Hello, Europe!
Hello, Europe!

Summary/Abstract: The EU has a set up strict criteria, which are required to be met by the candidate countries: From the Copenhagen criteria, stressing the political stability of a democratic process, through the acquis communautaire, to requirements in the sphere of minority, ecology and economic policies of the governments. Besides these system criteria, there are other equally important factors: Human and civic ones. Even though the states are the members of the EU, these states are inhabited by people, who are personally touched by this change; they will become the European citizens. Therefore, besides fulfilling the required system criteria, it is important to have a formal referendum and to seriously deal with the question, if the citizens of each country want to enter the EU (this is the first question) and, if they really know what they want. That is the second question. And it is equally important to inquire, if the citizens (not only the states) are ready for this, whether it is possible to realize their will. That is the third one. This is also closely connected with the question of compatibility of their civic societies with civic societies of the member states. And that is the fourth one.[...]

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