With whom are we negotiating?

The European Union enlargement process took another major step forward on October 3, 2005 when accession negotiations were opened with Turke !"#$ %&' and (roatia !")* %&' + ,fter ears of preparation decades, in the case of Turke - the two candidates formall opened the ne.t stage of the accession process+

How do the negotiations proceed?

The accession negotiations will be conducted according to a /0egotiating 1ramework 2(roatia !33 %&' 3 Turke !42 %&' 5 6 that sets out the method and the guiding principles of the negotiations, in line with the 7ecember 2004 European (ouncil conclusions+ The substance of negotiations will be conducted in an 8ntergo9ernmental (onference with the participation of all :ember ;tates on the one hand and the candidate ;tate on the other+ 8n order to ensure progress in the negotiations, the candidate countries will also need to make progress on the ground in meeting the re<uirements for membership, most importantl the (openhagen criteria= "+ the stabilit of institutions guaranteeing democrac , the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities> 2+ the e.istence of a functioning market econom market forces within the Union> and the capacit to cope with competiti9e pressure and

3+ the abilit to take on the obligations of membership, including adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetar union and the administrati9e capacit to effecti9el appl and implement the ac<uis+

First step: analytical examination (screening) of the acquis

The (ommission has launched the anal tical e.amination, commonl called screening 2currentl launched for (roatia and Turke 5 forms the first phase of accession negotiations+ This process which takes around a ear allows candidate countries to familiarise themsel9es with the ac<uis and the (ommission and the :ember ;tates to e9aluate the degree of preparedness of candidate countries prior to negotiations+ ;creening is conducted through meetings+ There are two kinds of meetings for each chapter= first e.planator meetings with all candidate countries together and then bilateral meetings with each of the countries separatel + 8n the e.planator sessions the (ommission e.plains the ac<uis to the candidate countries+ ,ppro.imatel one month after the e.planator meeting, a bilateral meeting 2countr session5 is held with each countr indi9iduall + 7uring that session, it is the candidate countr who e.plains its degree of preparedness and its plans with regard to the chapter in <uestion+ The information gathered in these meetings ser9es as a basis for :; to decide on the opening of accession negotiations on indi9idual chapters+ 1or the purposes of screening and the subse<uent negotiations, the ac<uis is broken down into a number of chapters, each co9ering a specific polic area+ The ac<uis can be found in the EU?@Ae. director list of (ommunit legislation 2click= BAegislation in forceB, and then B7irector of (ommunit legislationB5+ This list of ac<uis is classified b 20 headings and is updated once a month+ The table of correspondence !20 %&' pro9ides information on the link between negotiating chapters and the ac<uis in the EU?@Ae. director of (ommunit legislation+

The content of the acquis

The acquis is constantl e9ol9ing and includes=

the content, principles and political objecti9es of the Treaties on which the Union is founded> legislation and decisions adopted pursuant to the Treaties, and the case law of the (ourt of Custice> other acts, legall binding or not, adopted within the Union framework, such as interinstitutional agreements, resolutions, statements, recommendations, guidelines> joint actions, common positions, declarations, conclusions and other acts within the framework of the common foreign and securit polic > joint actions, joint positions, con9entions signed, resolutions, statements and other acts agreed within the framework of justice and home affairs> international agreements concluded b the (ommunities, the (ommunities jointl with their :ember ;tates, the Union, and those concluded b the :ember ;tates among themsel9es with regard to Union acti9ities+

8n order to become a :ember ;tate, both countries will ha9e to accept the ac<uis of the Union+ ,s in all pre9ious accession negotiations, specific arrangements ma be agreed+ 8n all areas of the ac<uis, the candidate countries must bring their institutions, management capacit and administrati9e and judicial s stems up to EU standards, both at national and regional le9el+ This will allow them to implement the ac<uis effecti9el upon accession and, where necessar , to be able to implement it effecti9el in good time before accession+ ,t the general le9el, this re<uires a well@functioning and stable public administration built on an efficient and impartial ci9il ser9ice, and an independent and efficient judicial s stem+ 7etailed indications for each specific area of the ac<uis are gi9en in the guide to the main administrati9e structures re<uired for implementing the EU ac<uis !4"0 %&' +

