Treaty of Accession 2003

Countries involved in the treaty, with newly joining countries in yellow, and existing EU countries in blue.

The reconstructed ancient Stoa of Attalus, where the treaty was signed

The Treaty of Accession 2003 was the agreement between the European Union and ten countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia), concerning these countries' accession into the EU (see 2004 enlargement of the European Union). At the same time it changed a number of points which were originally laid down in the Treaty of Nice.

The treaty was signed on 16 April 2003 in Athens, Greece and it entered into force on 1 May 2004, the day of the enlargement of the European Union.

The European Union comprises a large number of overlapping legal structures which is a result of it being defined by successive international treaties.

As well as other acts which together form the current legal framework (acquis) of the EU, the Treaty of Accession 2003 modifies:

• the Treaty of Rome (establishing the European Economic Community),
• the Treaty of Rome (establishing the European Atomic Energy Community)
• the Maastricht Treaty (establishing the European Union)

Changes include the way that the Qualified Majority Voting is handled in the Council of the European Union.

The Treaty's full name in English is:

Treaty between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Member States of the European Union) and the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.

See also

Greece EU Presidency commemorative coin

• The Treaty of Accession was selected as a main motif in numerous collectors' coins. One of sample is the €10 Greece EU Presidency commemorative coin, minted in 2003 to celebrate the event. In the obvserve of the coin is written in English and Greek "Hellenic Presidency of E.U." with the official insignia of the Greek presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2003 shown in the center.

• European Union Law
• Enlargement of the European Union
• Treaty of Accession 2005
• Treaty of Accession 2011

External links

• Treaty of accession 2003
• Consolidated version of the Treaties following the Treaty of Accession
• Summary by Orgalime including voting weights under the Treaty of Accession
• Treaty concerning the accession of 10 new countries to the European Union European NAvigator