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Treaty of Accession 2003

Treaty concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union Treaty between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hellenic Republic, the Kingdom of Spain, the French Republic, Ireland, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic of Austria, the Portuguese Republic, the Republic of Finland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Member States of the European Union) and the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.
Countries involved in the treaty, with newly joining countries in yellow, and existing EU countries in blue.
Type	Accession treaty
Signed	16 April 2003
Location	Athens
Effective	1 May 2004
Condition	Ratification by the 10 acceding countries and the 15 member countries of the European Union
Signatories	European Union (15 members) Cyprus Czech Republic Estonia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Malta Poland Slovakia Slovenia
Ratifiers	25 / 25
Depositary	Government of the Italian Republic
Languages	Czech,Danish,Dutch,English,Estonian,Finnish,French,German,Greek,Hungarian,Italian,Latvian,Lithuanian,Maltese,Polish,Portuguese,Slovak,Slovene,Spanish,Swedish
After amendments made by the Athens Treaty: Consolidated version of TEC (2006) Consolidated version of TEU (2006) Consolidated version of Protocols & Annexes (2006)

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TheTreaty of Accession 2003 was the agreement between themember states of the European Union and ten countries (Czech Republic,Estonia,Cyprus,Latvia,Lithuania,Hungary,Malta,Poland,Slovenia,Slovakia), concerning these countries'accession into the EU (see2004 enlargement of the European Union). At the same time it changed a number of points which were originally laid down in theTreaty of Nice.The treaty was signed on 16 April 2003 inAthens,Greece and itentered into force on 1 May 2004, resulting inenlargement of the European Union with 10 states.

The European Union comprises a large number of overlapping legal structures which is a result of it being defined by successive international treaties.

As well asother acts^[1] which together form the current legal framework (acquis) of the EU, the Treaty of Accession 2003 modifies:

• theTreaty of Rome (establishing theEuropean Economic Community),
• theEuratom Treaty (establishing theEuropean Atomic Energy Community)
• theMaastricht Treaty (establishing theEuropean Union)

All changes to the above treaties are made by article 11-19 in part two of the accession treaty. Beside of revising voting weights and the number of member state representatives at all European institutions, the most notable change outlined howQualified Majority Voting shall be handled in theCouncil of the European Union. As from 1 November 2004, whenever the Council vote to adopt a decision by Qualified Majority, this need support both from a majority of member states which at the same time represents minimum 232 out of 321 weighted votes (72,3%), while also as a third requirement those states must represent at least 62% of the total population of the Union. Otherwise the decision in question shall not be adopted.

The Treaty's full name in English is:

Treaty between the Kingdom ofBelgium, the Kingdom ofDenmark, the Federal Republic ofGermany, theHellenic Republic, the Kingdom ofSpain, theFrench Republic,Ireland, theItalian Republic, the Grand Duchy ofLuxembourg, theKingdom of the Netherlands, the Republic ofAustria, thePortuguese Republic, the Republic ofFinland, the Kingdom ofSweden, theUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Member States of the European Union) and theCzech Republic, the Republic ofEstonia, the Republic ofCyprus, the Republic ofLatvia, the Republic ofLithuania, the Republic ofHungary, the Republic ofMalta, the Republic ofPoland, the Republic ofSlovenia, theSlovak Republic, concerning the accession of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic to the European Union.^[2]

• The Treaty of Accession was selected as a main motif in numerous collectors' coins. One of sample is the €10Greece EU Presidency commemorative coin, minted in 2003 to celebrate the event. In the obverse of the coin is written in English and Greek "Hellenic Presidency of E.U." with the official insignia of the Greek presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2003 shown in the center.
• European integration
• European Union law
• 2004 enlargement of the European Union
• Treaty of Accession 2005
• Treaty of Accession 2011

• Treaty of accession 2003
• Consolidated version of the Treaties following the Treaty of Accession
• Summary by Orgalime including voting weights under the Treaty of Accession
• Treaty concerning the accession of 10 new countries to the European Union on CVCE : European integration studies website

• Treaties of Accession to the European Union
• Treaties of Estonia
• Treaties of the Czech Republic
• Treaties of Latvia
• Treaties of Cyprus
• Treaties of Lithuania
• Treaties of Malta
• Treaties of Slovenia
• Treaties of Slovakia
• History of Poland (1989–present)
• 2000s in Athens
• Treaties concluded in 2003
• Treaties entered into force in 2004
• 2003 in the European Union
• 2004 in the European Union
• Treaties of Poland
• Treaties of Hungary

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