Illustration charting the successive stages in the enlargement of the European Union, from the ‘Community of the Six' to the ‘Union of the Fifteen'.

Diese Karte zeigt die Landesfläche, die Einwohnerzahl und das Bruttoinlandsprodukt je Einwohner der Mitgliedstaaten und der Beitrittskandidaten der Europäischen Union.

Map illustrating the European Union’s changing composition following the successive enlargements of the European Communities, from the six founding countries to the Union of 28 Member States. This map also shows the candidate countries currently in accession negotiations, the other candidate countries and the potential candidates.

Chronological table on Member States and EU applicant countries showing the date of the agreements preceding accession (Association or Europe Agreements) as well as the various stages in the admission process.

Chronological table on Member States of the European Free-Trade Association (EFTA) showing the date of their accession or withdrawal from the organisation, as well as the date of the free-trade agreements concluded between them and the European Economic Community (EEC) [to become the European Community (EC) after the Treaty on European Union came into force on 1 November 1993].

The flags of the 25 Member States of the European Union after enlargement on 1 May 2004.

Membre du Parlement européen et président de la section française du Mouvement européen, Jean-Louis Bourlanges explique dans cet article comment, au sein des institutions de l'Union européenne, le principe de l'égalité entre les citoyens complète et corrige le principe de l'égalité entre les États membres dans une recherche empirique d'équilibre entre petits et grands pays.

Vice-président de la Commission européenne de 1985 à 1994, Henning Christophersen plaide dans cet article pour l’introduction du vote à la double majorité (des États et des citoyens) au sein du Conseil comme moyen pour préserver l’équilibre entre petits et grands États au sein d’une Union élargie à davantage de petits membres.

Le 4 juillet 2000, le quotidien Luxemburger Wort résume les différentes contributions des intervenants au colloque sur le sujet "Grands et petits États dans l'Union européenne: collision ou coalition?" organisé par la représentation de la Commission européenne au Luxembourg dans la capitale du Grand-Duché.

Le 16 octobre 2000, le quotidien français Le Figaro commente le désaccord qui s'est manifesté entre grands et petits États membres lors du Conseil européen de Biarritz des 13 et 14 octobre au sujet de la composition de la Commission et de la repondération des voix au sein du Conseil dans une future Union élargie.

Le 24 avril 2003, le quotidien français Le Monde analyse les points de divergence entre grands et petits pays dans les discussions menées au sein de la Convention européenne sous la présidence de Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.

Le 7 mars 2003, le journal luxembourgeois Le Quotiden commente les efforts du Premier ministre luxembourgeois Jean-Claude Juncker pour rassembler autour d’une position commune ses homologues des petits États membres de l’Union européenne à la veille du Conseil européen de Bruxelles des 20 et 21 mars.

Le 10 mai 2003, le quotidien français Le Monde analyse la controverse entre les grands et les petits États membres de l’Union européenne au sujet de leur représentation au sein de l’organisation.

Dans un article paru dans le mensuel français Le Monde diplomatique en avril 2004, Jean-Claude Boyer, professeur émérite à l’Institut d’études européennes de l’université Paris-VIII, relativise l’importance du clivage par la taille entre les États membres de l’Union européenne – qui porterait exclusivement sur les questions institutionnelles — et accorde plus d’importance à d’autres clivages relatifs aux enjeux économiques, politiques et sociaux de la construction européenne.

On 19 December 1961, the European Parliamentary Assembly unanimously adopts the report drawn up on behalf of the Political Committee on the political and institutional aspects of accession to or association with the European Economic Community (EEC).

On 5 April 1977, the Presidents of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of the European Communities sign a joint declaration in Luxembourg affirming that they will do their utmost to protect the fundamental rights enshrined in both in the constitutions of the Member States and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

In its Opinion of 23 May 1979 on the application submitted by Greece for accession to the European Communities, the Commission recalls that the principles of pluralist democracy and respect for human rights form part of the common heritage of the peoples of the States which constitute the European Communities and are therefore essential elements for membership of the said Communities.

The Maastricht European Council of 9 and 19 December 1991 recalls that the Treaty on European Union provides that any European State whose systems of Government are founded on the principle of democracy may apply to become members of the Union.

