Any country that satisfies the conditions for enlargement can submit an application. A country that wishes to join the EU submits an application for membership to the Council, which asks the Commission to assess the applicant’s ability to meet the conditions of membership. If the Commission delivers a positive opinion, and the Council unanimously agrees a negotiating mandate, negotiations are formally opened between the candidate and all the member states.
The pre-accession strategy is designed to prepare the candidate countries for future membership. It encompasses the following frameworks and mechanisms: