Since its creation in 1957, the European Union was built by waves of successive widenings.

Whereas it represents today the third whole of Population after the China and the India, the future extensions cause increasingly strong interrogations. That those are the sign of an ethnic fold , the fears of a dilution of the Union in a vast zone of Libre-échange or the historical points unsolved like the Turkish occupation of the north of Cyprus, it does not remain about it less than they raise the question of the limiting of the European Union.

Operation in 27 States requires a reform of the European Institutions, which took the form of a constitutional treaty. This treaty was to be ratified by all the Member States in 2005-2006. Such was not the case, which caused a stagnation in progress of the European Union.

The European Council of Brussels of June 2007 however made it possible to lead to an agreement, between the 27:

  • convocation of a intergovernmental Conference (IGC) before the end of July 2007, invited to write a new treaty, called in modifying French “Treated”.
  • this treaty modifying will amend the preceding treaties, “in order to reinforce the effectiveness and the democratic legitimacy of the widened Union and to improve coherence of its external action”. The step is different from that adopted with the European Constitutional treaty, which was supposed to him to replace the preceding treaties.

Chronology

The history of adhesions and the withdrawals is the following:

History of the extension to 27

The decision of principle concerning the extension of the Union to the countries associated with Central and Eastern Europe was made in 1993 by the European Council of Copenhagen, which also defined the criteria to which the applicant countries will have to satisfy (“criteria of Copenhagen”):

  • political criterion: the presence of stable institutions guaranteeing the Democracy, the rule of the law, the Human rights, the respect of the minorities and their protection;
  • economic criterion: the existence of a viable market economy as well as the capacity to face the competing pressure and with the forces of the market inside the European Union;
  • criterion of the resumption of the Community asset: capacity of the applicant country to assume the obligations of a Member State, and in particular to subscribe to the objectives of the political, economic and monetary Union.

The process of adhesion began the March 30th 1998 with the first wave from applicant country (the “group of Luxembourg”). It was ratified by the Traité of Nice in 2000.

The April 9th 2003, the the European Parliament accepted the adhesion of ten additional countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Cyprus (left Greek), Malta), which formally adheres to the Union by the Traité of Athens of the April 16th 2003.

The Romania and the Bulgaria joined the Union on January 1st, 2007.

Last nines of these countries consulted their population by Référendum in 2003:

Side of the 15 Member States and Cyprus, the extension was ratified by parliamentary way, no government wanting to take the risk of a Référendum to validate this extension appropriateness in ten new States.

In France, the procedure of the referendum was used only once, in 1972, to confirm the acceptance of the adhesion of the the United Kingdom, of the Ireland, the Norway and the Denmark (Norwegian people refusing this adhesion later on). The extensions of 1981, 1986 and 1995 did not give place to consultation of French people.

The April 25th 2004, right before the adhesion of Cyprus to the Union, the Référendum of reunification of the island is accepted by Cypriot Turkish but is pushed back by the Cypriot Greeks. Only thus the Greek part of the island will join the European Union. Embarrassed, the commission seeks a less ungrateful compromise solution for the Turkish population. Initially, the assistances under consideration in the event of adhesion would be maintained.

Negotiations in progress

The Turkey officially opened negotiations the October 3rd 2005. Nevertheless, the accession of Turkey would require its share a compliance with the rules in force in European Union, which was still not the case in 2004, on the following points:

  1. religious discriminations: generalized financing of the Imams against prohibition in fact for the greco-orthodoxe Christians to reopen institutions to train their monks;

  2. ethnic discriminations: the Kurds and the Armenians still undergo serious discriminations; the recent légalistion of Kurdish teaching would seem an operation of extremely limited width (two private schools, giving course of the evening), and without the least use of Kurdish in public education;
  3. hostile and contrary attitude with the rules of the public International law towards the two neighbors who are Cyprus (not-recognized by Turkey and military occupation of the north of the island found illegal by UNO) and the Arménie, struck of a closing of its border with Turkey.

