTA countries in the direction of the EEA rather than full membership.<ref name="Bache 3">Template:Cite book</ref>

States in Central and Eastern Europe persisted and eventually the above-mentioned issues were cleared. The US also pressured the EU to offer membership as a temporary guarantee; it feared expanding NATO too rapidly for fear of frightening Russia. Although eventually trying to limit the number of members, and after encouragement from the US, the EU pursued talks with ten countries and a change of mindTemplate:Clarify by Cyprus and Malta helped to offset slightly the influx of large poorer member states from Central and Eastern Europe.<ref name="Bache 3" />

The 10 post-Communist European Union candidate countries in 1998

Country	Europe Association Agreement signing date <ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Start of accession negotiations <ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Population in 1998 <ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1998 GDP ($ billions) Template:Efn-ua	1998 GDP (PPP) per capita <ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Real GDP in 1998 (1989=100) Template:Efn-ua	Real wage in 1998 (1989=100) <ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Real gross industrial output in 1998 (1989=100) <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	Private sector share of GDP in 1998 <ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Asset share of state-owned banks in 1998 <ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	External debt in 1998 (% of GDP) <ref name="auto2"/>	General government debt in 1998 (% of GDP) <ref name="auto2"/>	Net inflows of FDI in 1998 (% of GDP) <ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	General government balance in 1998 (% of GDP) <ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Freedom House's Nations in Transit score in 1998 Template:Efn-ua
Template:Flag	1993-03-03	2000-02-15	8.34	12.7	$4,776 €4,583	67.3	47.0	44.3	65%	59.5%	80.6	95.6	4	2	30
Template:Nowrap	1993-10-04	1998-03-31	10.28	60.8	$12,479 €12,045	95.45	101.0	79.4	75%	18.8%	40.0	13.2	6	−4	14
Template:Flag	1995-06-13	1998-03-31	1.43	5.65	$7,607 €7,491	79.95	74.3	59.0	70%	7.8%	52.5	6.0	11	0	16
Template:Flag	1991-12-16	1998-03-31	10.12	46.9	$10,202 €9,735	95.3	79.6	103.0	80%	11.8%	58.0	61.9	4	−8	13
Template:Flag	1995-06-13	2000-02-15	2.42	6.6	$5,557 €5,465	59.4	63.0	47.9	65%	8.5%	46.8	10.6	6	−1	18
Template:Flag	1995-06-13	2000-02-15	3.69	11	$6,437 €6,124	65.6	44.6	40.6	70%	45.3%	34.2	16.5	8	−3	18
Template:Flag	1991-12-16	1998-03-31	38.72	158.5	$7,658 €7,756	117.2	85.2	117.3	65%	48%	37.3	39.9	4	−4	13
Template:Flag	1993-02-01	2000-02-15	22.47	42.1	$5,646 €5,576	78.1	61.1	42.5	60%	74.6%	23.6	27.6	5	−4	33
Template:Flag	1993-10-04	2000-02-15	5.38	22.2	$9,817 €9,615	99.8	88.8	80.9	75%	50%	53.7	28.6	3	−5	29
Template:Flag	1996-06-10	1998-03-31	1.99	21.1	$14,305 €13,589	102.25	86.7	75.9	60%	41.3%	34.7	22.2	1	−2	16

Notes: Template:Notelist-ua

In the end, eight Central and Eastern European countries (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia), plus two Mediterranean countries (Malta and Cyprus), joined on 1 May 2004. This was the largest single enlargement in terms of people, and number of countries, though not in terms of GDP.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The less developed nature of these countries was of concern to some of the older member states. Some countries, such as the UK, immediately opened their job market to the accession states, whereas most others placed temporary restrictions on the rights of work of the citizens of these states to their countries. The movement westward of some of the labour force of the newly acceded countries that occurred in the aftermath of the enlargement initially spawned clichés among the public opinion and media of some western countries (such as the "Polish plumber"), despite the generally conceded benefit to the economies concerned.<ref>Giuseppe D'Amato, "L'EuroSogno ed i nuovi Muri ad Est. L'Unione europea e la dimensione orientale" [The EuroDream and the New Walls to the East]. Greco&Greco, Milan, 2008 Template:ISBN</ref> The official EU media (the speeches of the European Commission) frequently referred to the enlargement to the CEE region as "an historical opportunity" and "morally imperative", which reflected the desire of the EU to admit these countries as members, even though they were less developed than the Western European countries.<ref>"The Next Enlargement: Challenges and Opportunities: Speech by Sir Leon Brittan QC to Europapolitischer Kongress Organised By the CDU/CSU Group in the European Parliament" – Berlin 11 September 1995 and Günter Verheugen Member of the Commission responsible for Enlargement "Enlargement is irreversible": Debate on Enlargement in the European Parliament Strasbourg, 3 October 2000</ref>

Following this, Romania and Bulgaria, deemed as not fully ready by the commission to join in 2004, acceded instead on 1 January 2007. These, like the countries joining in 2004, faced a series of restrictions as to their citizens not fully enjoying working rights on the territory of some of the older EU members until 2014.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Romania and Bulgaria did not have a referendum related to accession.

