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BackThis week, the European Commission has presented its annual report on those countries, which have already made an application for EU membership or which are potential candidates for an application. 9 states are interested in joining the EU, whereby most progress has been made concerning the negotiations with Croatia.
According to the report, Croatia, Turkey and Iceland are 3 States, which have made an application for membership and with whom negotiations have been entered into. 4 further states, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as well as Montenegro, Albania and Serbia have made an application. However, no negotiations have yet been entered into with these countries. The Commission recommends starting accession negotiations with Montenegro and Albania. The Commission names Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Kosovo as potential candidates. However, these two countries have not yet submitted an application for membership.
Croatia: the negotiations are in their final phase; a conclusion could soon be reached. However, individual issues concerning judicial system and fundamental rights remain unsolved. The Commission has not yet given a concrete date for Croatia's accession to the EU.
Turkey: the public hardly knows that Turkey had already submitted an application for membership 23 years ago. However, initial negotiations were only entered into 5 years ago. According to the Commission, there are a number of unsolved issues, which have yet to be negotiated with Turkey. Progress for example had to be made in respect of fundamental rights and freedom of expression. From an economic point of view, Turkey is a functioning market economy; economic reforms and privatisation plans are making progress, commented the Czech EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle. The Commission regards the normalisation of the relationship with Cyprus as an important condition for accelerating the enlargement negotiations.
Iceland: the accession negotiations with Iceland were only entered into in July 2010. Currently the Commission and Iceland are jointly reviewing the situation. Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area and the Schengen area, which makes the negotiations significantly easier. Unresolved questions are mainly concerned with fishery, agriculture and rural development as well as the environment and regional policy.
Further information:
Enlargement reports of the European Commission
Croatia: the negotiations are in their final phase; a conclusion could soon be reached. However, individual issues concerning judicial system and fundamental rights remain unsolved. The Commission has not yet given a concrete date for Croatia's accession to the EU.
Turkey: the public hardly knows that Turkey had already submitted an application for membership 23 years ago. However, initial negotiations were only entered into 5 years ago. According to the Commission, there are a number of unsolved issues, which have yet to be negotiated with Turkey. Progress for example had to be made in respect of fundamental rights and freedom of expression. From an economic point of view, Turkey is a functioning market economy; economic reforms and privatisation plans are making progress, commented the Czech EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle. The Commission regards the normalisation of the relationship with Cyprus as an important condition for accelerating the enlargement negotiations.
Iceland: the accession negotiations with Iceland were only entered into in July 2010. Currently the Commission and Iceland are jointly reviewing the situation. Iceland is already a member of the European Economic Area and the Schengen area, which makes the negotiations significantly easier. Unresolved questions are mainly concerned with fishery, agriculture and rural development as well as the environment and regional policy.
Further information:
Enlargement reports of the European Commission