On 13 June 1994, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro makes a detailed assessment of the difficulties that must be overcome if the accession of the countries of Eastern Europe to the European Union is to be a success.

On 30 November 1994, in an article for the French daily newspaper Le Monde, Edouard Balladur, French Prime Minister, looks ahead to a future enlargement process of the European Union to include the countries of Eastern Europe and, with a view to this, proposes that the European Union be organised in concentric circles.

On 2 March 1995, Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission, delivers an address to the European Parliament in which he identifies the problems involved in the enlargement of the European Union to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs).

In 1995, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, illustrates the slow pace of the process of enlargement of the European Union to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs), under the mistrustful eye of Boris Yeltsin, President of the Russian Federation.

On 14 December 1996, at the end of the Dublin European Council, Klaus Hänsch, German President of the European Parliament, holds a press conference in which he calls for new institutional reforms which will allow the European Union to operate after its forthcoming enlargement.

On 14 December 1996, at the end of the Dublin European Council, Jacques Santer, President of the European Commission, holds a press conference in which he reveals the timetable for the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union and expresses his support for the necessary institutional reforms.

On 28 June 1997, following the Amsterdam European Council held on 16 and 17 June, the Portuguese weekly publication Expresso emphasises the difficulties facing the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) in their journey towards accession to the European Union.

On 7 November 1997, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopts a detailed recommendation relating to the European Union’s enlargement to include the countries of Eastern Europe.

In February 1999, the French monthly newspaper Le Monde Diplomatique analyses the implications and risks, both for the 10 new Member States and for the Fifteen, of the enlargement of the European Union to 25.

On 22 May 1999, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort publishes an article by Archduke Otto von Habsburg, outgoing MEP and President of the International Paneuropean Union, in which he deplores the obstacles to the enlargement of the European Union to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs).

On 9 December 1994, the French daily newspaper Le Monde publishes an article by Raymond Barre, former French Prime Minister, and Bronislaw Geremek, Polish historian and politician, in which they propose a strategy for the successful integration of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) into the European Union.

On 18 May 1993, with a view to the meeting of the European Council due to be held in Copenhagen on 21 and 22 June 1993, the European Commission forwards to the Council a document outlining the progress made in the development of a partnership between the Community and Central and Eastern Europe.

On 21 June 1993, at the Copenhagen European Council, Alain Juppé, French Foreign Minister, holds a press conference in which he announces, in particular, the decision taken by the Twelve to work towards the accession of some of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) to the European Union.

The Copenhagen European Council of 21 and 22 June 1993 defines the economic and political conditions for accession to the European Union.

At the European Council meeting held in Copenhagen on 21 and 22 June 1993, the Twelve ask the European Commission to draw up a report on a long-term strategy for developing growth, competitiveness and employment. They confirm that Austria, Finland, Sweden and Norway will accede in 1995 and lay down the economic and political criteria for the accession of the associate countries of Central and Eastern Europe to the European Union.

‘Mummy!’ In 1993, the German cartoonist, Fritz Behrendt, portrays the difficult position of the European Union faced with the numerous applications for accession made by the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs).

On 22 June 1993, to mark the opening of the Copenhagen European Council, the French daily newspaper Le Monde highlights the impatience of the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs), particularly those represented in the Visegrad Group (Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia), at the difficulties and the slow pace of the European Union enlargement process.

On 23 June 1993, commenting on the results achieved at the Copenhagen European Council held on 21 and 22 June 1993, the Spanish daily newspaper El País considers the decisions taken by the Twelve with a view to the future enlargement of the European Communities to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs).

On 28 June 1993, in an article published in the Spanish daily newspaper El País, Jean-Luc Dehaene, Belgian Prime Minister, analyses the results achieved by the Twelve at the Copenhagen European Council held on 21 and 22 June.

On 9 December 1994, the Brussels daily newspaper La Libre Belgique analyses the range of decisions adopted by the Essen European Council with regard to the process of enlargement of the European Union to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs).

On 9 December 1994, the French daily newspaper Le Monde considers the major European issues to be tackled at the Essen European Council held on 9 and 10 December and, in particular, the question of the enlargement of the European Union to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs).

On 10 December 1994, commenting on the Essen European Council, the French daily newspaper Libération outlines the implications of the enlargement of the European Union to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs), with particular regard to the common agricultural policy (CAP) and structural aid to the most disadvantaged regions.

