The Copenhagen European Council (21 and 22 June 1993)
Communication by the Commission,Towards a closer association with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Brussels, 18 May 1993)
TextOn 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.
Press briefing held by Alain Juppé at the Copenhagen European Council (21 June 1993)
TextOn 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.
Conclusions from the Copenhagen European Council: excerpt on the EU accession criteria (21-22 June 1993)
TextThe Copenhagen European Council of 21 and 22 June 1993 defines the economic and political conditions for accession to the European Union.
Copenhagen European Council (Copenhagen, 21–22 June 1993)
ImageAt 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.
Cartoon by Behrendt on EU enlargement (1993)
Image‘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).
‘“Visegrad” is knocking at the door’ from Le Monde (22 June 1993)
TextOn 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.
‘A summit between unemployment and war’ from El País (23 June 1993)
TextOn 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).
‘Not a single step beyond Maastricht, but all of Maastricht’ from El País (28 June 1993)
TextOn 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.