European Union

1. Introduction
2. The Association Agreements (Europe Agreements)
3. Membership criteria - Copenhagen European Council (June 1993)
4. Pre-accession strategy - Essen European Council (December 1994)
5. Report on the impact of enlargement - Madrid European Council (December 1995)
6. Timetable for negotiations - Florence European Council (June 1996)
7. Amsterdam European Council (June 1997)
8. Agenda 2000
9. Luxembourg European Council (December 1997)
10. The European Conference
11. Accession negotiations for the first six applicants
12. The enhanced pre-accession strategy
13. Cardiff European Council (June 1998)
14. Berlin European Council (March 1999)
15. Cyprus, Malta and Turkey
Chronology from 1951-1993

1. Introduction

The Copenhagen European Council in 1993 confirmed the legitimacy of Central and Eastern European applications for membership. This marked the start of one of the EU's most ambitious projects in its history. In 1997 the Amsterdam European Council called for accession negotiations to begin in 1998. The Luxembourg European Council received applications from ten countries. Negotiations got under way in 1998 with the first wave of six countries: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. These will be followed by a second wave of five countries: Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia. In September 1998 Malta reactivated its application and the Cardiff European Council launched the EU strategy to prepare Turkey for accession. In March 1999 the Berlin European Council reached agreement on the creation of new pre-accession financing instruments.

2. The Association Agreements (Europe Agreements)

The already considerable volume of trade between ten Central and Eastern European countries (excluding Albania and all successor states of the former Yugoslavia other than Slovenia) and the European Union was boosted with the signing of the Association Agreements (also known as Europe Agreements).

These form the legal framework for association between the applicant countries and the European Union and cover their political and economic relations. Their objective is to provide an appropriate framework for the applicant countries' gradual integration into the Community. Europe Agreements have been concluded with Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.

The Association Agreements' objective is to establish a free-trade area by 2002 liberalising trade in industrial products and providing a basis for economic cooperation in a large number of sectors. The Association Councils also provide a forum for discussion at ministerial level of the progress made in preparing for accession. The Agreements cover the main areas in which the Community acquis is to be adopted. They are being used to help the applicant countries draw up schedules for incorporating the acquis and transposing the Community's legal rules into their national law prior to accession.

An Association Agreement has been in place between Turkey and the European Union since 1964. The cornerstone of this Agreement is the establishment of the customs union in three stages. The EC-Turkey Association Council decided to move on to the third stage in March 1995.

Cyprus has enjoyed a stable relationship with the European Union since 1973 on the basis of an Association Agreement which provides for the completion of a two-stage customs union over a ten-year period. The final stage of the customs union entered into force on 1 January 1998.

The Association Agreement between Malta and the European Community was signed on 5 December 1970 (and came into force on 1 April 1971). The Agreement provided for the completion of a customs union in two stages over a ten-year period. The second stage never started, with successive governments reluctant to pursue the actual implementation of a customs union.

The associated countries and the European Union

3. Membership criteria - Copenhagen European Council (June 1993)

The Copenhagen European Council not only approved the principle of the EU's enlargement to embrace the associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe, it also defined the criteria which applicants would have to meet before they could join the Community.

These criteria concern:

• the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities (political criterion);
• the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the European Union (economic criterion);
• the ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union (criterion concerning adoption of the Community acquis).

4. Pre-accession strategy - Essen European Council (December 1994)

The Essen European Council embarked upon a pre-accession strategy to prepare the countries which had signed an association agreement with the European Union for membership. This focuses on:

• the Europe Agreements (or Association Agreements);
• the White Paper of May 1995 defining key measures in each sector of the internal market and priorities in the harmonisation of legislation;
• a structured institutional dialogue;
• the Phare programme which is the pivotal financial instrument in the pre-accession strategies.

A key component in the strategy is the cross-border cooperation programme which is designed to foster cooperation between states, regions and interest groupings either side of the European Union's border with Central European countries.

5. Report on the impact of enlargement - Madrid European Council (December 1995)

The Madrid European Council confirmed and refined the guidelines adopted in June 1993 and signalled that accession negotiations should be launched six months after the Intergovernmental Conference in 1996.

