But what steps should our country follow and what are the benefits of opening negotiations for our country?

To be a member of the European Union, the candidate countries must align their respective legislation with that of the EU, otherwise known as “acquis communitaire”. This acquis consists of 35 different chapters or areas which include monetary policies, transport, energy, social policies, the environment, etc. What remains important to emphasize is that each of these chapters is negotiated separately, taking into consideration the progress achieved in the reforms undertaken.

Acquis communautaire is a French term referring to the cumulative body of European Community laws, comprising the EC’s objectives, substantive rules, policies and, in particular, the primary and secondary legislation and case law – all of which form part of the legal order of the European Union (EU). This includes all the treaties, regulations and directives passed by the European institutions, as well as judgements laid down by the European Court of Justice. The acquis is dynamic, constantly developing as the Community evolves, and fundamental. All Member States are bound to comply with the acquis communautaire.

The term is most often used in connection with preparations by candidate countries to join the Union. They must adopt, implement and enforce all the acquis to be allowed to join the EU. As well as changing national laws, this often means setting up or changing the necessary administrative or judicial bodies which oversee the legislation.

That part of the acquis communautaire, which is concerned with regulation of employment and industrial relations, constitutes the foundation for Europeanisation of employment and industrial relations in the Member States of the EU, and the basis for a European system of employment and industrial relations.

Each chapter is discussed separately and based on the situation or progress, measurable criteria/benchmarks can be set for the opening and closing of each chapter. The Council and the candidate country analyze national and EU laws to determine the differences between the two. The Council then determines the opening of negotiations on the “chapters” of the laws, for which it thinks there is a common and sufficient basis for negotiations.

Thus, the talks are the opportunity that candidate countries have to convince the EU that their country’s administrative capacity is ready to implement European law. The chapter is deemed closed when both parties have agreed that it has been sufficiently implemented.

Membership talks are held in Bilateral Intergovernmental Conferences between EU member states represented by the minister or ambassador to the EU of the member state holding the EU Presidency and the candidate country, which is represented by the deputy head of delegation of the candidate state, the responsible minister for EU affairs or the chief negotiator. Meetings are held at least twice every six months. Common discussion positions are defined for each of the chapters. When the talks and accompanying reforms have ended satisfactorily for both parties, the country can join the EU. After closing the negotiations for all the chapters, the results of the negotiations are established in an accession treaty. Depending on the case, the system of transitional measures allows discussions to be closed even if the adoption of the acquis has not been fully implemented.
Negotiations (Negotiations) for each chapter are based on the following elements:

Screening. The European Commission, together with the candidate country, carries out a detailed policy check (of each chapter), to determine the candidate country’s preparation. The screening for each chapter is held in two stages.

The explanatory phase is the phase where the candidate country ‚learns‛ about the requirements it must meet.

The European Commission presents the acquis based on a list of legal acts. Explanatory meetings can last from 1 to 9 working days for more voluminous chapters, such as agriculture or the environment.

The bilateral screening is the stage where the candidate country is ‘tested’ for the level of understanding and the readiness of the administration to undertake the obligations. The candidate country expresses its position whether or not it accepts the acquis and whether it will be able to implement it immediately or in the future. Experts from line ministries, as well as members of working groups present the level of approximation of local legislation with the acquis. During the presentations, potential problems for the enforcement of the acquis may be pinpointed or the European Commission may request additional information in written form.