Treaty of Accession

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The Treaty of Accession is a treaty of the European Union that specifies the terms under which an applicant state becomes a member of the European Union.

Definition and Purpose

The Treaty of Accession constitutes the formal conclusion of accession negotiations between a candidate country and the EU. It lays down the conditions and modalities of accession, including the rights and obligations of the new Member States and the adjustments of the European institutions. An Accession Treaty is an amendment to the EU Treaties and thus leads to a change in primary law.

Content

The Treaty of Accession usually contains numerous transitional provisions, as agreed during the accession negotiations between the respective candidate country and the EU. It defines the terms under which an applicant state becomes a member of the European Union, including the rights and obligations of the new Member States and the adjustments of the European institutions.

Procedures

Once the accession negotiations have been concluded, the European Commission submits a proposal for the Treaty of Accession to the Council of the European Union. The Council then adopts a decision on the signing of the Treaty, which is subsequently signed by the candidate country and the EU Member States. The Treaty shall enter into force on the specified date following the completion of the ratification process.

Final Act

In addition to the Treaty of Accession, a Final Act of Accession is signed, which contains the final agreements reached during the accession negotiations. This act also includes the declarations made by the candidate country and the EU Member States.

Entry into Force

The Treaty of Accession enters into force on the specified date following the completion of the ratification process. It binds all EU Member States to the obligations contained therein, constituting a change in primary law.

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