On 10 December 1994, commenting on the Essen European Council, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir outlines the economic difficulties involved in the integration of some of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) into the European Union.

On 9 and 10 December 1994, at the Essen European Council, the Twelve decide, in particular, to use the resources of the PHARE programme (Poland–Hungary: assistance in economic restructuring) as part of the strategy for rapprochement between the ten Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) and the European Union with a view to their future accession.

At the Essen European Council of 9 and 10 December 1994, the Twelve define a pre-accession strategy in order to prepare the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) for the progressive integration of the Community acquis into their national law.

At the Essen European Council (9–10 December 1994), the Twelve determine a pre-accession strategy to prepare the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs) for the gradual incorporation of the Community acquis into their national legislation. From left to right: Klaus Kinkel (German Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union), Helmut Kohl (German Chancellor and President-in-Office of the European Council) and Theodor Waigel (German Finance Minister).

On 23 June 1995, the French daily newspaper Le Monde outlines the challenges of the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union and places particular emphasis on the impatience of some of the applicant countries.

On 4 December 1997, during a visit to Estonia, Pierre Moscovici, French Minister for European Affairs, delivers an address in Tallinn in which he sets out France’s priorities with regard to the widening and deepening of the European Union.

The Luxembourg European Council on 12 and 13 December 1997 decides to launch a comprehensive, inclusive and ongoing enlargement process, including the ten applicant States for accession to the Union from Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus.

During the Luxembourg European Council held on 12 and 13 December 1997, the Fifteen launch a comprehensive accession process for the accession of the ten applicant countries from Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Cyprus, to the European Union.

On 12 December 1997, in an interview granted to the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort, Jacques F. Poos, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, considers the implications of the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union.

On 12 December 1997, commenting on the achievements of the Luxembourg European Council held on 12 and 13 December, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit outlines the European Union’s uncertainty regarding future enlargement to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the implementation of Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and criticises the German Government’s lack of initiatives in terms of European policy.

On 12 December 1997, during the Luxembourg European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg Prime Minister and President-in-Office of the Council, sets out his position on the enlargement of the European Union and emphasises Turkey’s special situation.

On 12 December 1997, commenting on the issues at stake at the Luxembourg European Council, the French daily newspaper Libération analyses the attitude of the Fifteen towards the future enlargement of the European Union.

On 12 December 1997, the French daily newspaper Le Monde analyses the economic situation of the countries which have applied for accession to the European Union.

On 13 December 1997, the French daily newspaper Le Monde outlines the implications and challenges of the enlargement of the European Union to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs), Malta and Cyprus.

On 13 December 1997, the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, gives a positive assessment of the work of the Luxembourg European Council, held on 9 and 10 December, relating to the enlargement of the European Union.

On 14 December 1997, in an interview granted to RFI (Radio France Internationale), Pierre Moscovici, French Minister responsible for European Affairs, comments on the outcome of the Luxembourg European Council on the EU enlargement process.

On 14 December 1997, the daily newspaper La Libre Belgique reports on the decisions adopted by the Luxembourg European Council with regard to the opening of negotiations for accession to the European Union with Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia.

On 15 December 1997, Bronislaw Geremek, Polish Foreign Minister, grants an interview to the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir in which he comments on the decisions adopted at the end of the Luxembourg European Council with regard to the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union.

On 15 December 1997, commenting on the Luxembourg European Council of 12 and 13 December, the German daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung highlights the challenges faced by the countries and by the European Union in connection with its enlargement to include the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEECs).

On 10 and 11 December 1999, the Helsinki European Council decides to open accession negotiations with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia and Romania. By stating that, ‘in the negotiations, each candidate State will be judged on its own merits’, the European Council consolidates the principle of differentiation.

The Helsinki European Council of 10 and 11 December 1999 decides to extend the accession negotiations procedure to six applicant countries (Malta, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania) and gives Turkey the status of ‘applicant country’ without, however, opening accession negotiations or fixing a precise timetable.

On 11 December 1999, Jan Kulakowski, Polish State Secretary responsible for Poland’s negotiations for accession to the European Union, grants an interview to the French daily newspaper Le Monde in which he expresses his views on the EU enlargement process.

On 16 December 1999, the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, outlines the results achieved at the Helsinki European Council, held on 10 and 11 December, which proposed, in particular, the opening of negotiations on accession to the European Union with Romania, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Malta, and speaks in greater detail about the specific case of Turkey.

