According to the Copenhagen criteria, membership of the European Union is open to any European country that is a stable, free-market liberal democracy that respects the rule of law and human rights. Furthermore, it has to be willing to accept all the obligations of membership, such as adopting all previously agreed law (the 170,000 pages of acquis communautaire) and switching to the euro.
The Copenhagen criteria stipulate that EU membership is accessible to any European nation that is a stable, free-market liberal democracy that respects the rule of law and human rights. Furthermore, it must be willing to take on all the commitments of membership, including adopting existing laws (the 170,000-page acquis communautaire) and transitioning to the euro.