Abstract:

Article is devoted to the criteria of membership in the European Union developed for the states and accepted in June, 1993 at a meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen and confirmed in December, 1995 at a meeting of the European Council in Madrid. The author proves use in practice of additional requirements to candidates for the EU and also analyzes possibilities of expansion of the organization.

Keywords: constitutional state, human rights, democracy, European states, membership, European Union