Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council – Enlargement strategy and main challenges 2012-2013

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details (2012) 600 final (10.10.12)
Publication Date 10/10/2012
Content Type

The enlargement policy of the EU has been pursued for more than four decades. Successive accessions have seen the number of members gradually increase from the original six to 27. Croatia is due to become the 28th member on 1 July 2013. Through its enlargement policy, the EU has, since its inception, responded to the legitimate aspiration of the peoples of our continent to be united in a common European endeavour. It has brought nations and cultures together, enriching and injecting the EU with diversity and dynamism. More than three quarters of the EU Member States are former ‘enlargement’ countries.

The imminent accession of Croatia, the start of accession negotiations with Montenegro in June and candidate status for Serbia in March show that the EU delivers on its commitments once the conditions are met. In addition, positive results have been achieved in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, where the High Level Accession Dialogue has led to a sharper focus on reforms by the authorities. Dialogue between government and opposition in Albania has allowed the political stalemate to be largely overcome with the adoption of electoral and parliamentary reforms. Accession negotiations with Iceland are progressing well. Turkey has shown active support of the new positive agenda announced last year and launched by the Commission in May 2012.

This Communication assesses the current state of the European Union’s enlargement agenda. Based on the accompanying in-depth country analyses, it takes stock of what these countries have achieved preparing for membership, where they stand today, assesses their prospects for the coming years and in this regard makes a number of recommendations. As in previous years, a number of key challenges are given particular attention, as is the support provided by the EU to the enlargement countries, including through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance.

Source Link http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0600:FIN:EN:PDF
Related Links
EUR-Lex: COM(2012)600: Follow the progress of this document through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2012:600:FIN
European Commission: SWD(2012)331: Montenegro 2012 Progress Report http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD:2012:0331:FIN:EN:PDF
European Commission: SWD(2012)332: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2012 Progress Report http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD:2012:0332:FIN:EN:PDF
European Commission: SWD(2012)333: Serbia 2012 Progress Report http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD:2012:0333:FIN:EN:PDF
European Commission: SWD(2012)234: Albania 2012 Progress Report http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD:2012:0334:FIN:EN:PDF
European Commission: SWD(2012)235: Bosnia and Herzegovina 2012 Progress Report http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD:2012:0335:FIN:EN:PDF
European Commission: SWD(2012)336: Turkey 2012 Progress Report http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD:2012:0336:FIN:EN:PDF
European Commission: SWD(2012)337: Iceland 2012 Progress Report http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=SWD:2012:0337:FIN:EN:PDF

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