COPENHAGEN ACCESSION CRITERIA
The Copenhagen Criteria determine which countries are eligable for begining the accession negotiations for EU integration.
Political: the country should have proved its commitment to protecting human rights and minorities and have a record of stable democratic institutions.
Economic: functioning market economy, able to withstand the pressures of the common European market.
Administrative: the country should have adopted administrative changes that aim at smoothing the interaction and cooperation between the national institutions and those of the European Union.
An applicant country cannot open accession negotiations until it fulfills the Copenhagen Criteria.
All 13 applicant countries meet the Copenhagen political criteria with the exception of Turkey.
