An enlarged EU for the strengthening of unity and the enchancement of diversity ; Pro Europe - the global reach and dynamic power of the European Union

Open Access

Abstract

The road to the next historic enlargement of European Union has been fraught with and obstacles. The enlargement is scheduled to take place in 2004 is unprecedented in the history of the European Union: never have there been so many countries (ten!) joining together this economic and political union; never have so many countries waited for so long together (twelve years till now, since the application . process started) in order to see their dream come ' true. I have used the word "dream" because in 1990, when the 10 acceding countries had handed in their application, the majority of the populations in the ten Baltic, Eastern and Southern states considered the Europe of the Twelve to be a haven of peace, democracy and economic prosperity, very much removed from the state controlled bureaucracy and economies of most of the applicant countries. So much so, that in 1990, the opinion polls in these countries registered an overwhelming majority of the populations in favour of swift EU accession. ; peer-reviewed