Copenhagen criteria

The Copenhagen criteria are the rules that define whether a country is eligible to join the European Union. These important guidelines make sure that any country wanting to become a member of the European Union meets certain standards. The criteria require that a state has the institutions to preserve democratic governance and human rights, has a functioning market economy, and accepts the obligations and intent of the European Union.

These membership rules were created in June 1993 at a meeting of European leaders in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is why they are called the Copenhagen criteria. They include requirements like having stable democratic institutions, respecting the rule of law and minorities, and being able to handle the economic challenges of being part of the Union.

Over time, these ideas have been explained more clearly through laws and decisions made by important European groups like the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. Even though these rules help guide which countries can join, there can be different opinions among current member states about what some of the rules really mean, especially when it comes to the concept of the rule of law.

European Union membership criteria

The European Union has special rules to decide if a country can join. These rules are called the Copenhagen criteria. When countries want to join, people watch how well they are doing to see if they should become a member.

These rules come from three important documents. They are the 1992 Treaty of Maastricht, the 1993 European Council decision in Copenhagen, and a special framework for each country wanting to join. The criteria include having good government, a strong economy, and agreeing to EU laws.

Geographic criteria

One rule for joining the European Union is that a country must be in Europe. This idea comes from Article 49 of the Maastricht Treaty, which says any European country that follows EU principles can apply to join. The European Council decides if a country truly counts as European.

The EU usually thinks widely about what is Europe. It has said that Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia, and Turkey are European, even though some of these places are in both Europe and Asia. But when Morocco applied to join in 1987, its application was turned down because it is in Africa, not Europe. Countries that are not in Europe can still have special ties with the EU through agreements like the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean.

Political criteria

The Copenhagen criteria include important rules for countries wanting to join the European Union. One key area is democracy. This means that everyone in the country should have an equal say in government decisions, from local towns to the national level. Elections should be fair, with secret ballots, and people should be free to start political parties, speak their minds, and join trade unions without interference.

Another important rule is the rule of law. This means that leaders must follow laws that are clearly written and agreed upon, so that no one can make unfair or random decisions.

The criteria also focus on human rights, which are basic rights that belong to every person just because they are human. These include the right to be safe, the right to a fair trial, and the right to be free from slavery or torture. Every person deserves these rights, no matter who they are.

Finally, the criteria stress the importance of respecting and protecting minorities. People who belong to smaller groups, like different ethnic or language groups, should be able to keep their traditions and culture without facing unfair treatment. This helps make sure that everyone feels valued and included in the country’s society.

Main article: European Convention on Human Rights

Economic criteria

The economic criteria require that countries wanting to join the European Union have a working market economy. This means their businesses can handle competition and changes in the market. Some countries also follow special rules, like the Euro convergence criteria and the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, to get ready to use the euro currency in the Eurozone.

Legislative alignment

In addition to the Copenhagen criteria, countries hoping to join the European Union must also change their laws to match the Union's existing rules, called the acquis communautaire. This means they need to adjust their laws in many different areas. When preparing for new members, these rules are split into separate parts, or chapters. For example, when Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007, there were 31 chapters. For talks with Croatia, Turkey, and Iceland, the rules were divided into 35 chapters.