Treaty of Accession

A Treaty of Accession to the European Union is a treaty of the European Union that specifies the terms under which an applicant state becomes a member of the European Union. In addition to the Treaty of Accession, a Final Act of Accession is signed. The Final Act registers the results of the accession negotiations, including declarations made by the parties. It also laid down arrangements for the period between signing and entry into force of the treaty.

Treaties in force

At the end of 2020, the following Accession Treaties were in force:

• Treaty of Accession 1972, concerning Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom.
• Treaty of Accession 1979, concerning Greece
• Treaty of Accession 1985, concerning Portugal and Spain
• Treaty of Accession 1994, concerning Austria, Finland and Sweden
• Treaty of Accession 2003, concerning Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia
• Treaty of Accession 2005, concerning Bulgaria and Romania
• Treaty of Accession 2011, concerning Croatia

Proposed accessions

As of September 2023, the following proposals are being considered

• Accession of Albania to the European Union
• Accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union
• Accession of Georgia to the European Union
• Accession of Kosovo to the European Union
• Accession of Moldova to the European Union
• Accession of Montenegro to the European Union
• Accession of North Macedonia to the European Union
• Accession of Serbia to the European Union
• Accession of Ukraine to the European Union

Suspended or abandoned proposals

As of September 2023, these proposals are suspended or abandoned

• Accession of Iceland to the European Union
• Accession of Norway to the European Union
• Accession of Switzerland to the European Union
• Accession of Turkey to the European Union

See also

• Enlargement of the European Union
• Admission to the Union (equivalent in United States law)
• Withdrawal from the European Union (secession)