The socio-economic research on the attitudes towards the integration from both hosting and visiting countries has revealed divergent views. The analysis shows, there are a number of possible factors of the rationalisation and understanding of the practices on what the enlargement has been and should be like. Attitudes of even sceptical citizens, do not discard the possibility on future sustainable enlargements. The years subsequent to the EU accession will lead to extensive dialogues between policy-makers, governments, and European citizens about the path for a constructive development.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Western Balkans enlargements

Template:Further The 2003 European Council summit in Thessaloniki set integration of the Western Balkans as a priority of EU expansion. The EU's relations with the Western Balkans states were moved from the "External Relations" to the "Enlargement" policy segment in 2005. Those states which have not been recognised as candidate countries are considered "potential candidate countries".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The move to Enlargement directorate was a consequence of the advancement of the Stabilisation and Association process.

Croatia joined on 1 July 2013, following ratification of the 2011 Accession Treaty by all other EU countries. Albania and the several successor states of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have all adopted EU integration as an aim of foreign policy.

Detail

#	Official name	Date	Community countries and OMR	Associated territories	Excluded territories
1	ECSC Foundation	Template:Dts	Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Saarland, Italy, West Germany, West BerlinTemplate:Efn-ua		Belgian Congo, Ruanda-Urundi, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, French Tunisia, French Morocco, Adélie Land, Comoro Islands, Chad, Gabon, Middle Congo, Ubangi-Shari, French India, French Oceania,Template:Efn-ua Clipperton Island, French Somaliland, Dahomey, French Guinea, French Sudan, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Upper Volta, French Cameroons, French Togoland, Madagascar, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Saint-Paul-and-Amsterdam Islands, New Caledonia, Wallis-et-Futuna, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion, French Algeria, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean, French-administration of the New Hebrides,Template:Efn-ua Italian Somaliland, Netherlands New Guinea, Surinam, Netherlands Antilles
		1953–1957	the above, Saarland joined West Germany		the above without the newly independent: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, French Tunisia, French Morocco, French India;Template:Efn-ua and without Adélie Land, Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Saint-Paul-and-Amsterdam IslandsTemplate:Efn-ua
2	EEC and EURATOM Foundation	Template:Dts	the above, French Algeria, Réunion, French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe	French Guinea, French Cameroons, French Togoland,Template:Efn-ua French Sudan,Template:Efn-uaTemplate:Efn-ua Senegal,Template:Efn-ua Madagascar,Template:Efn-ua Belgian Congo, Italian Somaliland, Dahomey, Niger, Upper Volta, Ivory Coast, Chad, Ubangi-Shari, Middle Congo,Template:Efn-ua Gabon, Mauritania, Ruanda-Urundi, Netherlands New Guinea, Comoro Islands, French Somaliland,Template:Efn-ua French-administration of the New Hebrides,Template:Efn-ua St. Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean	the above, West Berlin, without Scattered islands in the Indian Ocean
		1958–1962	the above	the above, without the newly independent: French Guinea, French Cameroons, Togo, Mali Federation, Malagasy Republic, Belgian Congo, Italian Somaliland, Dahomey, Niger, Upper Volta, Ivory Coast, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Mauritania, Ruanda-Urundi,Template:Efn-ua Netherlands New GuineaTemplate:Efn-ua	the above
		Template:Dts	the above, without the newly independent: Algeria	the above	the above
		Template:Dts	the above	the above, with Surinam<ref>"The provisions of Part Four of the Treaty were applied to Surinam, by virtue of a Supplementary Act of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to complete its instrument of ratification, from 1 September 1962 to 16 July 1976.", in: eur-lex.europa.eu – Template:CELEX</ref>	the above, without Surinam
	Netherlands Antilles Association Convention<ref>Template:CELEX</ref>	Template:Dts	the above	the above, with the Netherlands Antilles	the above, without the Netherlands Antilles
