The EU, in the form of the European Economic Community, began in 1957 with six Member States: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
There have been six enlargements since then, the first in 1973 to include Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom; the second in 1981 to include Greece; the third in 1986 involving Portugal and Spain, the fourth in 1995 incorporating Austria, Finland and Sweden. The fifth wave of enlargement took place on 1 May 2004, and included ten countries: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. The sixth enlargement took place on 1 January 2007, to bring in Bulgaria and Romania.
Steps on the road to enlargement
The Copenhagen European Council in 1993 legitimised Central and Eastern European applications for membership. It also defined three main criteria which applicants would have to meet before they could join the EC: the political criterion, covering the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; the economic criterion, relating to the existence of a functioning market economy; and the criterion concerning the ability to adopt the existing body of EC legislation, known as the acquis communautaire.
Treaties of Accession were signed in April 2003 with
and, following their ratification, enlargement took place on 1 May 2004.
The Copenhagen Council also confirmed the objective of welcoming Bulgaria and Romania as members of the EU in 2007, provided that the pace of progress in maintained in line with the Commission's roadmaps. With respect to Turkey, the Copenhagen Council concluded that if, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, the European Council in December 2004 decides that Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria, accession negotiations will be opened with Turkey.
Commissioners from the new Member States joined the European Commission on 1 May 2004, and after the nomination of the next President of the Commission, the new Commission will take office on 1 November 2004. The new Member States will also participate fully in the next European Parliament elections and the next Intergovernmental Conference, both in 2004.
Effects of enlargement
Although the EU 's population could rise by as much as 20% to over 450 million in 2004, its total GDP will grow by no more than 5%. Notwithstanding the enormous efforts undertaken by these countries, their integration into existing programs and structures will remain a delicate task.
An enlarged European Union with, in its initial phase at least, 75 million new citizens, will promote trade and economic activity and give fresh impetus to the growth and integration of the European economy as a whole.
Importantly, as part of the enlargement process, the new Member States are adopting the same single set of trade rules, single tariff schedule, and single set of administrative procedures as those already operated in the Single European Market by the current EU Member States and European Economic Area members (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein).This greater transparency, consistency and openness will bring significant benefits to Australian and New Zealand companies wanting to trade and invest in these markets. Rising standards of living in the new Member States, as well as harmonised rules in an extended single market, will present new opportunities, improving conditions for investment and trade and boosting prosperity.
After successfully growing from 6 to 25 members, the European Union is now preparing for the next enlargement. As regards the 3 remaining candidate countries, Bulgaria and Romania hope to join by 2007, while Turkey is not currently negotiating its membership.
In order to join the Union, they need to fulfil the economic and political conditions known as the 'Copenhagen criteria', according to which a prospective member must:
be a stable democracy, respecting human rights, the rule of law, and the protection of minorities;
have a functioning market economy;
adopt the common rules, standards and policies that make up the body of EU law.
The EU assists these countries in taking on EU laws, and provides a range of financial assistance to improve their infrastructure and economy.
Acceding and Candidate Countries
To learn more about each of the countries which have applied to become members of the European Union and have been granted candidate country status, visit the individual country profiles which contain facts and figures; key information and documents; press releases, speeches and the latest news; as well as links to other information about the country in question.
