...six members to nine, ten, telve and then to the current fifteen through a series of enlargements. The process is still continuing. The EU is no negotiating ith telve more candidates for membership, and preparing for negotiations ith Turkey, as soon as the country fulfils the political accession criteria, including respect for human rights. This latest enlargement is a consequence of the very nature of the EU. The success of the EU and the values it is based on has attracted successive aves of ne members, from countries ith a ide variety of economic and political backgrounds. Their integration into the EU has each time deepened the quality of the EU, for existing member states and ne member states. Each successive enlargement has brought benefits to Europes citizens, ne opportunities for European businesses and ider acceptance of European norms in fields ranging from consumer and environmental protection to political rights and social provision. The organic groth has enriched Europe as a hole. Enlargement is one of the most important opportunities for the European Union as it begins the 21st Century. Its historic task is to further the integration of the continent by peaceful means, extending a zone of stability and prosperity to ne members. In June 1993, at its Summit in Copenhagen, the European declared the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe that so desire shall become members of the Union. In December 1997, at Luxembourg the European Council launched the process that ill make enlargement possible. This process presently embraces thirteen countries Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Turkey. Accession negotiations are underay ith the first telve, and in June 2001 at Gteborg the European Council affirmed that the objective is to complete them by the end of 2002 ith these countries that are ready to join, so that they can take part as members in the European Parliaments elections of 2004. The EU has a long history of successful enlargements. In 1957 six founding members signed the Treaty of Rome Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Four enlargements have folloed1973 Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom1981 Greece1986 Portugal and Spain1995 Austria, Finland and Seden The benefits of enlargement are both political and economic, and can be summarized as follosThe extension of the zone of peace, stability and prosperity in Europe ill enhance the security of all its peoples.The addition of more than 100 million people, in rapidly groing economies, to the EUs market of 370 million ill boost economic groth and create jobs in both old and ne member states.There ill be a better quality of life for citizens throughout Europe as the ne members adopt the EU policies for protection of the environment and the fight against crime, drugs and illegal immigration.Enlargement ill strengthen the Unions role in orld affairs in foreign and security policy, trade policy, and the other fields of global governance.The Accession process from negotiations to ratification On the basis of the recommendations of the European Commission in December 1997, the Luxembourg European Council decided to launch an overall enlargement process for all countries ishing to join the EU. It encompassesThe European Conference, hich brings together the countries aspiring to join the EU. The Conference is a multilateral forum for discussing issues of common interest, such as foreign and security policy, justice and home affairs, regional co-operation and economic matters. This conference met for the first time in London on 12 March 1998. In December 1999, the Helsinki European Council announced a revie of the future of the European Council, so as to take account of the evolving situation. The Nice European Council in December 2000 concluded that the Balkan countries covered by the stabilization and association process and the EFTA countries be invited to attend as prospective members.The accession process hich as launched in Brussels on 30 March 1998 and encompasses all ten Central and Eastern European countries, Cyprus, Malta and Turkey. It is an evolving and inclusive process in the sense that all these countries are destined to join the EU on the basis of the same criteria.The principles of negotiations The main principles behind the accession negotiations are fourfold. Firstly, they focus specifically on the terms under hich candidates adopt, implement and enforce the acquis. Secondly, transitional arrangements may be possible, but these must be limited in the scope and duration and should not have a significant impact on competition or the functioning of the internal market. In addition they should be accompanied by a plan ith clearly defined stages for the application of the acquis. A third underlying principle in the negotiations is the concept of differentiation. The decision to enter into negotiations simultaneously ith a group of countries does not imply that these negotiations ill be concluded at the same time. The negotiations ith the candidate countries are conducted individually the pace of each negotiation depends on the degree of preparation by each candidate country and the complexity of the issues to be resolved. Finally, there is the principle of catching up. In deciding to open negotiations also ith a second group of countries, the Helsinki European Council in December 1999, stipulated that candidate States hich have no been brought into the negotiation process ill have the possibility to catch up ithin a reasonable period of time ith those already in negotiations if they have made sufficient progress in their preparations. Each candidate is thus judged on its on merits.The negotiation process The actual negotiations take the form of a series of bilateral inter-governmental conferences beteen the EU Member States and each of the candidate countries. Folloing a detailed examination of the different chapters of the acquis screening, such as free movement of goods, agriculture, environment, etc., negotiations are opened ith the candidate countries, chapter by chapter. The Commission proposes common negotiating positions for the EU for each chapter. Negotiations positions are then approved unanimously by the Council. Negotiating sessions are held at the level of ministries or deputies, i.e. Permanent Representatives for the Member States, and Ambassadors or chief negotiators for the candidates. A chapter is considered provisionally closed ith a candidate country hen the EU notes that the chapter does not require further negotiation and the candidate concerned accepts the EU common position. The EU hoever may return to the chapter at a later stage during the negotiation process, in case ne acquis ould have been adopted ith regard to the chapter concerned, or in case ...
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