COPENHAGEN - EU's Copenhagen Summit ended on Friday by EU's inviting ten candidate countries to the organization on May 1, 2004.
The membership date of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU has been determined as 2007.
If Turkey fully meets the Copenhagen political criteria as the end of 2004, it will start the negotiations with EU without any delay.
A family photo was taken at the end of the summit.
NEGOTIATIONS TO START WITH TURKEY WITHOUT ANY DELAY IN DEC. 2004
The final declaration of the EU Copenhagen summit noted that if the EU Council which will convene in December 2004 decides that Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen political criteria, EU will start negotiations with Turkey without any delay.
The declaration recalled that Turkey was accepted as a candidate country to the EU in Helsinki summit in 1999 on the basis of criteria that were valid for other candidate countries, welcoming the steps taken by Turkey to meet Copenhagen criteria and the broad legal amendments package that covered the priorities mentioned in the Accession Partnership Document.
EU also welcomed the resolution of the new Turkish government to continue implementing the reforms and it stressed that the government has to complete the remaining shortcomings, not only with regard to legislation, but also in particular with regard to implementation as soon as possible. The Union recalls that according to the political criteria decided in Copenhagen in 1993, membership requires that a candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities.
''The Union encourages Turkey to pursue energetically its reform process. If the European Council in December 2004, on the basis of a report and a recommendation from the Commission, decides that Turkey fulfill the Copenhagen political criteria, the European Union will open accession negotiations with Turkey without delay.''
''In order to assist Turkey towards EU membership, the accession strategy for Turkey shall be strengthened. The Commission is invited to submit a proposal for a revised Accession Partnership and to intensify the process of legislative scrutiny. In parallel the EC-Turkey Customs Union should be extended and deepened. The Union will significantly increase its pre-accession financial assistance for Turkey. This assistance will from 2004 be financed under the budget heading 'pre-accession expenditure.'
TURKEY PLEASED WITH ADDITIONAL DOCUMENT
A separate document was prepared in addition to the final declaration of EU Copenhagen Summit.
The additional document which pleased Turkey describes the enlargement process as a continuous, inclusive and irreversible one which will also cover Turkey. The text is titled ''One Europe.''
The document which will have the signatures of 15 EU states and ten new states also expresses pleasure over the decision taken for the next step to be taken for Turkey's membership.
It says that the EU remains determined to avoid new dividing lines in Europe and to promote stability and prosperity within and beyond the new borders of the Union.
EU ADMITS GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE AS FULL MEMBER
European Union admitted Greek Cypriot side as a full member to the EU in the final declaration of Copenhagen Summit.
Noting that the accession negotiations have been completed with Greek Cypriot side, the statement says that ''nevertheless EU confirms its strong preference for accession to the EU by a united Cyprus. In this context it welcomes the commitment of the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots to continue to negotiate with the objective of concluding a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem by Feb. 28, 2003.''
EU leaders believe that coming weeks offer a unique opportunity to reach a settlement and urge the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to seize this opportunity, it is noted.
In case of a settlement, the Council acting by unanimity on the basis of proposals by the Commission, shall decide upon adaptations of the terms concerning the accession of Turkish side to the EU, it was added.
In the absence of a settlement, the application of the acquis to the northern part of the island shall be suspended until the Council decides unanimously otherwise, on the basis of a proposal by the Commission.
''The Council invites the Commission in consultation with the Greek Cypriot side to consider ways of promoting economic development of the northern part of Cyprus and bringing it closer to the Union.''