What is the Copenhagen Criteria?

The Copenhagen Criteria refers to the conditions that candidate countries must meet before they can be part of the European Union. The criteria had been established in 1993 by the Copenhagen European Council, and later strengthened in 1995 by the Madrid European Council. Copenhagen Criteria also refer to the rules defined by the European Council in 1993 in Denmark, Copenhagen, which determines whether a country is qualified to join the European Union.

What are the Requirements of the Copenhagen Criteria?

In order to become a member of the EU, the three criteria that must be achieved are:

• Stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities
• The existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the union
• The ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic & monetary union

Based on the laid out criteria, EU membership requires candidates to attain stability of democratic institutions, human rights, rule of law, protection of minorities, existence of functioning market economy, and having the capacity to cope with market forces and competitive pressure within the Union. Candidate countries are expected to take on membership obligations including compliance with economic, monetary, and political union. Most of the Copenhagen criteria were classified in the last decade through legislation and decisions of the European Commission, European Council, and the European Parliament. However, a common issue with the criteria is the slight conflicting interpretations among the member states. 

Criteria for Membership 

The European community always monitors the progress of candidate states that have applied for the EU accession. Key instruments of pre-accession were implemented by the Agenda 2000 which offers assistance to states that are in the process of adhering to the criteria of accession. Through the Regular Reports, the European Commission problems of key importance that should be considered by every country interested in the accession process. Some of the pre-cession programs that existed in 2000 included ISPA, PHARE and SAPARD. PHARE refers to a program which finances institution building measures and investment fields that are not considered by SAPARD and ISPA programs. It is the role ISPA to finance transportation and environmental infrastructure projects. SAPARD funds rural development and agriculture. Three documents are used to define the European Union membership criteria. These include:

• Article 49 of the 1992 Maastricht Treaty
• The 1993 declaration the European Council in Copenhagen (includes political, legislative, and economic policies)
• Framework for negotiations with specific conditions for every candidate country

When the Copenhagen Criteria was passed in 1993, the EU did not set up any mechanism that ensures every member state was to comply with the criteria. However, currently there are arrangements that have been put in place to ensure adherence with the criteria. This had followed the early 2000 sanction imposed against the government of Wolfgang Schssel by 14 member states. The arrangements were later effected in 2003 February under the Treaty of Nice. 

Location 

In 1987, Morocco made an application to become part of the EU. However, the application was not successful owing to the fact that Morocco was not a European country and as such could not join the group. The geographic criterion of membership could later be enshrined one the EU introduced the Copenhagen criteria. Non-European countries are still able to enjoy the integration with EU amidst the fact that they are not considered eligible members. Member states are currently in discussions to conclude association agreements with non-European states. Furthermore, key frameworks to enhance integration with third countries are emerging which include the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). The policy will replace the Barcelona process that initially offered framework for the association of the EU with North Africa and Western Asia. The ENP is not the same as the Stabilization and Association Process adopted by the EU Area or the Western Balkans. Russia is not bound by ENP scope since it is subject to a different framework. The ENP can be considered a drawing up of the foreseeable future of the Mediterranean Sea.