See also: Relations between Turkey and the European Union

The countries of the Balkans should adhere to the Union progressively. A new reform of the institutions is being studied to make possible the extension of the Union to as many members. Among them, two have already the statute of candidates.

In 2003, the Croatia deposited an application to join to which the Commission delivered an favorable opinion the April 21st 2004, confirmed by the Conseil the June 18th 2004. Croatia was to then open formal negotiations the March 17th 2005. Except large hitch the country will integrate the European Union in 2009 or 2010. She hoped to be able to join the Union in 2007. In February 2005, the International penal court complained about an insufficient co-operation to deliver the general Ante Gotovina (found since in the archipelago of the the Canaries (Spain) and stopped on December 7th, 2005). The March 16th, the Foreign Ministers of the Union pushed back the date of opening of the negotiations and those began in fine only the October 3rd 2005, at the same time as those of Turkey.

The Macedonia is also an applicant country since 2004: application to join deposited officially the March 22nd 2004. The statute of candidate was retained by the European commission on November 9th, 2005 and by the European Council on December 16th, 2005. The Commission should present a report/ratio on the projections of this country from here the end of the year 2006.

Vicinities of the European Union

According to article 237 of the the Treaty of Rome, then article 49 of the Treated of Maastricht: “Any European State can ask to become member (…) ”. But the treaties do not define what European State is a . Traditionally, the Limites of Europe are the the Ural, the the Caucasus (or the Caspian Sea), the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctique. Many criticizes this definition, created for the needs for Russian geopolitics at the 18th century. They point out that the creation of the European Union precisely aimed at the going beyond of the borders which were at the origin of the conflicts Nationaliste S of the last centuries. In addition, this criterion poses today the problem of Cyprus or of the ultraperipheric Régions. However one cannot deny that Europe initially built itself on the feeling to belong to the same civilization and that there exists well a concept of common space, divided by all the members of the Union.

In December 2002, the joined together European Council with Copenhagen began a policy from “new vicinity” with the frontier countries of the Union which currently do not have any prospect for adhesion. They are the Russia, the new States independent of Eastern Europe (Ukraine, Moldavie and Bielorussia) and the countries of the Mediterranean south (Algérie, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Autorité, Syria and Tunisia). The goal of this policy is to ensure between these States and the Union of the close relationships and peaceful founded on the Coopération. More specifically, it is a question in the long term of carrying out a vast zone ensuring freedom of movement of the people, of the goods, the services and the Capitaux.

Country of Western Europe

The Swiss , the Norway and the Iceland are not members of the Union. These countries with high level of life and democratic long tradition answer overall the criteria of Copenhagen, even if engineering problems can remain like the Bank secrecy in Switzerland or the regulation of fishing in Norway (which perceives enormous oil incomes in addition). This situation thus results from a voluntary choice their inhabitants. Thus Norway refused by twice adhering by Référendum in 1972, then in 1994. In the same way Switzerland suspended a request deposited in 1992 following the failure of the referendum of adhesion to the European Economic space (EEE) the same year. In 2001 a popular referendum of initiative rejected the idea of a fast reopening of the negotiations.

The economies as of these three countries are however strongly integrated into that of the Union: Iceland and Norway are members of the European Economic space. Although she refused in 1992 to adhere to the EEE, of many bilateral conventions between Switzerland and the EU ensures this country an overall equivalent economic integration.

Switzerland and the European Union fell from agreement the May 14th 2004 for the integration of the alpine country in the Espace Schengen. This integration is still conditioned with the ratification by the various parts.

Norway and Iceland had signed an equivalent agreement of association during the adhesion of the other Scandinavian countries: Denmark, then Sweden and Finland at the EU. The purpose of this agreement was to ensure the coexistence of the Scandinavian Union of the passports of 1954 and of Schengen space.

