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.

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.