Submitted to the Lisbon European Council of 26 and 27 June 1992 and annexed to the Presidency’s Conclusions, the European Commission report ‘Europe and the Challenge of Enlargement’ lists the conditions for accession to the European Union which applicant countries must satisfy and warns about conditions which must be fulfilled to safeguard the effectiveness of an enlarged Union.

Group photo taken during the Copenhagen European Council of 21 and 22 June 1993. In the front row: Helmut Kohl, Federal Chancellor of Germany; François Mitterrand, President of the French Republic; Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark; Henrik, Prince of Denmark; Ingrid, Princess of Denmark; and Konstantinos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece. In the second row: Felipe González, President of the Spanish Government; John Major, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; Jean-Luc Dehaene, Prime Minister of Belgium; Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Prime Minister of Portugal; Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark; and Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, President of the Italian Council of Ministers. In the third row: Jacques Santer, Prime Minister of Luxembourg; Albert Reynolds, Prime Minister of Ireland; Edouard Balladur, Prime Minister of France; and Ruud Lubbers, Prime Minister of the Netherlands. In the fourth row: Dick Spring, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs; Jacques Poos, Luxembourg Minister for Foreign Affairs; and Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission.

Compliance with the common principles set out in Article 6(1) of the Treaty on European Union constitutes a condition for any State wishing to accede to the European Union. In this communication, dated 15 October 2003, the European Commission reviews the implementing procedures laid down in Article 7 with a view to ensuring compliance with those principles, as well as the tangible means of action available to the Union’s institutions.

On 6 October 2004, given that Turkey sufficiently fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria and provided that it brings into force any outstanding legislation, the European Commission recommends the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey.

In an article published on 9 December 1999 in the French daily newspaper Le Monde, Alain Lamassoure, Member of the European Parliament, argues that the ‘European’ nature of a country as a condition for accession to the European Union should only be assessed according to the criterion of geography, independently of historical, religious or cultural considerations, with the aim of establishing objective limits to the enlargement of the European Union.

On the eve of the European Union–Western Balkans Summit, due to be held in Thessaloniki on 21 June 2003, the French daily newspaper Le Figaro reports on the Fifteen’s desire to support the possible accession of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro on the condition that the accession criteria are strictly respected and by initially encouraging the stability and association programme.

On 6 January 2005, Ferdinando Riccardi, Editor-in-Chief of Agence Europe in Brussels, draws attention to the European Parliament’s demands relating to Turkey’s accession to the European Union resulting, in particular, from the Copenhagen political criteria.

In diesem Interview kommt Charles Rutten, ehemaliger Ständiger Vertreter der Niederlande bei den Europäischen Gemeinschaften, auf die Verhandlungen über die Assoziationsabkommen der EWG mit Griechenland und der Türkei zu sprechen und geht dabei auch auf die Haltung der Vereinigten Staaten zu diesem Thema ein.

On 8 February 2000, a few days before the official opening of accession negotiations with six new applicant countries (Helsinki Group), the European Commission issues a press release recalling the various stages of the accession procedure.

On 29 September 1967, the Commission, not being in possession of all the information that is required if it is to deliver the Opinion provided for by the Treaties, delivers a preliminary Opinion on the applications for accession to the European Communities submitted by the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Norway.

On 1 October 1969, the Commission, updating its Opinion of 29 September 1967, delivers a new Preliminary Opinion on the applications for accession to the European Communities submitted by the United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark and Norway.

On 19 January 1972, the European Commission delivers a favourable opinion in response to applications from Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom for membership of the European Communities.

On 22 January 1972, the Council of the European Communities decides that Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom may become members of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and sets out the conditions of its accession.

On 22 January 1972, the Council of the European Communities decides to accept the applications for accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community (EEC) and to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).

On 22 January 1972, in Brussels, the Danish Delegation - comprising (from left to right) Ivar Norgaard, Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Jens Otto Krag, Prime Minister, and Jens Otto Christensen, Secretary for External Economic Affairs at the Foreign Ministry - sign Denmark's Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 22 January 1972, in Brussels, Patrick Hillery, Irish Foreign Minister (on the left) and Jack Lynch, Prime Minister (on the right), sign Ireldand's Treaty of Accession to the European Communities.

On 22 January 1972 in Brussels, the British Delegation signs the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities. From left to Right: Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Foreign Minister, Edward Heath, Prime Minister, and Geoffrey Rippon, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Head of the accession negotiations.