3	First Enlargement	Template:Dts	the above, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, Gibraltar, DenmarkTemplate:Efn-ua	the above, Antigua, Redonda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Brunei, Canton and Enderbury Islands,Template:Efn-ua Bahama Islands, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Honduras,Template:Efn-ua British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, British Western Pacific Territories,Template:Efn-ua Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Falkland Islands Dependencies,Template:Efn-ua Gilbert and Ellice Islands,Template:Efn-ua Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St. Helena, Ascension Island, Tristan da Cunha, Seychelles, New Hebrides,Template:Efn-ua Turks and Caicos Islands	the above, the Faroe Islands, Akrotiri and Dhekelia,Template:Efn-ua the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Rhodesia,Template:Efn-ua Hong Kong
		1973–1980	the above	the above, Barbuda,Template:Efn-ua Mayotte,Template:Efn-ua without the newly independent Bahama Islands, Grenada, St. Vincent, Seychelles, British Solomon Islands, Surinam, Ellice Island, Dominica, St. Lucia, Gilbert Islands, New Hebrides, Comoro IslandsTemplate:Efn-ua and French Territory of the Afars and the Issas	the above without the newly independent Rhodesia
4	Second Enlargement	Template:Dts	the above, Greece	the above	the above
		1981–1984	the above	the above, Anguilla,Template:Efn-ua without the newly independent Belize, Antigua, Barbuda, Redonda,Template:Efn-ua St. Christopher and NevisTemplate:Efn-ua and Brunei	the above
		Template:Dts	the above without Greenland	the above, Greenland	the above
5	Third Enlargement	Template:Dts	the above, Spain, Portugal, Azores, Madeira, Plazas de soberanía, Canary Islands	the above, with Aruba, formerly part of the Netherlands AntillesTemplate:Efn-uaTemplate:Efn-ua	the above, Macau, East TimorTemplate:Efn-ua
	German reunification	Template:Dts	the above, East Germany and West Berlin join to form Germany	the above	the above without West Berlin
6	Fourth Enlargement	Template:Dts	the above, Austria, Sweden, Finland	the above	the above
		Template:Dts	the above	the above	the above, without Hong KongTemplate:Efn-ua
		Template:Dts	the above	the above	the above, without MacauTemplate:Efn-ua
		Template:Dts	the above	the above	the above, without the newly independent East Timor
7	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Dts || the above, Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary|| the above, Akrotiri and Dhekelia<ref name="SBA">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || the above, without Akrotiri and Dhekelia<ref name="SBA" />
8	Sixth Enlargement	Template:Dts	the above, Bulgaria, Romania	the above	the above
		Template:Dts	the above, Collectivity of Saint Martin, Saint BarthélemyTemplate:Efn-ua	the above, without Scattered islands in the Indian OceanTemplate:Efn-ua	the above
		Template:Dts	the above	the above, without the now-dissolved Netherlands Antilles, with Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, SabaTemplate:Efn-ua	the above
		Template:Dts<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || the above, without Saint Barthélemy|| the above, Saint Barthélemy || the above
9	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Dts || the above, Croatia|| the above || the above
10		Template:Dts<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || the above, Mayotte|| the above, without Mayotte || the above
11	Withdrawal of the United Kingdom	Transition period: Template:Dts to Template:Dts<ref>Article 126 of the Template:CELEX</ref>	the above, without United Kingdom, Gibraltar	the above without Akrotiri and Dhekelia, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Antarctic Territory, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands	the above without the Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey

Notes: Template:Notelist-ua

Potential enlargements

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Current enlargement agenda

File:European Union member states and candidates v2.svg

Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend

Article 49 of the Maastricht Treaty (as amended) says that any European state that respects the "principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law", may apply to join the Union. The European Council set out the conditions for EU membership in June 1993 in the so-called Copenhagen criteria (see Criteria above for details). The Western Balkan states had to sign Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAAs) before applying for membership, but have been prioritised with an open path to apply for membership and roadmap for an accession perspective, since emerging from the break-up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s and subsequent Yugoslav Wars.

Accession negotiations are currently ongoing with Montenegro (since 2012), Serbia (since 2014), Albania (since 2020), North Macedonia (since 2020), Moldova (since 2024) and Ukraine (since 2024). Negotiations with Turkey were opened in October 2005,<ref name="TUR2006"/> but have been effectively frozen by the EU since December 2016,<ref name="Yahoo"/><ref name="CouncilDecisions2018"/><ref name="CouncilDecisions2023"/> due to backsliding in the areas of democracy, rule of law, and fundamental rights.<ref name="Yahoo"/><ref name="AljazeeraSep2023"/><ref name="TurkeyStatus"/>