Chapters of the acquis

Chapter : Free mo!ement of goods

The principle of the free mo9ement of goods implies that products must be traded freel from one part of the Union to another+ 8n a number of sectors this general principle is complemented b a harmonised regulator framework, following the /old approach6 2imposing precise product specifications5 or the /new approach6 2imposing general product re<uirements5+ The harmonised European product legislation, which needs to be transposed, represents the largest part of the ac<uis under this chapter+ 8n addition, sufficient administrati9e capacit is essential to notif restrictions on trade and to appl horiDontal and procedural measures in areas such as standardisation, conformit assessment, accreditation, metrolog and market sur9eillance+

Chapter ": Freedom of mo!ement for wor#ers

The ac<uis under this chapter pro9ides that EU citiDens of one :ember ;tate ha9e the right to work in another :ember ;tate+ EU migrant workers must be treated in the same wa as national workers in relation to working conditions, social and ta. ad9antages+ This ac<uis also includes a mechanism to coordinate national social securit pro9isions for insured persons and their famil members mo9ing to another :ember ;tate+

Chapter $: %ight of esta&lishment and freedom to pro!ide ser!ices

:ember ;tates must ensure that the right of establishment of EU national and legal persons in an :ember ;tate and the freedom to pro9ide cross@border ser9ices is not hampered b national legislation, subject to the e.ceptions set out in the Treat + The ac<uis also harmonises the rules concerning regulated professions to ensure the mutual recognition of <ualifications and diplomas between :ember ;tates> for certain regulated professions a common minimum training curriculum must be followed in order to ha9e the <ualification automaticall recognised in an EU :ember ;tate+ ,s regards postal ser9ices, the ac<uis also aims at opening up the postal ser9ices sector to competition in a gradual and controlled wa , within a regulator framework which assures a uni9ersal ser9ice+

Chapter ': Free mo!ement of capital

:ember ;tates must remo9e, with some e.ceptions, all restrictions on mo9ement of capital both within the EU and between :ember ;tates and third countries+ The ac<uis also includes rules concerning cross@border pa ments and the e.ecution of transfer orders concerning securities+ The directi9e on the fight against mone laundering and terrorist financing re<uires banks and other economic operators, particularl when dealing in high@9alue items and with large cash transactions, to identif customers and report certain transactions+ , ke re<uirement to combat financial crime is the creation of effecti9e administrati9e and enforcement capacit , including co@operation between super9isor , law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities+

Chapter (: )u&lic procurement

The ac<uis on public procurement includes general principles of transparenc , e<ual treatment, free competition and non@discrimination+ 8n addition, specific EU rules appl to the coordination of the award of public contracts for works, ser9ices and supplies, for traditional contracting entities and for special sectors+ The ac<uis also specifies rules on re9iew procedures and the a9ailabilit of remedies+ ;pecialised implementing bodies are re<uired+

Chapter *: Company law

The compan law ac<uis includes rules on the formation, registration, merger and di9ision of companies+ 8n the area of financial reporting, the ac<uis specifies rules for the presentation of annual and consolidated accounts, including simplified rules for small@ and medium@siDed enterprises+ The application of 8nternational ,ccounting ;tandards is mandator for some public interest entities+ 8n addition, the ac<uis specifies rules for the appro9al, professional integrit and independence of statutor audits+

Chapter +: ,ntellectual property law

The ac<uis on intellectual propert rights specifies harmonised rules for the legal protection of cop right and related rights+ ;pecific pro9isions appl to the protection of databases, computer programs, semiconductor topographies, satellite broadcasting and cable retransmission+ 8n the field of industrial propert rights, the ac<uis sets out harmonised rules for the legal protection of trademarks and designs+ Other specific pro9isions appl for biotechnological in9entions, pharmaceuticals and plant protection products+ The ac<uis also establishes a (ommunit trademark and (ommunit design+ 1inall , the ac<uis contains harmonised rules for the enforcement of both cop right and related rights as well as industrial propert rights+ ,de<uate implementing mechanisms are re<uired, in particular effecti9e enforcement capacit +

Chapter -: Competition policy

The competition ac<uis co9ers both anti@trust and state aid control policies+ 8t includes rules and procedures to fight anti@competiti9e beha9iour b companies 2restricti9e agreements between undertakings and abuse of dominant position5, to scrutinise mergers between undertakings, and to pre9ent go9ernments from granting state aid which distorts competition in the internal market+ Eenerall , the competition rules are directl applicable in the whole Union, and :ember ;tates must co@operate full with the (ommission in enforcing them+

