Next Candidates for Accession?

Bulgaria and Romania are expected to enter the EU in 2007 if they fulfil all the membership criteria. Turkey’s candidature will be reviewed at the end of 2004 and Ankara will be able to start accession negotiations if it fulfils the Copenhagen political criteria. On 14 April 2003, the Council asked the Commission to submit its opinion on Croatia’s formal application to join, submitted in February 2003. The Commission has also offered the possibility of closer cooperation and potential EU membership to Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Croatia, FYROM and Serbia-Montenegro. The plans were contained in the second annual Stabilisation and Association Process Report , released on 26 March 2003.