ABSTRACT
Applications are considered by representatives of the governments of the member states normally meeting in the formation of the General Affairs Council (GAC), but can be considered in the European Council if a summit is due or if an application is particularly controversial which, on the advice of the Commission, decide whether an application is acceptable in principle. When an application is deemed to be acceptable in principle, the GAC or the European Council asks the Commission to produce a report on whether the applicant meets the conditions of membership and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the application. Accession negotiations vary enormously in terms of how long they last. As for the negotiations between the European Union (EU) and applicants, use of the word 'negotiations' to describe the exchanges is something of a misnomer. It is so because in reality the so-called negotiations are essentially about applicants adopting and applying EU policies, laws and practices.
