European Union and its eastern expansion
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The integration of the countries of central and eastern Europe is coming up, and the European Union will be enlarged to 25 members as of may 2004, and probably to 27 members within the next few years. Eight central and eastern European countries, such as the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia along with Cyprus and Malta will join the European Union on May 1, 2004. The new European Union will grow to 450 million citizens, with 20 official languages, and create a huge trading union that would give the continent greater global influence in an era of U.S. dominance, a united Europe that furthermore stands for a stronger, democratic and more stable continent. In order to become a member, these countries had to sign the membership conditions that involve the acceptance of Article 49, respecting democracy, human rights, fundamental freedom, principles of liberty and even the EU-law. In detail these requirements mean that new member countries have to fulfill the existence of stable institutions guaranteeing democracy, rule of law, respect for and protection of human rights and minorities, as well as the existing of a functioning market economy. Furthermore it is required that the countries have the capacity to cope with market forces and competitive pressures within the Union and the ability to take on the obligations of membership, including economic and monetary Union.
On the one hand it seems great that so many countries will be joining the European Union. It seems to be a step forward in European history, as well as it means to be a stronger, more united power in the world, both politically and economically...