Copenhagen is consequently no guarantee for a high measure of structural convergence towards the current EU Member States. This need not pose problems so long as the structural and administrative challenges are really acknowledged in an expanded Union, an issue I will deal with in greater detail later.
It was – and remains – clear that the process of getting Greece back on its feet will be long and hard. However, we should also not forget that at the end of last year Greece was gradually recovering. Positive growth was being forecast for 2015, and the banks had been able to obtain capital from the markets in 2014.