2007 enlargement of the European Union

2007 enlargement of the European Union
Europe_countries.svg: Júlio Reis derivative work: Kolja21 (talk) · CC BY-SA 2.5 · source
Title	2007 enlargement of the European Union
Date	1 January 2007
Location	European Union
Type	Enlargement of the European Union
Participants	Bulgaria, Romania
Outcome	EU expands to 27 member states

2007 enlargement of the European Union. The 2007 enlargement was the fifth major expansion of the European Union, which saw the accession of Bulgaria and Romania on 1 January 2007. This event followed the historic 2004 enlargement of the European Union and was a significant step in the EU's post-Cold War integration of Eastern Europe. The process concluded lengthy negotiations that began in the 1990s, aiming to consolidate democracy and market economies after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Background and accession process

The origins of this enlargement lie in the political transformations following the Revolutions of 1989 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Both Bulgaria and Romania initiated their formal paths by signing Europe Agreements in the early 1990s, establishing associative relationships with the European Communities. Following the Copenhagen criteria established at the 1993 European Council in Copenhagen, the two nations formally applied for membership; Romania submitted its application in 1995 and Bulgaria followed in 1996. The European Commission commenced detailed assessments of their political and economic readiness, with substantive negotiations opening in 2000 after recommendations from the Prodi Commission. The process was closely monitored by institutions like the European Parliament and involved extensive legal harmonization with the acquis communautaire, particularly in challenging areas such as judicial reform and combating corruption.

Accession treaties and referendums

The final legal instruments for accession were the Treaty of Accession 2005 signed in Luxembourg on 25 April 2005. This treaty was ratified by all existing European Union member states and the European Parliament. Subsequently, both candidate countries held mandatory national referendums to secure public approval. In Romania, the referendum held on 22-23 May 2005 resulted in overwhelming support, with a reported 91% in favor. Bulgaria's referendum on 25 June 2005 yielded a similarly decisive result, with 83% approving membership. These results were then ratified by the respective national parliaments, the Parliament of Bulgaria and the Parliament of Romania, completing the constitutional requirements for accession.

Member states joining in 2007

The two states that joined the union on 1 January 2007 were the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania. This brought the total number of European Union member states to twenty-seven. Bulgaria joined as the first Cyrillic alphabet-using nation, influencing EU language protocols, while Romania's accession marked the entry of the largest population group from the 2004 wave not included initially. Their entry expanded the EU's borders to the Black Sea and increased its cultural and linguistic diversity, incorporating traditions from Southeast Europe and the Balkans.

Impact and immediate consequences

The immediate impact included a significant expansion of the EU's internal market and population. Institutionally, it triggered adjustments such as the allocation of new seats in the European Parliament and changes in voting weights within the Council of the European Union under the Treaty of Nice. Economically, concerns over labor mobility led several existing members, including France and Germany, to impose temporary restrictions on workers from the new states. Both countries also began a phased integration into policy frameworks like the Schengen Area and the eurozone, though full membership in these regimes was deferred pending further reforms. The enlargement also intensified debates about the EU's absorption capacity and future borders.

Public opinion and political debate

Public opinion across the existing EU was mixed, with notable skepticism in core states like the Netherlands and United Kingdom, where concerns focused on immigration and institutional strain. Within Bulgaria and Romania, support was strong but not unanimous, with debates centering on national sovereignty and economic costs. Prominent political figures, including Jean-Claude Juncker and José Manuel Barroso, championed the enlargement as a historic unification of Europe. Conversely, critics like Nicolas Sarkozy and political movements such as the UK Independence Party voiced opposition, arguing for a period of consolidation before further expansion. The debate was reflected in media outlets like Der Spiegel and Le Monde.

Timeline of events

Key milestones began with the 1993 European Council in Copenhagen setting membership criteria. Romania applied on 22 June 1995 and Bulgaria on 14 December 1995. Formal negotiations were opened on 15 February 2000. The European Commission issued its final monitoring reports in 2005, leading to the signing of the Treaty of Accession 2005 on 25 April. National referendums were successfully held in May and June 2005. The final ratification process concluded in late 2006, with the Treaty of Accession 2005 entering into force on 1 January 2007, marking the official accession during celebrations in Sofia and Bucharest attended by leaders like Angela Merkel and José Manuel Barroso.

Category:2007 in the European Union Category:Enlargement of the European Union Category:2007 in Bulgaria Category:2007 in Romania