Preparation for membership
The establishment of diplomatic relations
between Hungary and the European Communities took place only in
1988. On 16th December 1991, a first agreement of association
is signed with the European Community.
On 31st March
1994, Hungary became the first country of the communist regime
to present its request for official adhesion into the EEC.
On 31st March 1998, accession negotiations
were started with Brussels.
One year later, the European Commission declared that Hungary
corresponded to the criteria of accession.
At the European Council of Copenhagen in
December 2002, it was decided that the entry of Hungary and the
nine other countries in the European Union would be made on May
1, 2004.
The Copenhagen Criteria,
defined at the European Council of Copenhagen in April 1993
"Membership requires that the candidate country
has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy,
the rule of law, human rights and respect for and, protection
of minorities, the existence of a functioning market economy as
well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market
forces within the Union. Membership presupposes the candidate's
ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence
to the aims of political, economic and monetary union."
(Excerpt from the Copenhagen Presidency Conclusions)
Hungary in the international community
Member of the UN since 1955
WTO (ex-GATT ) 1973
IMF 1982
World Bank 1982
OSCE
OECD 1996
Council of Europe 1990
NATO 1999 |
The referendum of the 12th April 2003
Hungary has voted “yes” to EU accession.
45,6 % of voters turned out for the referendum on the 12th
April 2003 and 83,8 % of them backed EU membership. This result
authorized the Hungarian government to sign the Treaty of Accession
on April 16, 2003 in Athens.
Hungary in Europe
Over several centuries
Hungary, located in the heart of Europe, was one of the economic
and cultural centres of the European continent. Hungary was also
crossed by almost all European architectural currents. Exceptional
monuments are the result of it.
Since 1989, Hungary has become reintegrated in the European exchanges
very quickly; today, three quarters of its exports are intended
for the markets of the Union. |
