Enlargement

1st May 2004 – the EU’s 5th Enlargement

On 1st May 2004, 10 new member states joined the EU.

This historic achievement is the end of a long process that began for most in 1989 with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The first accession negotiations were opened in 1998, and, for the 10 new members, closed at the Copenhagen Summit in December 2002. The Accession treaty signed in Athens in April 2003 was subsequently ratified and the new members join the EU in accordance with the terms of that treaty.

Which countries are joining the EU?

10 countries become Member States of the EU on 1st May 2004. They are: 

• Cyprus

• The Czech Republic

• Estonia

• Hungary

• Latvia

• Lithuania

• Malta

• Poland

• Slovakia

• Slovenia

Romania and Bulgaria are also currently negotiating their accession to the European Union. They hope to join in 2007.

Turkey was recognised as a candidate country in 1999. The Commission will recommend at the end of 2004 whether or not Turkey has made sufficient progress to allow it to begin accession negotiations.

Where can I find more information?

The Enlargement web site is a multilingual site that contains background information, news and documentation on the whole enlargement process, as well as information on the new member states.