Nowe państwa członkowskie i „polityczne kryteria kopenhaskie ”

Besides pointing out economical preconditions for states applying for membership in the European Union, the „Copenhagen criteria” are supposed to test and verify if candidates fulfill „the European standard of a well‑ordered state” that is democratic, respecting the rule‑of‑law, human rights and minority’s rights. The article is an reflection on „European political cohesion” of the states entering the European Union in 2004 and in the following decade. In the face of deficit of, so called, „Copenhagen mechanism”, a serious doubt arises: is it possible to evaluate impartially whether candidates and/or member states implement properly „the European standard of a well‑ordered state”? This doubt is shared by the author of the article.