1. State of Enlargement
MGSC Luxemburg
14 March 2013 1

2. Croatia Status of Acceding Country
EU Accession as from 01 July 2013 (= Member State)
Monitoring report End March focussing on rule of chapter 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights) and chapter 24 (justice freedom and security) issues
Ratification of Accession treaty pending in DE, BE, NL & SI
Widely considered to be a success story of enlargement (9 years CC, 7 years negotiations, 1 ½ years ratification) Clear objective and strict conditionality lead to results.

3. Turkey Candidate Country in negotiations since 2005
13 chapters opened but no further movement since spring 2010
Commission tries break the stalemate and make technical progress in the chapters by means of the " positive agenda" e.g. in statistics
New momentum as approach of MS (France, Germany) softens-"Negotiations should be kept on track regardless of the outcome."
Potential opening of chapters 17 and 22 (Economic & Monetary Policy & Regional Policy) under Irish Presidency
Signing of the
Readmission agreement possibly for signing which is pre-requisite for Visa free travel regime

4. Iceland Candidate Country
Presently 27 chapters open, 11 provisionally closed
Delicate chapter on Fisheries not opened (due to MS)
Statistics is equally open with benchmark in National Accounts since October 2012
April 2013: National Elections-Change of government likely
Worst case scenario: Negotiations stopped by new government
However more likely to be continued

5. Montenegro Candidate Country since 2010
Negotiation framework issued in June 2012
Screening started in 2012-to be finalised in July 2013
Statistics to be screened in June 2013
Chapter 25 science & research already closed

6. *This designation is without prejudice to positions on status,
Serbia
Was granted status of a Candidate Country on 1 March 2012
Next step is opening accession negotiations provided « Serbia makes additional steps towards a visible and sustainable improvement of the relations with KOSOVO* »
Several Meetings between prime ministers and presidents took place which indicates that there is a positive attitude towards co-operation and a potential for a deal
SAA not yet ratified, Interim agreement on trade in force
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status,
and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

7. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Candidate Country since 2005
SAA entered into force in The second stage of the SAA ( e.g.capital flow related issues) was foreseen in Overwhelming support by MS but blocked in Council
High Level Reform dialogue launched by the Commissioner Fuele on reform challenges
Commission has proposed the 4th time opening of negotiations intending to submit quickly a settlement proposal on the name issue
No external movement in the Council, which has to decide by unanimity

8. Albania Opinion on application was negative in 2010
Positive evaluation of the Candidate Country Potential in the 2012 regular report
Possibility to become a Candidate Country in 2013 if momentum is kept in meeting the key priorities in the areas of judicial and public administration reform and revion of parliamentary procedures
Parliamentary Elections in June 2013 will be crucial for measuring the functioning of the democratic institutions
Recommendation in autumn

9. Bosnia-Herzegovina Political Progress on State level achieved.
HLAD –High Level Accession dialogue started in June 2012
Progress in meeting political objectives not obvious
Efforts to bring in line the BiH constitution with the European Convention of Human Rights are going on but have not yet come to fruition (Sejdic-Finci ruling of the European Court of Human Rights)
Uncoordinated proposals to this end from the three entities

10. Kosovo *
The feasibility study on the Stabilisation and Association agreement for KOSOVO* has concluded that it is indeed possible to do such an agreement without the country being fully recognized by all MS.
Recommendation to start negotiate SAA once progress is made on rule of law, public administration, minorities and trade. Progress to be seen in next RR
Visa facilitation process ongoing.
Discussions between the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo on status of the country.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence

11. Northern Cyprus
Stalemate concerning re-unification talks between Cypriot leaders in 2012
New leader of Republic of Cyprus (Anastasiades) raises hope for new momentum in the reunifaction process
Progress linked to the negotiations with Turkey
Technical help for Northern Cyprus continues *

12. Recap: Who can join?
EU Widening–Entry of new Member States into the EU:
“Any European State which respects the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles which are common to the Member States, may apply to become a member of the Union“
(Treaty on the European Union, Art.49 and Art 6(1). Italics added) *

13. But it's ok to be neighbours
No obligation for becoming a MS
EFTA:Norway, Switzerland,
Liechtenstein, Iceland
EEA: Norway,Liechtenstein,
Iceland
But: Access to Common Market
not free of charge
Art. 50 of Lisbon Treaty
Exit possibility for Members *