European Union essay
On 1 May 2004, the
european Union is expected to admit ten more countries as members. Three years after that it is expected to admit two more and possibly another one shortly afterwards. For countries which are not in eU this means that there will be a major change in the membership
of the economic and political grouping which, among other things. The enlargement, which was finally negotiated in Copenhagen on 12 and 13 December 2004, has been years in the planning but as it progresses towards fulfilment coincides with the war in Iraq and divisions in views among
europeans towards that war.
Three important questions present themselves. Will the enlargement change the
european Union significantly? The deals settled at Copenhagen are not the final step towards enlargement. each
of the acceding countries has to hold a referendum to test whether their populations support joining the
european Union. Malta and Slovenia among the new countries had held their referendums and the voters supported entry. Some
of the acceding countries are confident that their referendum will support membership, but others are less certain. In addressing the question
of whether the present enlargement will change the
european Union significantly one can look at history. The enlargement is the fifth
of the
european Union and its predecessors. The original members--France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg--admitted Britain, Ireland, and Denmark in 1973.