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<p>Six countries currently have been awarded Candidate Status by the European Union
(EU). Of these, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey are currently in accession negotiations.
Iceland has suspended its accession negotiations. Macedonia is a candidate country
but has not yet opened accession negotiations. Last month, the European Council endorsed
the decision to grant Candidate Status to Albania. Two further countries are recognised
as potential candidates. These are Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo.</p><p>The current
governments of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have all publicly expressed an interest
in joining the EU.</p><p>The accession process is a lengthy one, involving detailed
negotiation of 35 Chapters of the EU Acquis, with candidate countries required to
adapt their administrative and institutional infrastructures and bring their national
legislation into line with EU legislation in these areas. Financing of the EU and
migration will be addressed at several stages in this process, notably in EU Common
Positions and related impact assessments by the European Commission on Chapter 2 (Free
Movement of Workers), Chapter 24 (Justice, Freedom and Security) and 33 (Financial
and Budgetary Provisions). We welcome the emphasis that EU Enlargement Commissioner,
Stefan Fule, has placed upon economic governance in the enlargement process, which
should increase economic convergence between accession countries and the EU and reduce
migratory pressures.</p><p>The UK has not produced national impact assessments on
EU enlargement in addition to the European Commission's own impact assessments. As
part of the Government's review of the balance of competences with the European Union,
however, reports are due to be published on enlargement and free movement of persons.</p>
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