These countries are also interested by certain projects of the EU, they for example are engaged by cooperation agreements with Europol.

The final objective of the policy of “new vicinity” of the Union is probably to propose with the countries concerned a co-operation similar to that which exists today with these three States.

Microphone-State S

Europe counts a certain number of very small States which make less than 500 km ² and have less 70  000 inhabitants: Andorra, the Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and the the Vatican. These States are too small to have a complete sovereignty, and they are generally dependant on a Neighboring state for one or more functions Régalien born (the currency, defense,…). Except the Liechtenstein, nearer to Switzerland, all these countries are de facto strongly integrated into the Union following the various cooperation agreements made with their neighbors: for example, they all are (except Liechtenstein) members of the Euro area.
They could moreover establish conventions in their proper name. For example Liechtenstein is member of the European Economic space and San Marino signed a and cooperation agreement Customs union with the EU in 1991.

As long as a more severe mechanism of weighting will not have been adopted, it is improbable that they can become full members of the Union. It should however be noticed that the surface of Malta, the smallest Member State, is lower than that of Andorre. But its population is five times more important.

In addition, for some of them, the democratic quality of their Institution S and the Transparence of their banking system are subjects to deposit: Andorra, Liechtenstein and Monaco always form part with the March 18th 2004 of the “black list” of the nonco-operative tax shelters published by OECD.

The island of Man, Jersey, Guernesey and the Faroe Islands also do not form part of the Union.

Gibraltar belongs to the Union. For the first time in 2004, the inhabitants voted at the time of the European elections as citizens of the Région of England of South-west.

Country of the Balkans

The transition from these old countries Socialiste S towards the criteria of Copenhagen was not regarded as sufficient so that they can join the Union in 2004. Except the Slovenia entered on May 1st 2004, the Romania and the Bulgaria which adhered on January 1st 2007 and of the two countries having the statute of country-candidates (Croatia and Macedonia), it acts mainly of the old Yugoslav republics . They are overall the poorest countries of old the Eastern bloc and they receive relatively important economic aids on behalf of the Union.
  • Albania: the council of Oporto-Feira in June 2000 admitted its “vocation to be adhered to the Union”, but the political and economic state of the country is very alarming.
  • Bosnia-Herzégovine: the council of Oporto-Feira in June 2000 admitted its “vocation to be adhered to the Union”.
  • Serbia: the council of Oporto-Feira in June 2000 admitted its “vocation to be adhered to the Union”. It remains to regulate the problems of the statute of the Kosovo and the actions taken on the International penal court for ex-Yugoslavia (TPIY). The negotiations on a Agreement of stabilization and association started with the Serbia-and-Montenegro in 2005 were suspended by the European commission in May 2006 following a “negative” judgment on the co-operation of Belgrade with TPIY. Since the independence of Montenegro in June 2006 the Commission should require a new mandate for the negotiations on the agreement of stabilization and association with the new State like carrying out “a modification of the existing mandate” to continue the discussions with only Serbia.
  • Montenegro: the August 16th 2006, the minister Montenegrin for European Integration, Mrs. Gordana Jurović stated that its country wished to obtain the statute of country-candidate in 2008. She as declared as the negotiations between the Montenegro and the European Union in order to conclude a Accord from stabilization and from association were going to start the September 20th 2006.

Old Soviet republics of Europe

Old federate States of the Soviet Union

  • the three Baltic States adhered as of 2004, after being carried candidates as of their recovered Indépendance.
  • the Ukraine, by the voice of its president, Viktor Iouchtchenko, declared that it is candidate with adhesion with the Union (2005) but it did not deposit a request yet in due form. The success of the Orange revolution should enable him to fill the criteria of Copenhagen. But the Union, in particular by the voice of the police chief in charge of the extension, Olli Rehn, slows down this step, which she considers premature. Undoubtedly geostrategic reasons with respect to Russia are subjacent without being able to be advanced. Its government will follow nevertheless a program of adhesion to the Union.
  • the Bielorussia is generally regarded as a Dictature and is not member of the the Council of Europe, the semi-official anteroom of the Union. It is not candidate besides.
  • the Moldavie is divided, literally by the Russian military occupation in Transnistrie, but also between its populations roumanophones and Russian speakers. It is not officially candidate and does not fill the economic conditions of an market economy.

Federation of Russia

It is undoubtedly necessary to separately study the case of the Russia of the other old republics. Russia does not seem yet to officially wish to belong to the Union. If she wished it, its adhesion would radically transform the nature of the EU while multiplying by more than four its surface which would then have most of its territory in Asia: the Asian part of Russia represents a surface of 12 million km ² against 10 million km ² for the whole of the continent of Europe. This paradox could be raised by limiting Russian adhesion to the EU with her only European territory, therefore until the the Ural, which supposes obviously a reorganization of the Russian federation, so that a border (intern with the federation) is clearly established, of the Arctique to the Kazakhstan: all along the mounts the Ural, then Ural river. Thus Russia of Asia would remain out of the EU, just like the Greenland (this autonomous territory attached to the Denmark and close to the American continent was withdrawn from the European Community following a referendum in 1982, without to involve an abandonment of sovereignty of Copenhagen). The same principle could thus theoretically apply to the districts Is which would be out of the EU without Moscow not having for giving up their administration as much. But this scenario is very improbable and justifies itself only by one very rigid reading of the nature of the EU. There are much more partisans of a complete accession of Russia, taking into account the very important natural resources. An economic partnership is also possible.

Kazakhstan

This country has part of its territory in Europe (the small portion located at the west of the river the Ural). It would have thus a legitimacy, if one places oneself from a purely geographical point of view, to ask its adhesion the EU, but it is obvious for all that Kazakhstan is historically a country of Central Asia.

Country of the the Caucasus

In connection with the Arménie, the Azerbaïdjan and Georgia of the commissions of parliamentary co-operation underlined “the need for clearly defining a European prospect for these countries by not excluding, consequently, the possibility that they become later on candidates with adhesion with the Union” and guest to take for objective “the full integration of Georgia in the European Union”. The president Mikheil Saakachvili stated the April 7th 2004 that the objective of an adhesion was the “priority number one” of the foreign politics of Georgia. The economic and political state of these countries does not allow however to consider a short-term concrete action. In addition, the membership of these countries to European space is far from achieving the unanimity.

It should be noticed that these three countries are included today in the policy of vicinity of the Union. The May 12th 2004 the commission had recommended their inclusion in this program.

Country of the Mediterranean south

Non-European countries also were in talks since the application to join of the Morocco was rejected in October 1987. Although Silvio Berlusconi is, for example, declared favorable to a candidature of Israel, an adhesion of these countries is extremely improbable.

They on the other hand are concerned with the policy of vicinity of the union. The November 28th 1995, the union signed an agreement of Partenariat Euromed with 12 countries of Mediterranean south-east. The objective was to create a peace zone and of stability with the ambition to allow free trade in 2010. Until today progress were extremely thin and it appears obvious that the initial objectives will not be achieved.

These countries have vocation to be cultural bridges within sight of their history and of the geographical proximity with Europe.

The Turkey is in a different situation. Although only a small portion of its territory is “European”, it is officially candidate at the entry in the European Union since 2006. However, much of politicians (Nicolas Sarkozy, Angela Merkel…) are against the accession of Turkey at the EU, and a privileged partnership would prefer to him.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • Chart of the EU in 2002
  • Chart of the EU to the 1 {{er}} May 2004
  • Which borders for the European Union? by the vice-chancellor Gerard-François Dumont, professor at the university of Paris-Sorbonne.
  • Widening of the European Union European NAvigator
  • stages of European construction
  • Europedia
  • Caucaz.com: file on the policy of vicinity of the EU in the South-Caucasus

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