Chapter .: Financial ser!ices

The ac<uis in the field of financial ser9ices includes rules for the authorisation, operation and super9ision of financial institutions in the areas of banking, insurance, supplementar pensions, in9estment ser9ices and securities markets+ 1inancial institutions can operate across the EU in accordance with the Fhome countr controlG principle either b establishing branches or b pro9iding ser9ices on a cross@border basis+

Chapter

/: ,nformation society and media

The ac<uis includes specific rules on electronic communications, on information societ ser9ices, in particular electronic commerce and conditional access ser9ices, and on audio@9isual ser9ices+ 8n the field of electronic communications, the ac<uis aims to eliminate obstacles to the effecti9e operation of the internal market in telecommunications ser9ices and networks, to promote competition and to safeguard consumer interests in the sector, including uni9ersal a9ailabilit of modern ser9ices+ ,s regards audio@9isual polic , the ac<uis re<uires the legislati9e alignment with the Tele9ision without 1rontiers 7irecti9e, which creates the conditions for the free mo9ement of tele9ision broadcasts within the EU+ The ac<uis aims to the establishment of a transparent, predictable and effecti9e regulator framework for public and pri9ate broadcasting in line with European standards+ The ac<uis also re<uires the capacit to participate in the communit programmes :edia Hlus and :edia Training+

Chapter

: 0griculture and rural de!elopment

The agriculture chapter co9ers a large number of binding rules, man of which are directl applicable+ The proper application of these rules and their effecti9e enforcement and control b an efficient public administration are essential for the functioning of the common agricultural polic 2(,H5+ ?unning the (,H re<uires the setting up of management and <ualit s stems such as a pa ing agenc and the integrated administration and control s stem 28,(;5, and the capacit to implement rural de9elopment measures+ :ember ;tates must be able to appl the EU legislation on direct farm support schemes and to implement the common market organisations for 9arious agricultural products+

Chapter

": Food safety1 !eterinary and phytosanitary policy

This chapter co9ers detailed rules in the area of food safet + The general foodstuffs polic sets h giene rules for foodstuff production+ 1urthermore, the ac<uis pro9ides detailed rules in the 9eterinar field, which are essential for safeguarding animal health, animal welfare and safet of food of animal origin in the internal market+ 8n the ph tosanitar field, EU rules co9er issues such as <ualit of seed, plant protection material, harmful organisms and animal nutrition+

Chapter

$: Fisheries

The ac<uis on fisheries consists of regulations, which do not re<uire transposition into national legislation+ Iowe9er, it re<uires the introduction of measures to prepare the administration and the operators for participation in the common fisheries polic , which co9ers market polic , resource and fleet management, inspection and control, structural actions and state aid control+ 8n some cases, e.isting fisheries agreements and con9entions with third countries or international organisations need to be adapted+

Chapter

': Transport policy

EU transport legislation aims at impro9ing the functioning of the internal market b promoting safe, efficient and en9ironmentall sound and userfriendl transport ser9ices+ The transport ac<uis co9ers the sectors of road transport, railwa s, inland waterwa s, combined transport, a9iation, and maritime transport+ 8t relates to technical and safet standards, securit , social standards, state aid control and market liberalisation in the conte.t of the internal transport market+

Chapter

(: 2nergy

EU energ polic objecti9es include the impro9ement of competiti9eness, securit of energ supplies and the protection of the en9ironment+ The energ ac<uis consists of rules and policies, notabl regarding competition and state aids 2including in the coal sector5, the internal energ market 2opening up of the electricit and gas

markets, promotion of renewable energ radiation protection+

sources5, energ

efficienc , nuclear energ

and nuclear safet

and

Chapter

*: Taxation

The ac<uis on ta.ation co9ers e.tensi9el the area of indirect ta.ation, namel 9alue@added ta. 2J,T5 and e.cise duties+ 8t la s down the scope, definitions and principles of J,T+ E.cise duties on tobacco products, alcoholic be9erages and energ products are also subject to EU legislation+ ,s concerns direct ta.ation, the ac<uis co9ers some aspects of ta.ing income from sa9ings of indi9iduals and of corporate ta.es+ 1urthermore, :ember ;tates are committed to compl ing with the principles of the (ode of (onduct for &usiness Ta.ation, aimed at the elimination of harmful ta. measures+ ,dministrati9e co@operation and mutual assistance between :ember ;tates is aimed at ensuring a smooth functioning of the internal market as concerns ta.ation and pro9ides tools to pre9ent intra@(ommunit ta. e9asion and ta. a9oidance+ :ember ;tates must ensure that the necessar implementing and enforcement capacities, including links to the rele9ant EU computerised ta.ation s stems, are in place+

