16.03.2026

Jacques Delors Institute

A new infographic, authored by Benjamin Couteau and published by the Jacques Delors Institute in February 2026, analyzes the legal architecture and evolving logic of European Union accession treaties. It details the standard components of these treaties—including the core Act, annexes, and protocols—while highlighting that ratification by all Member States acts as a decisive and often lengthy political test. The document further explores how geopolitical pressures, particularly Ukraine’s candidacy, are shifting the enlargement model toward a “new generation” of treaties where political accession may precede full integration through extended transition periods and reinforced safeguard clauses.

Link to Couteau, B. “The accession treaty to the European Union: Architecture, logic and transformation”, Infographic, Jacques Delors Institute, March 2026