Word: membership
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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...
...charges were not identical. "Different people were implicated, different criminal activities committed - the Italian conviction doesn't include all the activities of the group that developed in Spain," he said. According to Zaragoza's interpretation, Osman was involved with two separatist organizations, and can therefore be convicted separately for membership in each...
...judges' ruling on the charge that he belonged to a terrorist organization. Lead judge Javier Gómez Bermúdez, writing for the court, grounded that acquittal on the principle of non bis in idem, or double jeopardy, arguing that because Osman has already been convicted for membership in a terrorist organization by an Italian court, he cannot be found guilty for the same crime by the Spanish...