Official Journal L 236

Official Journal L 236

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/archive/2003/l_23620030923en.html

3 of 4

04/01/2005 17:24

the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of 

Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the 

Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the 

Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to 

the European Union

Act concerning the conditions of accession of the 

Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the 

Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the 

Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, 

the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, 

the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic 

and the adjustments to the Treaties on which the 

European Union is founded

33

Annex I: List of provisions of the Schengen acquis 

as integrated into the framework of the European 

Union and the acts building upon it or otherwise 

related to it, to be binding on and applicable in the 

new Member States as from accession (referred to 

in Article 3 of the Act of Accession)

50

Annex II: List referred to in Article 20 of the Act of 

Accession

1. Free movement of goods

53

2. Freedom of movement for persons

179

3. Freedom to provide services

335

4. Company law

338

5. Competition policy

344

6. Agriculture

346

7. Fisheries

444

8. Transport policy

447

9. Taxation

555

10. Statistics

561

11. Social policy and employment

584

12. Energy

586

13. Small and medium-sized undertakings

658

14. Education and training

658

15. Regional Policy and coordination of structural 

instruments

658

16. Environment

665

17. Consumers and health protection

711

18. Cooperation in the fields of justice and home 

affairs

711

19. Customs union

762

20. External relations

773

21. Common foreign and security policy

789

22. Institutions

791

Annex III: List referred to in Article 21 of the Act 

of Accession

792

---

Official Journal L 236

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/archive/2003/l_23620030923en.html

4 of 4

04/01/2005 17:24

Annex IV: List referred to in Article 22 of the Act 

of Accession

797

Annex V: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act of 

Accession: Czech Republic

803

Annex VI: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act 

of Accession: Estonia

812

Annex VII: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act 

of Accession: Cyprus

819

Annex VIII: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act 

of Accession: Latvia

824

Annex IX: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act 

of Accession: Lithuania

836

Annex X: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act of 

Accession: Hungary

846

Annex XI: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act 

of Accession: Malta

859

Annex XII: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act 

of Accession: Poland

875

Annex XIII: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act 

of Accession: Slovenia

906

Annex XIV: List referred to in Article 24 of the Act 

of Accession: Slovakia

915

Annex XV: Maximum additional appropriations 

referred to in Article 32(1) of the Act of Accession

925

Annex XVI: List referred to in Article 52(1) of the 

Act of Accession

926

Annex XVII: List referred to in Article 52(2) of the 

Act of Accession

929

Annex XVIII: List referred to in Article 52(3) of the 

Act of Accession

930

PROTOCOLS

931

Final Act

957

(Appendices to Annexes IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI,

XII, XIII and XIV of the Act concerning the

conditions of accession of the Czech Republic,

Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta,

Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia — Official Journal C 

227 E of 23 September 2003)

Official Journal of the European Communities C 

227 E

EN

[ 

top

 ] - [ 

home

 ] - [ 

site map

 ] - [ 

search

 ] - [ 

help

 ] - [ 

feedback

 ] - [ 

©

 ] 

---

COMMISSION OPINION

of 19 February 2003

on the applications for accession to the European Union by the Czech Republic, the Republic of

Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of

Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak

Republic

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 49 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

The Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia

have applied to become members of the European Union.

(2)

In its opinions of 30 June 1993 on the Republic of Cyprus and Malta (updated for Malta on 17

February 1999), and of 15 July 1997 on the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary,

Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia, the Commission has already had an opportunity of expressing its views

on certain essential aspects of the problems arising in connection with these applications.

(3)

The European Council meeting in Copenhagen in December 1993 laid down for the first time the

political, economic and acquis criteria for membership, which have guided the accession process and

the Commission's regular assessments of the readiness of the applicant States. The political criteria

require applicant States to ensure the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law,

human rights and the respect for and protection of minorities; these requirements are enshrined as

constitutional principles in the Treaty on European Union and have been emphasised in the Charter of

Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The economic criteria require the existence of a func-

tioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces

within the Union. The acquis criterion refers to the ability to take on the obligations of membership

arising from the Union's legislation, the acquis communautaire, including adherence to the aims of

political, economic and monetary union.

(4)

The terms for the admission of these States and the adjustments to the Treaties necessitated by their

accession have been negotiated in Conferences between the Member States and the applicant States.

(5)

The Commission, in its Strategy Paper and Report on the progress towards accession by each of the

candidate countries adopted on 9 October 2002, considered that the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus,

Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia and Slovakia fulfil the political criteria for

membership and that they will have fulfilled the economic and acquis criteria and will be ready

for membership from the beginning of 2004; on this basis, the Commission recommended to

conclude the accession negotiations with these countries by the end of 2002 with the aim to sign

the Treaty of Accession in spring 2003.

(6)

These negotiations were completed at the European Council meeting in Copenhagen on 13 December

2002, and it is apparent that the provisions so agreed are fair and proper; this being so, the European

Union's enlargement, while preserving its internal cohesion and dynamism, will enable it to take a

fuller part in the development of international relations.

(7)

The Commission hopes to see a re-united Cyprus acceding to the European Union on the basis of a

comprehensive settlement, as the best outcome for all concerned.

EN

23.9.2003

Official Journal of the European Union

3

---