In April 2000, the monthly journal Revue du Marché Commun et de l’Union Européenne publishes an interview with Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for Enlargement, who discusses the decisions adopted in December 1999 at the end of the Helsinki European Council.

At the Gothenburg European Council, held on 15 and 16 June 2001, the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen draw up guidelines concerning, in particular, the future of Europe, the next stages of enlargement of the European Union and the modernisation of its institutions.

At the meeting of the European Council held in Gothenburg on 15 and 16 June 2001, the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen lay down the guidelines for the next stages of enlargement, the debate on the future of the European Union, sustainable development, economic and social issues and the European Union’s external relations.

On 19 June 2001, the Belgian daily economic newspaper L’Écho comments on the decisions taken at the Göteborg European Council concerning the enlargement of the European Union.

On 21 June 2001, the German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, delivers to the Bundestag an address in which he gives a positive assessment of the outcome of the Göteburg European Council with particular regard to the enlargement of the European Union.

On 21 June 2001, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit expresses its disappointment at the outcome of the Göteburg European Council, held on 15 and 16 June, with regard to the enlargement of the European Union.

In its summer 2001 issue, the Federalist journal L’Europe en Formation criticises the unsatisfactory outcome of the Gothenburg European Council held on 15 and 16 June 2001.

On 13 December 2001, the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit comments on the European Council due to open the following day in Laeken and outlines the challenges facing the Fifteen.

On 13 December 2001, on the eve of the Laeken Summit, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir outlines the state of the preparations being made by the countries which have applied for accession to European Union.

At the Laeken European Council, held on 14 and 15 December 2001, the Fifteen agree to the accession of the applicant countries to the European Union if they continue their efforts towards alignment with the Member States.

One year after the Intergovernmental Conference held in Nice in December 2000 which launched the ‘Debate on the future of the European Union', the Laeken Declaration of 15 December 2001 redrafts and gives tangible form to the issues raised in Nice regarding a reform of the institutions. Accordingly, the Declaration sets out the key issues to be discussed at a Convention on the Future of Europe, whose inaugural session is to take place in Brussels on 28 February 2002: the division of competences between the Union and its Member States, the simplification of the Union's legislative instruments, the maintenance of interinstitutional balance and an improvement to the efficacy of the decision-making procedure, and the constitutionalisation of the Treaties.

Group photograph taken at the Laeken European Council of 14 and 15 December 2001.

On 12 December 2002, commenting on the Copenhagen European Council, the French weekly news magazine L’Express speculates on the political and institutional repercussions of the future enlargement of the European Union.

The Copenhagen European Council, meeting on 12 and 13 December 2002, concludes negotiations with 10 applicant countries and fixes the date for the accession of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia at 1 May 2004.

At the Copenhagen European Council held on 12 and 13 December 2002, the Heads of State or Government of the Fifteen listen to Valéry Giscard d’Estaing’s report on the progress of the work carried out by the European Convention before focusing, in particular, on the enlargement of the European Union and the common foreign and security policy (CFSP).

On 13 December 2002, commenting on the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council, the French daily newspaper Le Monde considers the new challenges facing the enlarged European Union.

On 13 December 2002, commenting on the conclusions of the Copenhagen European Council, the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir profiles an enlarged European Union consisting of 25 Member States.

On the day after the Copenhagen European Council meeting of 12 and 13 December 2002, the British daily newspaper The Guardian reacts to the conclusions of the Council Presidency concerning the enlargement of the Union to encompass ten new Member States and devotes special attention to the issue of Turkey’s application.

On 16 December 2002, Noëlle Lenoir, French Minister Delegate for European Affairs, comments on the decisions taken at the Copenhagen European Council concerning the enlargement of the European Union.

On 16 December 2002, on the margins of the Copenhagen European Council, Tony Blair, British Prime Minister, holds a press conference in which he emphasises the historic significance of the decisions adopted by the Fifteen concerning the enlargement of the European Union.

On 18 December 2002, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Danish Prime Minister and President-in-Office of the Council of the European Union, outlines to the European Parliament the nature of the decisions adopted at the end of the Copenhagen European Council, with particular regard to the enlargement of the European Union.

‘Welcome to the club.’ Following the Copenhagen European Council held on 12 and 13 December 2002, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, takes an ironic look at the condition of the ‘European house’ in the light of the forthcoming enlargement of the European Union to include 10 new Member States.