Am 1. Januar 1973 treten Dänemark, das Vereinigte Königreich und Irland den Europäischen Gemeinschaften bei, die somit neun Mitglieder zählen.

In its Opinion of 23 May 1979 on the application submitted by Greece for accession to the European Communities, the Commission recalls that the principles of pluralist democracy and respect for human rights form part of the common heritage of the peoples of the States which constitute the European Communities and are therefore essential elements for membership of the said Communities.

On 24 May 1979, the Council of the European Communities decides that Greece may become a member of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and sets out the conditions of its accession.

On 24 May 1979, the Council of the European Communities decides to accept the application for admission of Greece to the European Economic Community (CEE) and to the European Atomic Energy Community (CEEA).

On 28 May 1979 in Athens, Konstantinos Karamanlis signs the Treaty relating to the Accession of the Hellenic Republic to the European Communities.

On 31 May 1985, the European Commission delivers a favourable opinion on the applications for accession to the European Communities by Portugal and Spain.

On 11 June 1985, the Council of the European Communities sets the conditions for Spain and Portugal’s accession to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

On 11 June 1985, the Council of the European Communities decides to accept the applications for admission of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community (EEC) and to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).

On 12 June 1985, in Madrid and Lisbon, the Heads of State or Government of the Ten and those of Spain and Portugal sign the Treaty of Accession of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community (EEC) and to the European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC).

On 12 June 1985, in Madrid, Spain signed the Treaty of Accession to the European Communities. The Spanish signatories are the Foreign Minister, Fernando Morán (on the left), and the Prime Minister, Felipe González (on the right).

On 12 June 1985, in Lisbon, the Portuguese Prime Minister, Mario Soares, and his Foreign Minister, Jaime Gama, sign the Accession Treaty between Portugal and the European Communities.

On 1 January 1981, the accession of Greece brings the number of Member States of the European Communities to ten. On 1 January 1986, the accession of Portugal and Spain brings the number of Member Countries in the European Communities up to twelve.

Am 19. April 1994 gibt die Kommission der Europäischen Union eine positive Stellungnahme zum Beitritt Norwegens, Österreichs, Finnlands und Schwedens zur Europäischen Union ab.

Am 4. Mai 1994 nimmt das Europäische Parlament vier legislative Entschließungen an, um seine Zustimmung zu den Anträgen Norwegens, Österreichs, Finnlands und Schwedens auf den Beitritt zur Europäischen Union zu geben. Hier der Legislativvorschlag zum Beitrittsgesuch Österreichs.

Am 16. Mai 1994 gibt der Rat der Europäischen Union seine Zustimmung zum Beitritt Norwegens, Österreichs, Finnlands und Schwedens zur Europäischen Union.

Am 24. Juni 1994 unterzeichnet der österreichische Kanzler Franz Vranitzky in Korfu die Beitrittsakte seines Landes zur Europäischen Union. Von links nach rechts: Ulrich Stacher, leitender Beamter im Bundeskanzleramt (Kabinett des Bundeskanzlers) in Wien, Manfred Scheich, Ständiger Vertreter Österreichs bei der Europäischen Union, Franz Vranitzky und Alo?s Mock, österreichischer Außenminister.

On 24 June 1994, at the Corfu Summit, the representatives of Sweden sign the Swedish Act of Accession to the European Union (from left to right): Frank Belfrage (Secretary of State for European Affairs), Margaretha af Ugglas (Minister for Foreign Affairs), Carl Bildt (Prime Ministers) and Ulf Dinkelspiel (Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade).

On 24 June 1994, the first day of the Corfu European Council, (from left to right) Veli Sundbäck, Finnish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Pertti Salolainen, Finnish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Trade, Esko Aho, Finnish Prime Minister, and Heikki Haavisto, Finnish Foreign Minister, sign Finland’s Treaty of Accession to the European Union.

Mit dem Beitritt Österreichs, Finnlands und Schwedens am 1. Januar 1995 zählt die Europäische Union nunmehr fünfzehn Mitgliedstaaten.

On 15 and 16 December 1995, the Madrid European Council confirms the need to make sound preparations for enlargement on the basis of the criteria laid down in Copenhagen and as part of an intensified pre-accession strategy in order to establish the conditions for the gradual, harmonious integration of those States, particularly through the development of the market economy, the adjustment of their administrative structures and the creation of a stable economic and monetary environment.

