Candidate countries

A country is granted ‘candidate country’ status by the European Council on the basis of an opinion from the European Commission, drawn up following the country’s application for European Union (EU) membership.

This status does not give the country the automatic right to join the EU. The Commission scrutinises its application according to the accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria) and the accession process only starts with a unanimous decision from the European Council to open negotiations.

Depending on its circumstances, the candidate country may be required to institute a reform process in order to bring its legislation into line with the existing body of EU laws and standards (known as the acquis) and to improve its infrastructure and administration. During the accession process, the candidate country receives financial and technical assistance to help it prepare for EU membership.

The Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance is the means by which the EU has been supporting reforms in the enlargement region with financial and technical assistance since 2007. The latest version of the instrument, IPA III, was adopted in September 2021, after the necessary steps at technical level were taken following the political agreement reached with the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union on 2 June 2021.