In its interim report the Commission stressed the potential benefits of enlargement for peace and security and economic growth and development throughout Europe but noted that the prerequisite for accession was adoption of the Community acquis as at the date of accession although transitional measures could be required in certain sectors such as agriculture and free movement of persons. Any transitional period would have to be limited both in scope and duration.

6. Timetable for negotiations - Florence European Council (June 1996)

The Florence European Council adopted a detailed timetable for negotiations with the Central and Eastern European countries. Noting the conclusions of the Madrid Council it reiterated the need for the Commission's opinions and reports on each of the applicant countries to be made available as soon as the Intergovernmental Conference had been completed so that the initial phase of negotiations with the Central and Eastern European countries could coincide with the start of negotiations with Cyprus and Malta , i.e. six months after the IGC had been concluded. However, following elections on 26 October 1996, the Maltese Government decided to suspend its application to join the European Union. In September 1998, Malta decided to reactivate its application.

7. Amsterdam European Council (June 1997)

The Amsterdam European Council marked the successful conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference by adopting the Treaty of Amsterdam. It instructed the General Affairs Council to examine in depth the Commission's opinions which would be ready in July and to present a detailed report to the Luxembourg European Council in December that year.

Although the Treaty of Amsterdam made significant advances on social and employment matters, it fell short of one of its key goals: institutional reform. A further Intergovernmental Conference would consequently be required to reform an institutional system which had been designed for the six original Member States before any future members could be admitted to the European Union.

8. Agenda 2000

The European Commission published Agenda 2000 on 16 July 1997. This three-part policy document looks at:

• the future of the main areas of Community policy;
• the European Union's financial perspectives for the period 2000-2006;
• the Union's enlargement.

Attached to it are the Commission's opinions, prepared on the basis of the Copenhagen accession criteria, on membership applications from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The Commission proposed that membership be extended to a first wave of five countries and that negotiations be launched initially with the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. The negotiations with Cyprus would open six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference. The situation in the other countries would be reviewed annually.

The first accession criterion (political criterion), which concerns, notably, respect for democracy and human rights, appears to have been met by all countries except Slovakia where, in the Commission's view, the rule of law and democracy is not sufficiently rooted in political life and there is insufficient protection of minorities. Consequently it was excluded from the first wave of applicants.

The economic criterion has probably been the key factor. The five countries chosen are considered to have viable market economies and Slovakia is very close to this goal. As regards the second requirement under this criterion - capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union - the Czech Republic and Slovenia are considered to have made the greatest progress and Hungary and Poland appear to be proceeding apace with restructuring with Estonia following up the rear. The Commission noted that the four countries which had not been chosen for the first wave of negotiations on economic grounds had recently made substantial progress and could catch up the other applicant countries within the next ten years.

The third criterion (ability to adopt the Community acquis) highlights the differences between:

• Bulgaria and Romania which were considered to be unable to take on the obligations of membership in the medium term;
• the three Baltic States and Slovenia which were unlikely to be able to adopt the body of the Community acquis in the medium term unless they made substantial efforts;
• Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia which should be able to take on the main part of the Community acquis in the medium term provided progress was made in specific sectors.

Each applicant country received a road map tracing its progress in adopting the Community acquis which itself is constantly evolving.

Agenda 2000 also establishes a financial framework for supporting the pre-accession process in the applicant countries. EUR 21 billion will be provided in pre-accession aid to the Central and Eastern European countries for the period 2000-2006. This will take three forms:

• the Phare programme: EUR 10.5 billion (EUR 1.5 billion a year). Since 1997 this has focused on the two main priorities for adoption of the Community acquis: institution building in the applicant countries (30% of the budget) and investment financing (70%) in areas where post-accession transitional periods are to be avoided as far as possible;
• aid for agricultural development totalling EUR 3.5 billion (EUR 500 million a year);
• structural aid amounting to EUR 7 billion (EUR 1 billion a year) to be used primarily to help applicant countries comply with Community infrastructure standards in the transport and environmental sectors. It will also be used to familiarise these countries with structural project procedures.

