In 1991, the German cartoonist, Walter Hanel, speculates as to whether the European Union might well be constructing a fortress which is impenetrable for those European countries wishing to develop closer relations therewith.
On 24 June 1994, at the Corfu European Council, Jacques Delors, President of the European Commission, welcomes the signing by Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden of the Treaty of Accession to the European Union.
On 7 December 2000, Günter Verheugen, European Commissioner for Enlargement, outlines the EU applicant countries’ concerns regarding the institutional reforms to be discussed by the Nice European Council.
On 11 December 2000, the French President, Jacques Chirac, his Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, and Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, inform the press of the results achieved at the Nice European Council.
