Ten New Members Join European Union

Created by doina. Last modified on 2004-05-14 14:31:24
Contributors:
Topic: European Union
Countries: Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovenia

On 1st May 2004 ten new countries became members of the European Union: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, and Slovenia. Membership of the EU now stands at 25 countries.

Bulgaria and Romania hope to also join by 2007.

European citizens from current member states and from new members are able to freely move around the EU on presentation of a valid passport or identity card. However, the abolition of all controls on people at borders between old and new member countries will not occur immediately.

New members will not adopt the Euro immediately on accession, but only when ready to do so.