9. Luxembourg European Council (December 1997)

The Luxembourg Council approved the Commission's analysis in Agenda 2000. It decided that negotiations should commence with five Central and Eastern European countries (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia) plus Cyprus, and with the other five countries of Central and Eastern Europe once they had made the necessary progress under the accession partnerships. Its approach was two-pronged: negotiations would proceed on the principle that the Community acquis be applied on accession and an enhanced pre-accession strategy would be introduced to help all applicant countries align their law as quickly as possible on the Community acquis, preferably before accession.

EUR 100 million has also been allocated to the second wave of countries (Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia) to finance projects to help them catch up in applying economic reforms.

10. The European Conference

On 6 October 1997 the Foreign Ministers of the fifteen Member States endorsed the French plan for a European Conference to accompany the enlargement process. The first Conference was held in London on 12 March 1998 and was attended by Member States of the European Union and all aspirant European countries which had concluded an association agreement with the Union. It is a multilateral forum for political consultations on common foreign and security policy, justice and home affairs and economic and regional cooperation. Turkey, which applied for membership in 1987, declined to attend. The Conference is held each year at head of state or government level and is attended by the President of the Commission and, where appropriate, national ministers.

11. Accession negotiations for the first six applicants

The accession process started on 30 March 1998 with a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Member States, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus.

The negotiations focus on applicants' ability to take on all the obligations of a Member State of the European Union and to apply the Community acquis once they join and, more particularly, on immediate measures to extend the single market. They also cover the pre-accession aid which the Union is to provide to help the applicants adopt the Community acquis. Negotiations may be concluded even if the acquis has not been fully adopted as transitional measures may be introduced after accession. Any transitional periods must be as short as possible and cover as few sectors as possible.

The negotiations are taking place in six bilateral Intergovernmental Conferences with six-monthly ministerial meetings and monthly ambassadorial meetings.

Although negotiations began on 30 March 1998, negotiating positions will not be finalised until a detailed evaluation of the situation in each applicant country ("screening") has been undertaken in relation to Community legislation and the second and third pillars of the Treaty on European Union. This exercise will run until June 1999.

This evaluation exercise concerns the eleven applicant countries and includes a multilateral phase to discuss clarifications for all the countries followed by a bilateral phase to look at each applicant's specific problems.

The joint exercise will form the basis for the European Union's negotiating position which will be unanimously adopted by the Council and for the position of each of the six countries involved in the negotiations.

12. The enhanced pre-accession strategy

The enhanced pre-accession strategy was welcomed by the Dublin European Council in December 1996. It covers all applicant countries in central and eastern Europe and makes use both of existing instruments (the Europe Agreements, the White Paper on the internal market and the Phare programme) and a new instrument forming the keystone of the strategy, the accession partnerships.

12.1 Accession partnerships

The accession partnerships launched on 15 March 1998 provide a single framework for their three basic components:

• priority areas in which the Community acquis is to be adopted;
• programming the Union's financial assistance;
• the terms applying to this aid: compliance with the obligations under the Europe Agreements and progress in meeting the Copenhagen criteria.

They bring together all forms of assistance to the countries preparing for accession. They involve:

• a national programme for adopting the Community acquis in which each applicant must specify the laws and regulations, institutional and administrative reforms and human and budgetary resources they intend to deploy in each priority area identified in the accession partnership;
• a joint evaluation of economic policy priorities;
• a pact against organised crime;
• the road maps introduced in 1997 by the Member of the Commission responsible for the internal market to help applicant countries take up the Community acquis.

The Commission has undertaken to submit a progress report to the European Council each year. The first was published on 4 November 1998 (see Cardiff European Council below). This monitoring exercise involving both the Commission and bodies set up under the Europe Agreements will be of crucial interest to the applicant countries since the Commission may, in the light of progress made, recommend to the Council that negotiations be opened with the second wave of countries or propose that the pre-accession aid be reduced or abolished.

13. Cardiff European Council (June 1998)

Following the opening of accession negotiations with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia, the European Council noted that the screening exercises for seven chapters of the acquis had been completed. The analytical examination of the acquis had also started with Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia.

The Commission confirmed that, at the end of 1998, it would present the initial evaluation reports of progress made by each of the applicants towards membership. At the request of the European Council, the reports include Cyprus and Turkey.

