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Enlargement |
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Any European country that respects the principles of liberty and democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, may apply to become a member of the EU. However, it will have to apply the "acquis", i.e. the entire body of EU law already in place, including in the area of Home Affairs. Candidate and potential candidates
Croatia, Turkey, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland and Montenegro are candidate countries. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia are potential candidate countries who have been granted the prospect of EU membership as and when they are ready. Kosovo (under UN Security Council Resolution 1244/99) also has a European perspective. Alignment with EU law To become members of the EU, candidates must adopt the entire body of EU law (acquis). For negotiation purposes, the acquis is divided into chapters. There is a chapter on Judiciary and Fundamental Rights (Chapter 23), which covers the reform of the judiciary, corruption and fundamental rights, and a chapter on Justice, Freedom and Security (Chapter 24), which covers migration, asylum, visa policy, external borders and Schengen, judicial cooperation in criminal and civil matters, police cooperation and the fight against organised crime, the fight against terrorism, drugs, customs cooperation and counterfeiting of the euro. Stabilisation and Association Process with the Western Balkans The Stabilisation and Association Process is the framework for the EU’s relationship with the Western Balkan countries until their eventual accession. The process helps candidate countries to build their capacity in order to adopt and implement EU law, as well as European and international standards. Stabilisation and Association Agreements are being put in place between the EU and each Western Balkan country and represent a contractual relationship, entailing mutual rights and obligations. They include a chapter on Justice, Freedom and Security. EU assistance The EU provides financial assistance to candidate countries and potential candidates through the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA). Twinning projects are financed in key areas, such as border management, reform of the judiciary, asylum and the fight against organised crime and corruption. A number of Technical Assistance Information Exchange (TAIEX) seminars have been organised on Home Affairs issues. Visa liberalisation A key development in EU relations with the candidate and potential candidate countries has been visa liberalisation with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Visa-free travel proved to be a strong incentive for these countries to speed up their reform efforts and has, thereby, helped to advance the accession process for the entire region. |
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