The Accession of Romania to the European Union

Accession of Romania to the European Union: a dilemma that can be solved

During the past years, the European Union has encountered a great dilemma: which process should be prioritized – a more profound integration of member states or integrating new members, especially countries in transition?

The European Community has extended several times after it was established, from 6 members initially to 15 in 1995. After 1989 the Central and Eastern European countries start to generate tension upon the EU.

The member states were concerned that the extending of the Union will weaken its internal cohesion and slow the process of political, economical and monetary integration. However, the pressure put on by the Eastern European Countries, who had expressed their desire to join the Union, was extremely powerful.

1.One possible cause for extending the Union: social and political changes in Central and Eastern Europe

Along with the decline of communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe in the late 80’s, most of the countries in this area have expressed their preferences for the democratic values, market economy and western European community structures. Democratic transformations in the governance of Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania allowed these countries to adopt political and economical reforms.

After the dissolution of the USSR (august 1991) 3 Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became independent and re-established their diplomatic relations with the Western World. As a result of the Yugoslavian war, Slovenia gained its independence and expressed pro-occidental attitudes.

Summing up, 10 Central and Eastern European countries have expressed, over a short period of time their wish to join the EU. A very interesting aspect is that ex GDR, or “Eastern Lands” has been integrated in the EU on the exclusive expense of Federal Germany. Western Germany offered material support to GDR but today unified Germany represents the most powerful country in Europe.

Poland and Hungary applied for joining the EU in 1994, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 1995, The Czech Republic and Slovenia in 1996.

The EU couldn’t have been indifferent to the changes in the East, and couldn’t have missed the opportunity to expand on a market beyond 100 million people. The eastern widening has more than just an economical importance. By adhering to the Union, the eastern countries complete the vision of a united Europe, which was started in the 50’s, and is one of the most fascinating projects of our time.

2. Romania and the European Union

Romania is the first country in Central and Eastern Europe that established official relations with the European Community. In 1974 Romania entered the generalised system of preferences of the CE by signing a bilateral treaty. Immediately after the Berlin Wall fell, Romania established diplomatic relations with the EU, and signed an Commerce an Cooperation Agreement the same year.

On the 1st of February 1993 Romania and CE sign the Europe Agreement; this agreement, which creates an area of free trade between Romania and the member states, recognized the goal of Romania to become a member of the Union and promised technical and material support from the Union.

In Copenhagen, the member states have decided that the associated states from Central and Eastern Europe can become members of the EU when they meet the economical and political criteria. Under these conditions, Romania applied for joining the EU on the 22nd of June 1995. In July 1997 the European Commission adopted Agenda 2000, which includes the opinion about the Romanian application for the EU. In November 1998 the European Commission published the first report concerning the progress made by Romania in meeting the integration criteria.

The European Councils in Copenhagen (December 2002), Thessaloniki (June 2003), Brussels (December 2003), Brussels (June 2004) reassure Romania of the support of member states for finishing negotiations in 2004, signing the integration Treaty as soon as possible in 2005 and actual integration in 2007.

The negotiations were ended in December 2004, and the accession schedule was confirmed by the European Council in Brussels. Romania was recommended to continue the reforms and to implement the engagements referring to the community acquis (the rights and obligations that bond together all the states in the EU) made during the negotiations. This refers especially to the engagements concerning internal affairs, justice, competition policies, and environmental issues.

Since April 2005, Romania has the observatory status in the activity of European institutions.