The Commission adopted the twelve reports on 4 November 1998.

In compiling the reports for the Central and Eastern European applicants, the Commission set out to analyse whether, in the light of the Copenhagen criteria, reforms which were announced had in fact been carried out. The Commission also analysed progress made by each candidate in implementing the acquis and adapting the related administrative structures.

On the whole the Commission confirms the analysis set out in Agenda 2000 and believes that all of the applicant countries will only be able to take on the obligations of the acquis in the medium term if they pursue their preparatory efforts with determination. On the basis of that analysis, the Commission does not feel it necessary to make new recommendations on the conduct or extension of the ongoing negotiations.

The report on Cyprus is an updated version of the 1993 opinion, based in particular on the results of the screening exercise. However, the Commission has only partial information on the situation in the north of the island.

On Turkey, the latest Commission report goes beyond updating the 1989 opinion. The criteria applied were the same as for the Central and Eastern European countries. Some difficulties were encountered in gathering information concerning the adoption of the acquis in areas outside the scope of the customs union.

The twelve reports do not include Malta, a report on which was published later, on 17 February 1999.

14. Berlin European Council (March 1999)

The Berlin European Council reached an overall agreement on Agenda 2000. In the matter of enlargement, the agreement includes the creation of two pre-accession instruments: a structural instrument ( ISPA ) and an agricultural instrument ( SAPARD ). The European Council also established a financial framework for these instruments and decided to double pre-accession aid from 2000. This agreement was given substance by the adoption, in June 1999, of regulations establishing the two instruments and another on the overall coordination of pre-accession aid.

The Berlin European Council also confirmed the renewed Phare programme as the main instrument of intervention, geared to two key priorities for the adoption of the acquis, with 30% of its budget earmarked for institution building (the reinforcement of the applicant countries' administration and institutions) and 70% for investment financing. Further investment projects will be financed by the structural and agricultural pre-accession instruments.

15. Cyprus, Malta and Turkey

15.1 Cyprus

The Commission's first opinion on Cyprus' application for membership was published in July 1993. Despite recognising a high level of economic development, the opinion underlined the economic disparities between the north and south of the island. Efforts have been continuing since 1993, notably under the aegis of the United Nations, to reach a political agreement between the two sides.

In June 1996 the Florence European Council proposed the resumption of negotiations with Cyprus six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference. Agenda 2000 confirms the situation described by the Commission in its 1993 opinion regarding the island's economic and political division but also reaffirms the European Union's determination to play a positive role in bringing about a just and lasting settlement between the two sides in accordance with UN resolutions.

In March 1998 Cyprus took part in the first meeting of the London European Conference. Turkish Cypriot representatives were invited to join the talks but turned down the offer.

In its latest report of November 1998 the Commission confirms its 1993 analysis concerning the economic disparities between the two parts of the island and notes the continuing difficult political relations between the two communities. For that reason, the screening exercise does not cover the whole of the island.

Cyprus is not covered by the Phare programme but, under the Association Agreement, receives EUR 72 million in grants from the Community budget and other assistance under the Fourth Financial Protocol which came into force in 1996 and runs for four years.

The Luxembourg European Council in December 1997 adopted a special pre-accession strategy for Cyprus based on:

• its participation in certain targeted projects, primarily in institution building and justice and home affairs;
• its participation in a number of programmes and Community agencies (following the approach for other applicant countries);
• use of technical assistance provided by TAIEX (Technical Assistance Information Exchange Office).

15.2 Malta

Malta submitted its application for membership of the European Union on 16 July 1990 and the Commission issued a favourable opinion in June 1993. In April 1995 the Council decided that accession negotiations with Malta should begin six months after the end of the Intergovernmental Conference and in the light of its results. The European Councils of Cannes (June 1995), Madrid (December 1995) and Florence (June 1996) confirmed this decision.

In June 1995 a structured dialogue was established between the European Union and Malta, and certain elements of the strategy for preparing Malta's accession were agreed, among them familiarisation of the Maltese administration with the Community acquis, the harmonisation of national legislation with the acquis and Malta's participation in Community programmes.

