EU accession process

step by step

October 2022
#EUenlargement
A credible enlargement policy is a geostrategic investment in peace, stability, security and prosperity in
Europe. It is based on fair and rigorous conditionality and the principle of own merits. It requires candidate
countries to implement complex reforms in many areas such as the rule of law, the economy, the fight
against corruption and organised crime. At the same time, candidate countries are expected to develop
their administrative structures. Reconciliation, good neighbourly relations and regional cooperation are of
utmost importance.

Main steps to EU accession

1 Country submits 2 Commission submits 3 EU Member States

an application to the an Opinion on the decide unanimously
Council (EU Member application. to grant the country
States). candidate status.

5 Commission proposes 6 During negotiations,

4 After conditions a draft negotiating which are structured
are met, the accession framework as a basis according to clusters and
negotiations are for the talks. Accession chapters, the country
opened with the negotiations formally prepares to implement EU
agreement of all start once Member States laws and standards. All EU
Member States. agree on the negotiating Member States must agree
framework. that all requirements are
met in each case.

7 Once negotiations 8 Based on this Opinion, 9 All EU Member

on all areas are
finalised, Commission
gives its Opinion on
the readiness of the
country to become a
Member State.
EU Member States decide States and the
unanimously to close candidate country sign
the negotiation process. and ratify an Accession
The European Parliament Treaty which enables
must also give its the country to become
consent. an EU Member State.

Enlargement
Negotiations
 Following the introduction of the revised methodology for
Clusters of the accession negotiations in February 2020, negotiating
chapters are now divided in six thematic clusters:

negotiating chapters 1
2
Fundamentals
Internal market
4 Green agenda & sustainable
connectivity
3 Competitiveness &
5 Resources, agriculture & cohesion
inclusive growth 6 External relations

Foreign, Economic criteria

security Functioning of
Judiciary &
& defence democratic institutions
fundamental Justice,
External policy
Financial & relations rights Freedom & Public
budgetary Security administration
provisions Public reform
Regional policy
& coordination procurement
of structural
Statistics
instruments 31 23 30 24
Financial
Fisheries 33 5
control
Food safety, 22 18
veterinary & na l
E x te r s 32 Free movement
phytosanitary 13 relat
ion
Fun of goods
policy da m
, en
12 es & ta 1 Free movement
Agriculture e n ls
co l t u c
icu ur

io for workers
he r

& rural
agr eso

development 11 2
R

Right of
Enviroment establishment
Opened first
& climate and closed 3 & freedom to
27
change last provide services
agenda
tainable
ivity

Market

4 Free
Trans - 21
connect

European movement
Green
& su s

rnal

networks of capital
15 6
Inte

Energy Company
14 Co 7 law
mp
in et
Transport clu itiveness &
policy siv 8 Intellectual
29 e gr
owth property law
Customs 9
26 Competition
union 28
25 policy
Education 20 10
& culture 19 16 Financial
17
services
Science & Consumer &
research health protection
Enterprise
& industrial Social Information
Taxation society &
policy policy & Economic media
employment &
monetary
policy

Negotiations on each cluster open as a whole – after the country fulfils the opening
benchmarks. Each chapter will be dealt with individually with respect to its provisional closure.
Negotiations on the fundamentals open first and close last; progress under the fundamentals’
cluster will determine the overall pace of negotiations. If there is sufficient progress on
reform priorities, this should lead to closer integration with the European Union,
through accelerated integration and increased investments and funding.

© European Union, 2022

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