| Accession
criteria (Copenhagen criteria)
In June 1993, the Copenhagen European Council recognised the
right of the countries of central and Eastern Europe to join
the European Union when they have fulfilled three criteria:
• political: stable institutions guaranteeing democracy,
the rule of law, human rights and respect for minorities;
• economic: a functioning market economy;
• incorporation of the Community acquis: adherence to
the various political, economic and monetary aims of the European
Union.
These accession criteria were confirmed in December 1995 by
the Madrid European Council, which also stressed the importance
of adapting the applicant countries' administrative structures
to create the conditions for a gradual, harmonious integration.
(EC1993)
In this report I have focused on the political criteria.
|
