Copenhagen criteria

The Copenhagen criteria are the rules that decide if a country can join the European Union. These rules make sure that any country wanting to join the European Union meets certain standards. The rules require that a country has ways to keep democratic government and human rights, has a working market economy, and agrees with the goals of the European Union.

These rules were made in June 1993 at a meeting of European leaders in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is why they are called the Copenhagen criteria. They include ideas like having stable democratic ways of governing, respecting the rule of law and minorities, and being ready for the economic challenges of joining the Union.

Over time, these ideas have been made clearer through laws and decisions by important European groups like the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament. Even though these rules help decide which countries can join, there can be different thoughts among current member states about what some of the rules mean, especially about the idea of the rule of law.

European Union membership criteria

The European Union has special rules to decide if a country can join. These rules are called the Copenhagen criteria. When countries want to join, people look at how well they follow the rules to see if they should become a member.

These rules come from three important documents. They are the 1992 Treaty of Maastricht, the 1993 European Council decision in Copenhagen, and a special framework for each country wanting to join. The criteria include having good government, a strong economy, and agreeing to EU laws.

Geographic criteria

One rule for joining the European Union is that a country must be in Europe. This rule comes from Article 49 of the Maastricht Treaty. It says any European country that follows EU principles can apply to join. The European Council decides if a country is truly in Europe.

The EU usually thinks broadly about what counts as Europe. It has said that Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia, and Turkey are European, even though some of these places are in both Europe and Asia. But when Morocco applied to join in 1987, its application was turned down because it is in Africa. Countries that are not in Europe can still have special ties with the EU through agreements like the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Union for the Mediterranean.

Political criteria

The Copenhagen criteria have important rules for countries that want to join the European Union. One key rule is democracy. This means everyone in the country should have an equal say in decisions, from local towns to the national level. Elections should be fair, with secret ballots. People should be free to start political parties, speak their minds, and join groups without interference.

Another rule is the rule of law. This means leaders must follow laws that are clearly written, so no one can make unfair decisions.

The criteria also focus on human rights. These are basic rights that belong to every person just because they are human. These include the right to be safe, the right to a fair trial, and the right to be free from unfair treatment. Every person deserves these rights.

Finally, the criteria stress the importance of respecting and protecting minorities. People who belong to smaller groups should be able to keep their traditions and culture without unfair treatment. This helps make sure everyone feels valued and included.

Main article: European Convention on Human Rights

Economic criteria

The economic criteria help decide if a country can join the European Union. Countries need to have a working market economy. This means their businesses can compete and deal with changes. Some countries follow extra rules, like the Euro convergence criteria and the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, to get ready to use the euro in the Eurozone.

Legislative alignment

Countries that want to join the European Union must change their laws to match the Union's rules, called the acquis communautaire. This means they need to adjust their laws in many areas. The rules are split into parts, or chapters. For example, when Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007, there were 31 chapters. For talks with Croatia, Turkey, and Iceland, the rules were divided into 35 chapters.