Submitted article from Morgunblaðið:
As a nation embarks on its journey to join the European Union, it faces a significant and multifaceted process. The crux of this endeavor lies in adapting to the EU’s administrative structures, regulations, and policies. This preparation is essential to ensure that the applicant country can meet the extensive obligations that accompany EU membership before formally joining.
Štefan Füle, the former Minister for Enlargement of the European Union, articulated this point during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Alþingi in October 2011. He emphasized that submitting an application merely to explore outcomes — often referred to as a “test run” — is not a viable approach. Instead, a genuine commitment to EU membership must underpin any application, with negotiations proceeding on that solid foundation.
The landscape of EU membership is marked by a consensus reflected in numerous official documents that outline the application process. To demystify this journey, the Union’s executive committee has released a booklet titled Understanding Enlargement. It underscores a critical point: applicant countries must demonstrate their readiness to comply with EU obligations and undertake necessary adjustments. This process involves substantial institutional building within the public sector, signifying a broad expansion of governmental frameworks, followed by the adoption and implementation of EU legislation.
The “Non-Negotiable” Rules
At the heart of the accession negotiations lies the applicant state’s ability to meet the requirements set forth by the EU. The term “negotiation” can be somewhat misleading; discussions center on timelines and methods for the applicant to incorporate approximately 100,000 pages of EU regulations, known as the acquis (the French term meaning “what has been agreed”). Notably, these rules are non-negotiable. Progress in negotiations hinges on how effectively an applicant meets these criteria, incentivizing swift and efficient reforms, even when they pose significant challenges.
Moreover, frequently asked questions about the application process can be found on the website of the Ministry of Enlargement of the European Union. This resource outlines that applicant nations must wholly adopt the EU’s regulatory framework, with the pace of negotiations tied directly to their progress in meeting these standards. “Before joining the EU, nations must incorporate the regulatory framework into their national laws,” the guidelines state, highlighting that the successful adoption and implementation of this framework constitutes the bedrock of negotiations.
When and How, But Not If
Similar insights are echoed in another informational brochure from the European Commission, titled Enlargement of the European Union. This document clarifies that the negotiations are fundamentally about the methods and timelines for adopting and implementing EU regulations. Importantly, states cannot cherry-pick which parts of the regulatory framework to adopt; exceptions can occur, but typically only in unique cases that are well-justified. For instance, there may be transitional limits on the access of new residents to the EU labor market or extended periods for environmental compliance.
EU documents note that these transitional arrangements, often called temporary exemptions, are reserved for exceptional circumstances and are meant to be short-lived. Subsequently, the applicant state must fully integrate relevant regulations rather than enjoying any prolonged immunity from the EU’s oversight.
In essence, the application process is predominantly about adapting to EU standards, with limited opportunities for negotiation concerning the timing and methods of implementation — not a question of whether or not to comply.
Hjörtur J. Guðmundsson, historian and international political analyst, runs the website Stórmálin.is.
