Directorate-General Enlargement (ELARG) - Main contents

This Directorate-General i was responsible for the negotiations on enlargement with candidate member states and maintaining relations with prospective member states. On January 1^st 2015 this DG was replaced by DG Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations. i

The main tasks of this DG were:

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  manage the negotiations process for countries joining the European Union
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  assist candidate countries and potential candidates in meeting the "Copenhagen criteria" – defined by the Treaty and the European Council – and monitor their progress
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  define and implement the EU's stabilisation and association policy in the Western Balkans
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  manage the EU's bilateral relations with candidate countries and potential candidates
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  address issues resulting from the accession of Cyprus to the EU as a divided island
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  manage the bulk of the EU’s financial assistance to candidate countries and potential candidates, as well as to new member countries during a transition period following accession
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  manage the Commission’s information and communication policy relating to enlargement in candidate countries and potential candidates