Chapter

+: 2conomic and monetary policy

The ac<uis in the area of economic and monetar polic contains specific rules re<uiring the independence of central banks in :ember ;tates, prohibiting direct financing of the public sector b the central banks and prohibiting pri9ileged access of the public sector to financial institutions+ :ember ;tates are e.pected to co@ ordinate their economic policies and are subject to the ;tabilit and Erowth Hact on fiscal sur9eillance+ 0ew :ember ;tates are also committed to compl ing with the criteria laid down in the Treat in order to be able to adopt the euro in due course after accession+ Until then, the will participate in the Economic and :onetar Union as a :ember ;tate with a derogation from the use of the euro and shall treat their e.change rates as a matter of common concern+

Chapter

-: 3tatistics

The ac<uis in the field of statistics re<uires the e.istence of a statistical infrastructure based on principles such as impartialit , reliabilit , transparenc , confidentialit of indi9idual data and dissemination of official statistics+ 0ational statistical institutes act as reference and anchor points for the methodolog , production and dissemination of statistical information+ The ac<uis co9ers methodolog , classifications and procedures for data collection in 9arious areas such as macro@economic and price statistics, demographic and social statistics, regional statistics, and statistics on business, transport, e.ternal trade, agriculture, en9ironment, and science and technolog + 0o transposition into national legislation is needed as the majorit of the ac<uis takes the form of regulations+

Chapter

.: 3ocial policy and employment

The ac<uis in the social field includes minimum standards in the areas of labour law, e<ualit , health and safet at work and anti@discrimination+ The :ember ;tates participate in social dialogue at European le9el and in EU polic processes in the areas of emplo ment polic , social inclusion and social protection+ The European ;ocial 1und is the main financial tool through which the EU supports the implementation of its emplo ment strateg and contributes to social inclusion efforts 2implementation rules are co9ered under (hapter 22, which deals with all structural instruments5+

Chapter "/: 2nterprise and industrial policy

EU industrial polic seeks to promote industrial strategies enhancing competiti9eness b speeding up adjustment to structural change, encouraging an en9ironment fa9ourable to business creation and growth throughout the EU as well as domestic and foreign in9estments+ 8t also aims to impro9e the o9erall business en9ironment in which small and medium siDed enterprises 2;:Es5 operate+ 8t in9ol9es pri9atisation and

restructuring 2see also (hapter $ - (ompetition polic 5+ EU industrial polic mainl consists of polic principles and industrial polic communications+ EU consultation forums and (ommunit programmes, as well as communications, recommendations and e.changes of best practices relating to ;:Es aim to impro9e the formulation and coordination of enterprise polic across the internal market on the basis of a common definition of ;:Es+ The implementation of enterprise and industrial polic re<uires ade<uate administrati9e capacit at the national, regional and local le9el+

Chapter " : Trans42uropean networ#s

This chapter co9ers the Trans@European 0etworks polic in the areas of transport, telecommunications and energ infrastructures, including the (ommunit guidelines on the de9elopment of the Trans@European 0etworks and the support measures for the de9elopment of projects of common interest+ The establishment and de9elopment of Trans@European 0etworks and the promotion of proper interconnection and interoperabilit of national networks aim to take full ad9antage of the internal market and to contribute to economic growth and the creation of emplo ment in the European Union+

Chapter "": %egional policy and coordination of structural instruments

The ac<uis under this chapter consists mostl of framework and implementing regulations, which do not re<uire transposition into national legislation+ The define the rules for drawing up, appro9ing and implementing ;tructural 1unds and (ohesion 1und programmes reflecting each countr Gs territorial organisation+ These programmes are negotiated and agreed with the (ommission, but implementation is the responsibilit of the :ember ;tates+ :ember ;tates must respect EU legislation in general, for e.ample in the areas of public procurement, competition and en9ironment, when selecting and implementing projects+ :ember ;tates must ha9e an institutional framework in place and ade<uate administrati9e capacit to ensure programming, implementation, monitoring and e9aluation in a sound and cost@effecti9e manner from the point of 9iew of management and financial control+

Chapter "$: 5udiciary and fundamental rights

EU policies in the area of judiciar and fundamental rights aim to maintain and further de9elop the Union as an area of freedom, securit and justice+ The establishment of an independent and efficient judiciar is of paramount importance+ 8mpartialit , integrit and a high standard of adjudication b the courts are essential for safeguarding the rule of law+ This re<uires a firm commitment to eliminating e.ternal influences o9er the judiciar and to de9oting ade<uate financial resources and training+ Aegal guarantees for fair trial procedures must be in place+ E<uall , :ember ;tates must fight corruption effecti9el , as it represents a threat to the stabilit of democratic institutions and the rule of law+ , solid legal framework and reliable institutions are re<uired to underpin a coherent polic of pre9ention and deterrence of corruption+ :ember ;tates must ensure respect for fundamental rights and EU citiDensG rights, as guaranteed b the ac<uis and b the 1undamental ?ights (harter+

Chapter "': 5ustice1 freedom and security

EU policies aim to maintain and further de9elop the Union as an area of freedom, securit and justice+ On issues such as border control, 9isas, e.ternal migration, as lum, police cooperation, the fight against organised crime and against terrorism, cooperation in the field of drugs, customs cooperation and judicial cooperation in criminal and ci9il matters, :ember ;tates need to be properl e<uipped to ade<uatel implement the growing framework of common rules+ ,bo9e all, this re<uires a strong and well@integrated administrati9e capacit within the law enforcement agencies and other rele9ant bodies, which must attain the necessar standards+ , professional, reliable and efficient police organisation is of paramount importance+ The most detailed part of the EUGs policies on justice, freedom and securit is the ;chengen ac<uis, which entails the lifting of internal border controls in the EU+ Iowe9er, for the new :ember ;tates substantial parts of the ;chengen ac<uis are implemented following a separate (ouncil 7ecision to be taken after accession+

Chapter "(: 3cience and research

The ac<uis in the field of science and research does not re<uire transposition of EU rules into the national legal order+ 8mplementation capacit relates to the e.istence of the necessar conditions for effecti9e participation in the EUGs 1ramework Hrogrammes+ 8n order to ensure the full and successful association with the 1ramework Hrogrammes, :ember ;tates need to ensure the necessar implementing capacities in the field of research and technological de9elopment including ade<uate staffing+

Chapter "*: 2ducation and culture

The areas of education, training, outh and culture are primaril the competence of the :ember ;tates+ , cooperation framework on education and training policies aims to con9erge national policies and the attainment of shared objecti9es through an open method of coordination, which led to the /Education and Training 20"06 program, which integrates all actions in the fields of education and training at European le9el+ ,s regards cultural di9ersit , :ember ;tates need to uphold the principles enshrined in ,rticle "5" of the E( Treat and ensure that their international commitments allow for preser9ing and promoting cultural di9ersit + :ember ;tates need to ha9e the legal, administrati9e and financial framework and necessar implementing capacit in place to ensure sound financial management of the education, training and outh (ommunit programmes 2currentl Aeonardo da Jinci, ;ocrates, Kouth5+

Chapter "+: 2n!ironment

EU en9ironment polic aims to promote sustainable de9elopment and protect the en9ironment for present and future generations+ 8t is based on pre9enti9e action, the polluter pa s principle, fighting en9ironmental damage at source, shared responsibilit and the integration of en9ironmental protection into other EU policies+ The ac<uis comprises o9er 200 major legal acts co9ering horiDontal legislation, water and air <ualit , waste management, nature protection, industrial pollution control and risk management, chemicals and geneticall modified organisms 2E:Os5, noise and forestr + (ompliance with the ac<uis re<uires significant in9estment+ , strong and well@e<uipped administration at national and local le9el is imperati9e for the application and enforcement of the en9ironment ac<uis+

Chapter "-: Consumer and health protection

The consumer protection ac<uis co9ers the safet of consumer goods as well as the protection of the economic interests of consumers in a number of specific sectors+ :ember ;tates need to transpose the ac<uis into national law and to put in place independent administrati9e structures and enforcement powers which allow for effecti9e market sur9eillance and enforcement of the ac<uis+ ,ppropriate judicial and out@of@court dispute resolution mechanisms as well as consumer information and education and a role for consumer organisations should be ensured as well+ 8n addition, this chapter co9ers specific binding rules in the area of public health+

