Word: membership
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...this new era of globalization, Europe proposes its small-states empire by choice: union based on worthy ideals, not purely military or economic power. In 1993, the EU came up with the Copenhagen Criteria, a roadmap to membership. The three criteria somewhat resemble America’s founding principles, only updated to present realities. To apply for membership, a country must have a democratic political system with protection for minorities and human rights and a functioning market economy. Further, it must accept the acquis, the collection of regulations from Brussels that aim at ever-closer monetary, economic, and political integration...
...sole promise of membership has brought progress to countries previously doomed to Soviet spheres of influence. Leaders in countries like Poland and Slovakia were able to justify necessary but often-painful state reforms with the promise of a brighter, more prosperous future within Europe. Almost all succeeded. Borders moved east; in its largest round of expansion in 2004, the EU acquired 10 new members. Adam Michnik, the famous chief editor of Poland’s Gazeta Wyborcza, celebrated in 2002 the confirmation of his country’s accession: “…the dream of several generations...
...Similarly, and since 2000, Croatia has been working toward the same goal, and its institutional reform has caused EU representatives to hint at membership before the end of the decade. A progress report brought out on Tuesday pointed out, however, that important issues like judicial reform and bureaucratic corruption need to be addressed before a EU flag flies in Zagreb...
...Indeed, the Mafia is still very much a family affair. Loyalty is ensured by blood rites and membership passed down through the generations of certain clans. The elder Lo Piccolo may have spelled his own doom by being in close proximity to his son for a summit on Monday. Provenzano, who evaded capture for 43 years, including a decade as Italy's most wanted man, famously lived in isolation, often in rugged conditions to better duck the authorities...
...other issues, such as expanding the European Union to include some key U.S. allies, Sarkozy may be even more at odds with Bush than Chirac had been: Even more strongly than his predecessor, Sarkozy wants to shut the E.U. door to Turkey's membership, which is directly at odds with what Washington wants. Nor would Bush have much time for Sarko's complaints about the disparities in the dollar-euro exchange rate. Instead, expect the two men to emphasize their agreement (hardly new) on fighting the good fight in Afghanistan, gradual French reintegration within NATO, and doing something about thuggery...