40 years of EU enlargements
Who has joined the EU so far? 

• Belgium 
• Germany 
• France 
• Italy 
• Luxembourg 
• Netherlands 

• Economic and social progress
• Peace and liberty

• Denmark 
• Ireland 
• United Kingdom 

Any European country complying with EC standards and rules

• Council approval, Commission is consulted
• Green light from all member states
• Consent of national parliament or referendum in the applicant country

• EU was called European Community
• Priorities: customs union, single market and agriculture

EP was officially called Parliamentary Assembly. Decisions were taken by the Council on a proposal from the Commission. EP was consulted only

• Greece 

Any European country complying with EC standards and rules

• Council approval, Commission is consulted
• Green light from all member states
• Consent of national parliament or referendum in the applicant country

• EU was called European Community
• Priorities: customs union, single market and agriculture

• Members were directly elected for the first time in 1979
• Parliament had the right to reject the EC budget

• Spain 
• Portugal 

Any European country complying with EC standards and rules

• Council approval, Commission is consulted
• Green light from all member states
• Consent of national parliament or referendum in the applicant country

• EU was called European Community
• Priorities: customs union, single market and agriculture

Directly-elected EP could reject the EC budget but was only consulted on other issues.

• Austria 
• Finland 
• Sweden 

• Any European country complying with EU standards and rules
• Copenhagen criteria:
  • stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights
  • a functioning market economy
  • ability and willingness to fulfil membership obligations

• Approval by Council and European Parliament, Commission is consulted
• Green light from all member states
• Consent of national parliament or referendum in the applicant country

• Maastricht treaty created EU of three pillars:
  • European Community (Supranational)
  • Common Foreign and Security policy (Intergovernmental)
  • Justice and Home Affairs (Intergovernmental)
• Plus: political integration, European citizenship, EMU, social protocol

Introduction of co-decision puts EP on equal footing with Council

• Czech Republic 
• Estonia 
• Cyprus 
• Latvia 
• Lithuania 
• Hungary 
• Malta 
• Poland  
• Slovenia 
• Slovakia 

• Any European country complying with EU standards and rules
• Copenhagen criteria:
  • stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights
  • a functioning market economy
  • ability and willingness to fulfil membership obligations
• They must respect democratic values (principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law)

• Approval of the Council and European Parliament, Commission is consulted
• Green light from all member states
• Consent of national parliament or referendum in the applicant country

• The Amsterdam treaty incorporated Schengen into EU law
• EU institutions have more power on asylum and immigration policy
• Introduction of High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy
• Enhanced cooperation

• EP has the right to approve the Commission President
• Increased legislative and supervisory powers

• Bulgaria 
• Romania 

• Any European country complying with EU standards and rules
• Copenhagen criteria:
  • stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights
  • a functioning market economy
  • ability and willingness to fulfil membership obligations
• They must respect democratic values (principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law)

• Approval of the Council and European Parliament, Commission is consulted
• Green light from all member states
• Consent of national parliament or referendum in the applicant country

• The Amsterdam treaty incorporated the Schengen agreement into EU law
• EU institutions have more powers in asylum and immigration policy
• Introduction of High Representative of the Common Foreign and Security Policy
• Enhanced cooperation

• It has the right to approve the Commission President
• Parliament's legislative and supervisory powers are increased

• Croatia 

• Any European country complying with EU standards and rules
• Copenhagen criteria:
  • stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights
  • a functioning market economy
  • ability and willingness to fulfil membership obligations
• They must respect democratic values (principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law)

• National Parliaments in all member states notified of the application
• Approval of the Council and European Parliament, Commission is consulted
• Green light from all member states
• Consent of national parliament or referendum in the applicant country

• EU is legal entity
• Old pillar structure replaced with classification of 3 types of competences (exclusive, shared and supporting)
• EU has more power in more policy areas
• Introduction of European citizen's initiative
• Members can now leave the EU
• European Council has permanent president
• High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is also Commission Vice-President
• Introduction of European External Action Service

• Co-decision is the standard legislative procedure
• EP becomes equal as lawmaker with the Council in several important areas: setting the EU budget, agriculture policy and justice and home affairs
• Parliament has the right to appoint the President of the Commission, based on proposal from the Council, taking the results of EP elections into account