The most advanced stage of the negotiations, defined as meeting the interim benchmarks for negotiation chapter 23 and 24 which allow the closing process of all negotiation chapters to start, has so far only been reached by Montenegro.<ref name="Montenegro in Closing Phase">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Montenegro's declared political goal is to achieve membership of the EU by 2028.<ref name="Montenegro2028">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Montenegro2028PM">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia were granted official candidate status respectively in December 2022<ref name="BIHcandidate"/><ref name="BIHstatus"/> and December 2023,<ref name="GEOstatus"/> but were asked to complete additional reforms before qualifying for the formal start of membership negotiations. Kosovo submitted an application for membership in December 2022.<ref name="KosovoApli"/> For Kosovo to be granted official candidate status, the Council will need to unanimously agree to start Kosovo's accession process by requesting an opinion from the European Commission on its application. The EU however remains divided on its policy towards Kosovo, with five EU member states not recognising its independence.

EU enlargement policy

Template:Further On 6 February 2018, the European Commission published its expansion plan,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which covers the six Western Balkan countries. The plan envisages that all six applicants could achieve accession as members of the European Union after 2025. In May 2018, Bulgaria—holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union—hosted a summit on the Western Balkans, which aimed to facilitate accession by the six, including enhanced regional security cooperation and regional connectivity.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

It was noteworthy that the Summit referred to "partners" rather than states: this reflects that Kosovo is only partially recognised as a state.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Template:As of, Kosovo was not recognised by fellow Western Balkan applicant Serbia and existing EU members Spain, Slovakia, Cyprus, Romania, and Greece. The European Commission is sensitive to the issue, which was addressed in a speech by the EU's High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini at the European Parliament Plenary Session on the Western Balkan Strategy: "shared, unequivocal, concrete perspective for European Union integration for each and every one of the six partners. Each at its own pace, with its own specificities and under different conditions, but the direction is clear and is one."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Amid the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the three former Soviet republics of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia submitted applications for EU membership.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="bbc.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="digi24.ro">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The European Parliament subsequently voted to accept an emergency petition from the government of Ukraine for EU member state candidacy.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 17 June 2022, the European Commission recommended that Ukraine and Moldova become candidates for EU membership and that Georgia be recognised as a potential candidate but that it would need to "meet certain conditions" to be granted candidate status. These conditions included investing more in education and infrastructure and completing several reforms in elections, judicial independence, crime, corruption, and oligarchs. These recommendations were approved by the European Council during a summit on 23 June.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 14 December 2023, the European Council granted candidate status to Georgia, agreed to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and announced that the opening of accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina would be reconsidered once certain conditions were met with an update expected in March 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 9 July 2024 the European Union halted Georgia's accession into the European union after their authorities adopted a new "foreign influence" law which some fear might curb democratic freedom.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Potential enlargement agenda

File:European Union future possible members 2.0.svg

Countries that could join the European Union Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend Template:Legend

Armenia

On 12 March 2024, the European Parliament passed a resolution confirming Armenia meets Maastricht Treaty Article 49 requirements and that the country may apply for EU membership.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 26 March 2025, the Armenian parliament approved a bill calling for the start of the process of Armenia's accession to the European Union.<ref>Armenian Parliament Completes Passage Of EU Membership Bill</ref><ref>Armenian Parliament Approves Bill On EU Membership</ref>

Abandoned enlargement negotiations

Several sovereign states have previously submitted applications for membership to the EU but are no longer on the agenda:

• Norway has completed membership negotiations twice, in 1972 and 1994, but both times membership was rejected in a referendum.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> The application remains frozen.Template:Citation needed

• Switzerland applied for membership in 1992 but subsequently froze its application.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It formally withdrew it in 2016.<ref name=Reimann/><ref name="Swiss Federal Council"/>

• Iceland applied in 2009 following an economic collapse, but formally withdrew in 2013 after the election of a new government.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• Accession Treaty of Spain to the European Economic Community
• Eastern Partnership
• Enlargement of the African Union
• Enlargement of the eurozone
• Enlargement of the United Nations
• Enlargement of NATO
• Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
• European Economic Area
• European Free Trade Association
• European integration
• Foreign relations of the European Union
• Potential enlargement of the European Union
• Schengen Area
• Treaty of Accession 1994
• Treaty of Accession 2003
• Treaty of Accession 2005
• Treaty of Accession 2011
• Union for the Mediterranean
• Withdrawal from the European Union

External links

• Enlargement Template:Webarchive – Europa
• EU enlargement documentation on EUR-Lex
• European Union Member States and applicant countries – CVCE
• Archival material concerning the enlargement of the European Union can be consulted at the Historical Archives of the European Union in Florence

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