Volume I of the European Commission Communication of 16 July 1997 entitled Agenda 2000 for a stronger and wider Union.

Volume II of the Communication Agenda 2000, presented on 16 July 1997 by the European Commission, relating to the reinforcement of the pre-accession strategy.

On 16 July 1997, the European Commission delivers its opinion on the applications for accession to the European Union in its Communication Agenda 2000, which gives the summaries and conclusions of these opinions.

This article, published on 23 October 1997 in the French daily newspaper Le Figaro, examines the various aspects involved in the enlargement of the European Union to include the countries of Eastern Europe under Agenda 2000, presented in July of that year by the European Commission.

The Luxembourg European Council of 12 and 13 December 1997 decides to launch a comprehensive, inclusive and ongoing enlargement process, encompassing the ten countries applying for accession to the Union from Central and Eastern Europe, plus Cyprus. In addition, it decides to begin, in the spring of 1998, accession negotiations with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Timetable for negotiations on accession to the European Union, concerning the 31 chapters of the Community acquis, started on 31 March 1998 with the six countries of the Luxembourg group (Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Cyprus), continued on 15 February 2000 with the six countries of the Helsinki group (Romania, the Slovak Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Malta), and brought to a close in December 2002 with 10 countries (Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia) and in December 2004 with Bulgaria and Romania.

Am 8. November 2002, einige Wochen vor dem Europäischen Rat von Kopenhagen vom 12. und 13. Dezember, auf dem die Beitrittsverhandlungen mit zehn Kandidatenländern beschlossen werden, hält der Generaldirektor für Erweiterung Eneko Landábru eine Rede über die Hintergründe und die Besonderheiten der fünften Erweiterungsrunde der Europäischen Union.

Group photo taken at the Copenhagen European Council held on 12 and 13 December 2002.

Nach dem Europäischen Rat von Kopenhagen vom 12. und 13. Dezember 2002 reagiert die britische Tageszeitung The Guardian auf die Schlussfolgerungen des Vorsitzes im Hinblick auf die Erweiterung der Union um zehn neue Mitgliedstaaten und beschäftigt sich vor allem mit der Frage der türkischen Beitrittskandidatur.

On 9 April 2003, the European Parliament adopts ten legislative resolutions in order to give its assent to the application of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia to become members of the European Union. This is the legislative resolution concerning the accession application of the Czech Republic.

On 19 February 2003, the European Commission delivers a favourable opinion on the accession to the European Union of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

On 14 April 2003, the Council decides to accept the applications for admission to the European Union of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Treaty concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic to the European Union, signed in Athens on 16 April 2003.

Treaty of Accession of the new Member States to the European Union (16 April 2003).

Group photo taken at the signing ceremony of the Treaty of Accession of the ten new Member States to the European Union held on 16 April 2003 in Athens.

Déclaration d'Athènes du Conseil européen informel, du 16 avril 2003, célébrant le cinquième élargissement de l'Union européenne.

General view of the room where the Accession Treaty of the ten new European Union Member States was signed with the Heads of State or Government on either side of the table. The signing took place in the Stoa of Attalos in Athens, on 16 April 2003.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Tassos Papadopoulos, and his Foreign Minister, Georgios Iacovou, sign the Treaty of Accession of Cyprus to the European Union.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the President of the Czech Republic, Václav Klaus, and his Prime Minister, Vladimír Spidla, sign the Treaty of Accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the President of Estonia, Arnold Ruutel, and his Foreign Minister, Kristiina Ojuland, sign the Treaty of Accession of Estonia to the European Union.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the Prime Minister of Hungary, Péter Medgyessy, and his Foreign Minister, László Kovacs, sign the Treaty of Accession of Hungary to the European Union.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and her Prime Minister, Einars Repse, sign the Treaty of Accession of Latvia to the European Union.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the Prime Minister of Lithuania, Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas, and his Foreign Minister, Antanas Valionis, sign the Treaty of Accession of Lithuania to the European Union.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the Prime Minister of Malta, Eddie Fenech Adami, and his Foreign Minister, Joe Borg, sign the Treaty of Accession of Malta to the European Union.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the Prime Minister of Poland, Leszek Miller, and his Foreign Minister, Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz, sign the Treaty of Accession of Poland to the European Union.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the President of Slovakia, Rudolf Schuster, and his Prime Minister, Mikuláš Dzurinda, sign the Treaty of Accession of the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

On 16 April 2003, in Athens, the President of Slovenia, Janez Drnovšek, and his Prime Minister, Anton Rop, sign the Treaty of Accession of Slovenia to the European Union.