In 1996 the new Maltese government decided to suspend its application and Malta was therefore excluded from the enlargement process initiated by the Luxembourg European Council. On 10 September 1998 Malta expressed the wish to resubmit its application. The Commission therefore presented a report updating its 1993 opinion in February 1999.

At the political level, the report confirms the conclusions drawn in the 1993 opinion: Malta's institutions are functioning smoothly and there are no particular problems on the human rights front. Nor does the country seem to be having any major problems in adapting its administrative and governmental structures in preparation for participation in Community institutions.

Malta has taken a number of measures to prepare its economy for EU accession. It displays all the characteristics of a market economy, but will need to restructure its industry to cope with competitive pressure in the Union. The report also examines the progress made since 1993 towards aligning Malta's legislation on the acquis.

The report concludes that Malta's preparations for EU membership differ from that of other applicant countries, in particular as a result of its decision to freeze its application for two years. Malta will have to give a new impetus to its preparations for membership. The Commission considers that a specific pre-accession strategy should also be established for Malta. It intends to prepare a report setting out in detail the state of play regarding Malta's preparations for membership, which will be submitted at the end of 1999 along with reports on the other candidate countries and their progress towards accession.

15.3 Turkey

Relations between the EU and Turkey date back to 1963 and the signing of an Association Agreement (the Ankara Agreement). Turkey first applied for membership in April 1987 but the Commission's opinion, issued in December 1989, was against the immediate opening of negotiations. Nevertheless, on 6 March 1995, the EC-Turkey Association Council decided to implement the final stage of the customs union and resume financial cooperation.

In 1997, in Agenda 2000, the Commission noted that the customs union was functioning well but that difficulties still arose in financial cooperation and political dialogue with Turkey. However, it confirmed the European Union's support to help solve the problems. It also proposed European assistance to improve the human rights situation.

The Luxembourg European Council (December 1997) confirmed Turkey's eligibility for membership of the European Union and approved a European accession strategy. On 4 March 1998 the Commission presented a communication applying the European strategy to prepare Turkey for accession. This action programme seeks to develop and extend the customs union (which came into force on 31 December 1995) to the service and agricultural sectors and introduce closer cooperation in a number of areas.

Turkey was invited to the European Conference in London on 12 March 1998 but declined to attend, considering itself not to have been treated as fairly as the other applicant countries. In June 1998 the Cardiff European Council set in motion the European strategy referred to in the Commission communication of 4 March 1998 under which the Commission and the Turkish authorities are called upon to cooperate in the alignment of Turkish legislation on the acquis. In October 1998 the Commission accordingly adopted a communication on providing the necessary financial backup for the European strategy.

In its latest report of November 1998, the Commission confirmed the Agenda 2000 analysis and pointed to Turkey's development of a market economy accompanied, however, by anomalies in the political system, notably with regard to the way the authorities operate, respect for human rights and the treatment of minority rights.

Chronology of the European Union

18 APRIL 1951

Six European countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands) sign the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).

25 MARCH 1957

The Treaties of Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) are signed by the Six Member States.

3 MAY 1960

The Stockholm Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) among seven European countries (Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom) comes into force.

31 JULY and 10 AUGUST 1961

Ireland, Denmark and the United Kingdom submit applications for membership of the European Communities.

30 APRIL 1962

Norway applies for membership of the European Communities.

1 NOVEMBER 1962

The Association Agreement signed between Greece and the Community comes into force.

14 JANUARY 1963

The President of the French Republic, General de Gaulle, states that France doubts the political will of the United Kingdom to join the Community. A few days later, negotiations with all the applicant countries are suspended.

12 SEPTEMBER 1963

Turkey and the European Economic Community sign an Association Agreement.

11 MAY 1967

The United Kingdom re-applies to join the Community. It is followed by Ireland and Denmark and, a little later, by Norway.

30 JUNE 1970

Negotiations with four prospective Member States (Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom) open in Luxembourg.

5 DECEMBER 1970

Association Agreement between the Community and Malta is signed.

22 JANUARY 1972

Signature of the Treaties of Accession of Denmark, Ireland, Norway and the United Kingdom. These are ratified by the parliaments of the Member States, except in Norway, where a referendum rejects the accession.

19 DECEMBER 1972

The Agreement establishing an Association between the Community and Cyprus is signed.

