Reports on progress towards accession by each of the candidate countries. Composite paper

Abstract

As we approach the new millennium the European Union is preparing for thebiggest expansion in its history. Early in the next century it will be possible tore-unite Europe on terms very different from the divisions and strife of thetwentieth century. On the basis of shared ideals and agreed common rules ofpolitical, economic and social behaviour the current Member States andcandidate countries will be able to chose to join together in a wider Union.The countries of central and eastern Europe, Malta, Cyprus and Turkey havealready shown their determination and their capacity for change, theireconomies are increasingly integrated with that of the Union and huge effortsare being made by Parliaments, governments, the public and private sectors toprepare for EU membership. The EU is actively supporting these efforts andhas set in motion the steps needed to make its own financial and institutionalpreparations for the accession of new members.In recent years the EU has had to deal with the challenge of economicrecession and rising unemployment at the same time as it was completing theinternal market and preparing to launch economic and monetary union. Thisinternal focus has led some to criticise the Union for being too introspectiveand for not addressing broader geo-political questions such as the prospect ofmembership for countries which are not currently in the enlargement processor the kind of relationship the EU wants to have with non-candidate Europeancountries. Now the Union is ready to address wider questions about the futureorganisation of relations on the European continent. In presenting its RegularReports on enlargement the Commission has taken the opportunity tocontribute to this wider debate.