European Commission: Strategy Paper and Report 2003
The Seville European Council encouraged Bulgaria and Romania to pursue
their efforts and reiterated ``its commitment to give them full support in
their preparation for accession. An updated road map and a revised and
enhanced pre-accession strategy should be adopted in Copenhagen for the
candidate countries still engaged in negotiations. An increase in
pre-accession financial aid could also be contemplated. Furthermore, if the
current pace is maintained, a more precise timetable could be set for these
countries' accession process by the end of the year''.
The criteria set by the Copenhagen and Madrid European Councils as well as
the principles which have guided the accession process from the outset remain
valid. All candidates participate on an equal footing and all are expected to
join the European Union on the basis of the same criteria and depending on
their individual progress. As confirmed by the 2001 Laeken European Council,
the accession process is now irreversible.
As the accession negotiations with all twelve negotiating candidate
countries are an inclusive process, the Accession Treaty should acknowledge
that the results reached in the negotiations with those candidates which will
not join in the first round of enlargement will not be put into question.
Subsections
© European Commission; Last modified: 2003-04-09
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