1 JANUARY 1973

Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom join the European Community which counts 9 Member States. The Community's Free Trade Agreements with EFTA countries come into force.

12 JUNE 1975

Greece applies for accession to the Community.

27 JULY 1976

Negotiations for Greece's accession to the Community open formally.

28 MARCH 1977

Portugal applies for Community membership.

28 JULY 1977

Spain applies for Community membership.

6 JUNE 1978

The Council opens accession negotiations with Portugal.

5 FEBRUARY 1979

Spanish accession negotiations formally open in Brussels.

28 MAY 1979

 

1 JANUARY 1981

Greece becomes 10th member of European Community.

23 FEBRUARY 1982

In a consultative referendum, Greenland which became a member of the European Community as part of Denmark on 1 January 1973, opts for withdrawal from the Community.

12 MARCH 1984

Agreement on future relations between Greenland and Community.

9 APRIL 1984

Ministers representing the Member States of the Community and the EFTA countries (Austria, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Liechtenstein) sign the Luxembourg Joint Declaration, recognizing the need for a European Economic Area (EEA).

12 JUNE 1985

Accession Treaties of Spain and Portugal are signed.

1 JANUARY 1986

Spain and Portugal join the Community.

14 APRIL 1987

Turkish Government presents application to join the Community.

25 JUNE 1988

Joint Declaration on the stablishment of oficial relations between the Community and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA), ushering a new era in relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

26 SEPTEMBER 1988

Cooperation agreement between the Community and Hungary.

14/16 JULY 1989

Western Economic Summit held in Paris decides to support the reforms undertaken in East European countries and ask the Commission to coordinate the aid for economic restructuring in Poland and Hungary (PHARE programme).

17 JULY 1989

Austria applies to join the European Community.

19 SEPTEMBER 1989

Cooperation agreement between the Community and Poland signed in Warsaw.

9 NOVEMBER 1989

Collapse of the Berlin Wall. The German Democratic Republic opens its borders.

5 FEBRUARY 1990

Council defines action programme for development of relations between Community and countries of Central and Eastern europe (PHARE).

29 MAY 1990

The Agreement establishing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), to provide financial support to Central and Eastern Europe countries, is signed in Paris.

20 JUNE 1990

The EEC and EFTA start formal negotiations for the creation of the European Economic Area (EEA).

4 and 16 JULY 1990

Cyprus and Malta apply to join the European Community.

1 NOVEMBER 1990

Cooperation Agreement between the Community and Czechoslovakia comes into force.

14/15 DECEMBER 1990

The European Council meeting in Rome agrees on the creation of a programme for technical assistance for Independent States of Former Soviet Union (TACIS).

15 DECEMBER 1990

Opening of intergovernmental conferences on political union and on economic and monetary union.

1 JULY 1991

Sweden applies for membership.

21 OCTOBER 1991

Council reaches agreement on establishment of European Economic Area (EEA).

16 DECEMBER 1991

"Europe Agreements" signed with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia.

18 MARCH 1992

Finland presents official application for accession to European Communities.

2 MAY 1992

Signature in Oporto of the Agreement establishing the European Economic Area.

20 MAY 1992

Switzerland presents official application for accession to European Communities.

14 SEPTEMBER 1992

First ministerial meeting of national TACIS (programme for technical assistance for Independent States of Former Soviet Union) coordinators opens.

25 NOVEMBER 1992

Norway presents official application for accession.

6 DECEMBER 1992

In referendum, Switzerland votes against ratification of Agreement establishing European Economic Area.

1 FEBRUARY 1993

Negotiations on accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden open in Brussels. Europe Agreement signed with Romania.

8 MARCH 1993

Europe Agreement signed with Bulgaria.

5 APRIL 1993

Negotiations on accession of Norway open in Luxembourg.

21/22 JUNE 1993

Copenhagen European Council confirms accession of Austria, Finland, Sweden and Norway by 1 January 1995, and assures associated countries of Central and Eastern Europe that their accession will be possible as soon as they satisfy the requisite political and economic conditions.

1 NOVEMBER 1993

The Treaty on European Union enters into force. An Intergovernmental Conference to review its working is scheduled for 1996.