Die französische Tageszeitung Le Monde fasst in diesem Artikel die wichtigsten Reden zusammen, die während der feierlichen Unterzeichnung der Beitrittsverträge der zehn neuen Mitgliedstaaten zur Europäischen Union am 16. April 2003 gehalten wurden.

Die Süddeutsche Zeitung beschreibt die Atmosphäre in der, am 16. April 2003 in Athen, die Zeremonie zur Unterzeichnung des Vertrags für den Beitritt zur Europäischen Union von Zypern, der Tschechischen Republik, Estland, Ungarn, Lettland, Litauen, Malta, Polen, der Slowakei und Slowenien verlaufen ist.

Interview mit Günter Verheugen, Mitglied der Europäischen Kommission zuständig für die Erweiterung seit September 1999.

Nach der Unterzeichnung des Beitrittsvertrags von zehn neuen Mitgliedstaaten am 16. April 2003 in Athen unterstreicht die französische Tageszeitung Libération die besondere Bedeutung der fünften Erweiterungsrunde der Europäischen Union. Um sich endgültig von ihrer kommunistischen Vergangenheit zu befreien und dem freien Europa erneut anzugehören, haben die neuen osteuropäischen Demokratien schwierige Übergangsphasen auf sich genommen, die von der Reform ihrer Institutionen und ihrer Rechts- und Wirtschaftssysteme gekennzeichnet waren.

Ein Jahr vor dem Beitritt von zehn neuen Mitgliedstaaten zur Europäischen Union am 1. Mai 2004 empfangen das Europäische Parlament und der Rat Beobachter aus diesen Ländern, um deren Personal aus Verwaltung und Politik die Gelegenheit zu geben, sich mit der Arbeitsweise der Gemeinschaft vertraut zu machen.

On 11 March 2004, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on the comprehensive monitoring report of the Commission on the state of preparedness for EU membership of ten new member States.

A few days before the historic accession of 10 new Member States to the European Union on 1 May 2004, Eneko Landaburu, Director-General of Enlargement at the European Commission, talks to the Belgian daily newspaper La Libre Belgique.

Einen Tag vor der Erweiterung der Europäischen Union am 1. Mai 2004 auf fünfundzwanzig Mitglieder widmet die französische Tageszeitung Le Monde ihren Leitartikel einem Ereignis, das bereits einen Meilenstein in der Geschichte des europäischen Aufbauwerks darstellt: der Wiedervereinigung des alten Kontinents.

Der Artikel, der zum Zeitpunkt der Erweiterung der Europäischen Union auf fünfundzwanzig Mitglieder in der französischen Tageszeitung Le Monde erschienen ist, beschäftigt sich mit der Frage nach der Strategie, die die Organisation zur weiteren „Befriedung“ ihrer Umgebung verfolgen muss. Angesichts der Gefahren einer „Auflösung“ durch die ständige Erweiterung muss die Union neue Arten der Zusammenarbeit mit ihrer Nachbarschaft entwickeln.

During an interview granted to the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir, Bronislaw Geremek, former Polish Foreign Minister, analyses the implications of and challenges inherent in the fifth enlargement of the European Union and declares his opposition to an unending expansion of the organisation.

Im Februar 2004 verleiht der Präsident der internationalen Paneuropa-Union und ehemalige Europa-Abgeordnete Otto von Habsburg-Lothringen seiner Begeisterung über die Erweiterung der Europäischen Union um zehn mittel- und osteuropäische Länder (MOEL) und um Malta und Zypern Ausdruck.

In diesem Interview kommentiert der Europa-Abgeordnete und ehemalige luxemburgische Außenminister Jacques F. Poos die Chancen und Risiken der für den 1. Mai 2004 vorgesehenen fünften Erweiterungsrunde der Europäischen Union und widmet sich der Frage der türkischen Kandidatur.

Am 1. Mai 2004 treten zehn Staaten der Europäischen Union bei, die fortan fünfundzwanzig Mitglieder zählt.

On 25 April 2005, representatives of Bulgaria sign the Treaty of Accession to the European Union in Luxembourg. In the process of signing are, seated from left to right, Georgi Parvanov, Bulgarian President, and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Standing behind them are Solomon Passy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Meglena Kuneva, Minister of European Affairs.

