The so-called Copenhagen criteria mandate that to join the EU, countries must achieve "stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect and protection for minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union.
Takozvani kriteriji iz Copenhagena određuju kako zemlje za priključivanje EU moraju ostvariti "stabilnost institucija koje jamče demokraciju, vladavinu zakona, ljudska prava te poštivanje i zaštitu manjina, postojanje funkcionirajuće tržišne ekonomije i sposobnost nošenja s pritiscima konkurencije i tržišnim silama unutar Unije.