Chapter ".: Customs union

The customs union ac<uis consists almost e.clusi9el of legislation which is directl binding on the :ember ;tates+ 8t includes the EU (ustoms (ode and its implementing pro9isions, the combined nomenclature, common customs tariff and pro9isions on tariff classification, customs dut relief, dut suspensions and certain tariff <uotas, and other pro9isions such as those on customs control of counterfeit and pirated goods, drugs precursors, e.port of cultural goods as well as on mutual administrati9e assistance in customs matters and transit+ :ember ;tates must ensure that the necessar implementing and enforcement capacities, including links to the rele9ant EU computerised customs s stems, are in place+ The customs ser9ices must also ensure ade<uate capacities to implement and enforce special rules laid down in related areas of the ac<uis such as e.ternal trade+

Chapter $/: 2xternal relations

The ac<uis in this field consists mainl of directl binding EU legislation which does not re<uire transposition into national law+ This EU legislation results from the EUGs multilateral and bilateral commercial commitments, as well as from a number of autonomous preferential trade measures+ 8n the area of humanitarian aid and de9elopment polic , :ember ;tates need to compl with EU legislation and international commitments and ensure the capacit to participate in the EUGs de9elopment and humanitarian policies+ ,pplicant countries are re<uired to progressi9el align its policies towards third countries and its positions within international organisations with the policies and positions adopted b the Union and its :ember ;tates+

Chapter $ : Foreign1 security and defence policy

The common foreign and securit polic 2(1;H5 and the European securit and defence polic 2E;7H5 are based on legal acts, including legall binding international agreements, and on political documents+ The ac<uis consists of political declarations, actions and agreements+ :ember ;tates must be able to conduct political dialogue in the framework of (1;H, to align with EU statements, to take part in EU actions and to appl agreed sanctions and restricti9e measures+ ,pplicant countries are re<uired to progressi9el align with EU statements, and to appl sanctions and restricti9e measures when and where re<uired+

Chapter $": Financial control

The ac<uis under this chapter relates to the adoption of internationall agreed and EU compliant principles, standards and methods of public internal financial control 2H81(5 that should appl to the internal control s stems of the entire public sector, including the spending of EU funds+ 8n particular, the ac<uis re<uires the e.istence of effecti9e and transparent financial management and control s stems 2including ade<uate e.@ante, ongoing and e.@post financial control or inspection5> functionall independent internal audit s stems> the rele9ant organisational structures 2including central co@ordination5> an operationall and financiall independent e.ternal audit organisation to assess, amongst others, the <ualit of the newl established H81( s stems+ This chapter also includes the ac<uis on the protection of EU financial interests and the fight against fraud in9ol9ing EU funds+

Chapter $$: Financial and &udgetary pro!isions

This chapter co9ers the rules concerning the financial resources necessar for the funding of the EU budget 2Fown resourcesG5+ These resources are made up mainl from contributions from :ember ;tates based on traditional own resources from customs and agricultural duties and sugar le9ies> a resource based on 9alue@ added ta.> and a resource based on the le9el of gross national income+ :ember ;tates must ha9e appropriate administrati9e capacit to ade<uatel co@ordinate and ensure the correct calculation, collection, pa ment and control of own resources+ The ac<uis in this area is directl binding and does not re<uire transposition into national law+

Chapter $' 4 ,nstitutions

This chapter co9ers the institutional and procedural rules of the EU+ Lhen a countr joins the EU, adaptations need to be made to these rules to ensure this countr Ms e<ual representation in EU institutions 2European Harliament, (ouncil, (ommission, (ourt of Custice5 and other bodies and the good functioning of decision@ making procedures 2such as 9oting rights, official languages and other procedural rules5 as well as elections to the European Harliament+ EU rules in this chapter do not affect the internal organisation of a :ember ;tate, but acceding countries need to ensure that the are able to participate full in EU decision@making b setting up the necessar bodies and mechanisms at home and b electing or appointing well@prepared representati9es to the EU institutions+ ,fter concluding the accession negotiations, specific rules for the interim period until accession ensure a smooth integration of the countr into EU structures= an information and consultation procedure is put

in place and, once the ,ccession Treat is signed, the acceding countr is granted acti9e obser9er status in the European Harliament and (ouncil as well as in (ommission committees+

Chapter $( 4 6ther issues

This chapter includes miscellaneous issues which come up during the negotiations but which are not co9ered under an other negotiating chapter+ 0o such issues ha9e been identified for the moment+ (hapter 35 is dealt with at the end of the negoating process+