On 25 April 2005, representatives of Romania sign the Treaty of Accession to the European Union in Luxembourg. In the process of signing are, seated from left to right, Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Leonard Orban, Romania’s Chief Negotiator with the EU. Standing behind them are President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Taricean.

Following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union on 1 January 2007, the edition of the Luxembourg weekly newspaper D’Lëtzebuerger Land of 5 January outlines the implications of this sixth enlargement for the Union and for these two countries.

Am 1. Januar 2007 treten Bulgarien und Rumänien der Europäischen Union bei, die fortan siebenundzwanzig Mitglieder zählt.

In a statement by the European Union on Croatia dated 24 January 2000, the Council expects the new Croatian Government to meet the conditions necessary for a closer relationship with the Union with a view to Croatian integration into European structures.

On 19 and 20 June 2000, the Santa Maria da Feira European Council considers that the countries of the Western Balkans are potential applicants for accession. The European Union supports the Stabilisation and Association Process of the countries of the region by the provision of technical and economic assistance.

On 17 and 18 June 2004, the European Council recalls the Union’s objective to welcome Bulgaria and Romania as Member States in January 2007, reaffirms the Union’s commitment to the opening of accession negotiations with Turkey if, in December, it decides that the country fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria and recognises Croatia as an applicant country.

On 16 and 17 December 2004, the Brussels European Council looks forward to welcoming Bulgaria and Romania as Member States from January 2007 and calls on the Council to reach agreement with a view to the opening of the accession negotiations with Croatia on 17 March 2005 and with Turkey on 3 October 2005.

In diesem Interview vom 10. April 2005 spricht der luxemburgische Außenminister und amtierende Präsident des Rates der Europäischen Union Jean Asselborn über die Konsequenzen einer möglichen Aufnahme von Beitrittsverhandlungen mit Kroatien zur Europäischen Union.

In diesem Interview vom 10. April 2005 spricht der luxemburgische Außenminister und amtierende Präsident des Rates der Europäischen Union Jean Asselborn über die Konsequenzen einer möglichen Aufnahme von Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der ehemaligen jugoslawischen Republik Mazedonien (MK) zur Europäischen Union.

In diesem Interview vom 10. April 2005 spricht der luxemburgische Außenminister und amtierende Präsident des Rates der Europäischen Union Jean Asselborn über die Bedingungen für den Beitritt der Türkei zur Europäischen Union.

Dans un entretien accordé en décembre 2002 au quotidien espagnol El País, quelques jours avant le début de la présidence grecque de l'Union européenne, le ministre des Affaires étrangères de la Grèce, Georgios Papandreou, se prononce sur la possibilité d'une future adhésion de la Turquie à l'Union européenne et sur la connexion entre cette question et la résolution du conflit gréco-turque en Chypre.

Le 18 mars 2005, le quotidien français Le Monde se fait l’écho de la décision du Conseil de l’Union européenne de reporter l’ouverture des négociations d’adhésion avec la Croatie, prévue pour la veille, jusqu’à ce que le pays candidat prouve qu’il coopère pleinement avec le Tribunal pénal international pour l’ex-Yougoslavie (TPIY) de La Haye.

Am 3. Oktober 2005 gibt der Rat grünes Licht für die Aufnahme von Beitrittsverhandlungen mit Kroatien aufgrund einer positiven Bewertung der Zusammenarbeit des Landes mit dem Internationalen Strafgerichtshof für das ehemalige Jugoslawien (IStGHJ). Auf dem Photo: Ivo Sanader, Premierminister und kroatischer Delegationsleiter, und Carla del Ponte, IStGHJ Chefanklägerin, auf der Pressekonferenz, die anlässlich der Eröffnung der Beitrittskonferenz am Rande des Rates gegeben wurde.

In diesem Interview unterstreicht die ehemalige französische Staatssekretärin für Europäische Angelegenheiten und ehemalige Generalsekretärin des Europarates Catherine Lalumière die Bedeutung eines möglichen Beitritts der Türkei zur Europäischen Union in politischer, wirtschaftlicher, geostrategischer und religiöser Hinsicht.

‘Welcome Croatia!’ In this drawing, the German cartoonist, Fritz Behrendt, portrays Croatia’s difficult journey towards the European Union.