EU backs down on making entry more difficult:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
Conflicting views among member states mean that the hurdles for EU membership will not be raised after all. The proposal has been mooted in an attempt to stem the rapid growth of the EU. The European Council agreed on June 16 in Brussels to water down the text concerning the "absorption criteria" that some member states - particularly Austria, France and Germany - wanted in order to restrict the pace of expansion. EU leaders requested that the Commission draft a report on this matter before the debate on enlargement, due to be held in December.