
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 after
wards. For countries which are not
in eU this means that there will be a major change
in the membership of the economic and political group
ing which, among other th
ings. The enlargement, which was f
inally negotiated
in Copenhagen on 12 and 13 December 2004, has been years
in the plann
ing but as it progresses to
wards fulfilment co
incides with the
war in Iraq and divisions
in views among europeans to
wards that
war.
Three important questions present themselves. Will the enlargement change the european Union significantly? The deals settled at Copenhagen are not the f
inal step to
wards enlargement. each of the acced
ing countries has to hold a referendum to test whether their populations support jo
ining the european Union. Malta and Slovenia among the new countries had held their referendums and the voters supported entry. Some of the acced
ing countries are confident that their referendum will support membership, but others are less certa
in.
In address
ing 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 orig
inal members--France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg--admitted Brita
in, Ireland, and Denmark
in 1973.