During today’s General Affairs Council (GAC), chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Evangelos Venizelos in Brussels, an event marking the 10th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement that brought 10 new countries to the European Union took place.

 

Addressing the event the Greek DPM and FM Venizelos stressed: “The accession of the Ten in 2004, and the three subsequent accessions which we have witnessed since then, has expanded the Union from 15 to 28 Member States. This unique achievement embodies much of what the Union stands for: the overcoming of centuries of conflict, the transcending of former divisions in Europe and our will to build a common future, based on cooperation, solidarity, respect for diversity and mutual understanding.” 

 

He also noted that “the transition from 15 to 25 (and then 28) has turned out remarkably well. The very fact that the presence of all our countries here today seems so completely ‘normal’  that most of us probably take it for granted without further reflection, is actually a very clear indication that enlargement really is a true success story.” 

 

Concluding, Mr Venizelos pointed out that “one of the most important lessons learned from our shared history is that  by continuing to work together, by promoting and upholding our core Union values, reaching forward towards common goals, we will all be better poised to confront the challenges which we face, both today and in the future: Together.”

 

Watch the video of the event here

Read more here

 

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Ten years since the EU’s largest and historic enlargement

 

Ten years ago, on 1 May 2004, the EU enlarged from 15 to 25 Member States, which means that a combined population of almost 75 million joined it. This historic and largest ever  expansion of the EU brought stability and reunited Europe after years of artificial division during the cold war; it also made the EU the world's biggest single market and increased trade between Member States, thus contributing to economic growth and strengthening further Europe's weight in global affairs.

From 1987 to 1996 thirteen countries submitted applications to join the EU: Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey. The Luxembourg European Council of 12-13 December 1997 launched the EU enlargement process, in which "each of the applicant States would proceed at its own rate, depending on its degree of preparedness".

The Copenhagen European Council of December 2002 found that 10 of the 13 candidate countries (Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta and Slovakia) fulfilled the conditions necessary for joining the EU. They therefore signed the Accession Treaty during the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 16 April 2003 in Athens (stoa of Attalos, Ancient Agora) and officially joined the EU on 1 May 2004 after the ratification procedures were completed.

Three more countries, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia, have since joined the EU, bringing the total number of member states to 28 (Romania and Bulgaria in 2007 and Croatia in 2013) while 5 more have currently the status of candidate countries (The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey) and 3 more the status of potential candidates (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo).

Today, the enlargement policy continues to drive transformation and anchor stability in the countries of Southeast Europe aspiring to EU membership. The pull and influence of the EU is helping them implement democratic and economic reforms, improve the rule of law and build bridges with their neighbours, by becoming more prosperous, safer and by extending the internal market.