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European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (DG NEAR)

European Commission - Enlargement - Acquis

The acquis is the body of common rights and obligations that is binding on all the EU member states. It is constantly evolving and comprises:

  • the content, principles and political objectives of the Treaties;
  • legislation adopted pursuant to the Treaties and the case law of the Court of Justice;
  • declarations and resolutions adopted by the Union;
  • instruments under the Common Foreign and Security Policy;
  • international agreements concluded by the Union and those entered into by the member states among themselves within the sphere of the Union's activities.

Candidate countries* have to accept the acquis before they can join the EU and make EU law part of their own national legislation. Adoption and implementation of the acquis are the basis of the accession negotiations*.

For more details, see the following sections on our website: