EU Reaches Landmark Expansion Deal in Europe - Interesting News

Interesting World News

EU Reaches Landmark Expansion Deal

The European Union's historic eastward enlargement is on course, as 10 candidate countries are judged fit to join by 2004.
October 9, 2002

The European Union has taken a major step towards expanding into central and eastern Europe - a move that will, barring last-minute problems, bring 10 new members by 2004.

Candidates shortlist
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Estonia
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Malta
Poland
Slovakia
Slovenia

Thirteen years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the European Commission has approved a report judging 10 countries ready for membership.

Despite the stamp of approval, there are still major hurdles to overcome before enlargement goes ahead.

Ireland must vote in a referendum to adopt the treaty of Nice - the treaty which outlines expansion - after rejecting it last time round.

And referenda on membership must be held in several applicant countries, many of whom are beginning to lose their enthusiasm for the European project.

Concerns also remain about the effect the arrival of so many economically weak countries will have.

Three other hopefuls have not made the grade for the 2004 expansion. Bulgaria and Romania hope to join in 2007 but Turkey has been given no timetable for membership.

Jubilation

"The historic and political arguments in favour of enlargement are compelling. It will also produce substantial economic benefits," a draft copy of the Commission's report says.

The Foreign Minister of Slovenia, which is among the best prepared of the future members, said that joining the EU was a historic achievement.

"Slovenia was, maybe 12 years back, still a socialist country. Today it's a modern economy and we have just got this report saying that we are good students," Dmitrij Rupel told the BBC.

Slovenia had fulfilled the political and economic criteria, which was very important, Mr Rupel said.

"But the first and utmost important thing is that we are country that has credibility," he said.

However, the whole project could be stopped in its tracks by the 19 October referendum in Ireland.

Voters there already rejected the Nice Treaty in a vote in June 2001 and it must be ratified by all existing EU members to come into force.

If the Treaty is again turned down, "there is no Plan B," EU spokesman Jonathan Faull told the Associated Press.

Unresolved issues

Despite the long haul to make expansion a viable project, there are remaining doubts and difficulties.

The expansion would add 75 million people to the 400 million already living in the EU, but the increase of population by nearly 20% adds no more than 5% to the Union's wealth.

Opponents of enlargement fear the arrival of the poor neighbours will drain money from the EU budget.

The complicated issue of how to share out the EU's 80bn euro ($79bn) aid budget for farmers and poor regions has still to be resolved.

There is also concern that the entry of so many new members will slow down EU decision-making.

I have high hopes for enlargement - John Adlington, UK

The Commission's full report, being formally made public later on Wednesday, puts the 10 prospective new members, most of them former communist states, on probation for the next few years.

Three months before they join, the European Commission will report on how well they have kept their promises to adopt EU rules in areas like food safety and border controls.

And for two years after that, the EU will be able to take action to prevent large flows of migrants from the east.

Turkey in the cold

Bulgaria and Romania, though not included in the first wave of expansion, will be told for the first time that 2007 could be envisaged as a possible date for them to join.

Both countries can expect EU support to be increased gradually from 2004.

The European Commission will also propose doubling financial aid to Turkey by 2006.

While welcoming recent steps to abolish the death penalty and improve cultural rights for the Kurdish minority, the Commission's report says that Turkey - an associate member for 40 years - does not fully meet the political criteria to start membership talks.

EU governments will take the final decisions on expanding the Union at a summit in Brussels later this month, and then at a further summit in Copenhagen in December.

Link to Article Source

Universal 7 Radio | gtbroadcasting.com | GlobalEnquirer.com | Comment

FAIR USE NOTICE. Many of the stories on this site contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making this material available in its efforts to advance the understanding of environmental issues and sustainability, human rights, economic and political democracy, and issues of social justice. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use such copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use'...you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

Diana Nightingale
International speaker, author, mentor and life coach

Dr. Laffitte
Right hand man of Martin Luther King

Jennifer Hudson
Oscar and American Idol Winner

Flavor Flav
Rap Artist

Sally Jessy Raphael
TV and Radio Personality

Gary Busey

Harry G. Belafonte
American musician
actor and social activist

Robert L. Carothers
President of the University of Rhode Island

Les Brown
Motivational Speaker & Best Selling Author

Dr. Louis Turi
The World's Greatest Astrologer

LL Cool J
Party, Rap Artist

Dannion Brinkley
Autobiography "Saved by the Light"

Lucy Arnez
Actress

Don
the Forensics Expert who handled the bullet that Killed MLK

Percy Sledge
Who Wrote When a Man Loves a Woman

Bibi McGill
Beyonc�'s Lead Guitarist

Stevie Wonder

James O�Neil
Former Attorney General of RI

Richard Paul Evans
Bestselling author of the Christmas Box Miracle

National President of Phi Kappa Phi

Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul

George Zaharoff
International Designer

John J. Kennedy
Presidential Candidate

Jim "Supermind" Karol
The Real Life Rain Man Meets Rocky Balboa

Jane Kennedy
Actress & Miss America

Sally Jessy Raphael
TV and Radio Personality

Wayne Dyer
Bestselling author of You Will See it When You Believe it and TV personality

Brandon Bays
Bestselling Author of the book "The Journey"

Nicole Whitney
Radio Talk Show Host and Founder of News for the Soul, Rated by AOL and Google #1 Radio Talk Show on the Internet

Anne Marie Evers
Author of Your Passport to Happiness

Matthew Adams
Co-Author Chicken Soup for the Soul

Dannion Brinkley
Autobiography "Saved by the Light"

Sarah Simmons
Radio Talk Show Host and Author

Susan Crossen
Author and Radio Talk Show Host

Don Shula
Former Miami Dolphins coach with the most wins in NFL history

Bruce Sundlun
Former Governor

Palane Miedaner
Author of Coach Yourself to Success, seen on all the major television programs

Bishop Jordan
Author of The Laws of Thinking