The Copenhagen Criteria

For those who are unfamiliar with the Copenhagen Criteria which are used by the EU to measure whether or not an applicant is prepared for membership we are listing them below. Malta had to pass this test as well before it was allowed to join the EU.

An applicant country must have:

¤ a stable democracy, respecting human rights, the rule of law, and the protection of minorities;

¤ a functioning market economy;

¤ the capability of adopting common rules, standards and policies that make up the body of EU law.

It is not enough for a country to adopt sufficient laws to achieve these. More important is the achievement of such goals in practice. Up to 2003, reports prepared by the Commission were showing all too well that while Turkey had made considerable progress in most areas, it was still short of reaching the optimal targets in practice.

Similar things, though perhaps not to the same extent, can be said for most of the other applicants. Given that the bigger the Union grows the more difficult it will become to hold it together, it is most essential that those who join must satisfy these criteria fully. Nothing should be left to chance.