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It has been 20 years since the significant enlargement of the European Union

01-05-2024 09:00
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Today, on 1st May, we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the European Union's significant expansion, commonly referred to as the Big Bang enlargement. During this historic event, ten countries, namely the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Cyprus, and Malta, joined the EU.

 

This enlargement elevated the EU's member states from 15 to 25, expanded the official languages used within the EU from 11 to 21, and saw an increase in the bloc's population by 75 million.

 

Over the past two decades, the 2004 enlargement has played a pivotal role in elevating living standards and fostering economic modernization in the new member states. According to research conducted by the Polish Economic Institute, the real GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) in Central European countries - including the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia - has experienced a 27% increase compared to a scenario where these countries had not joined the EU and continued developing independently.

 

Significant improvements have been observed in various aspects of life, including quality of life, education, per capita income, and living standards. These advancements are attributed to the advantages derived from accessing European funds and entering the EU Single Market. This has generated new business prospects, facilitated substantial capital influx into the new Member States, and eased their integration into global supply chains. According to the same source, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows have increased by 21-fold cumulatively.

 

Romania and Bulgaria acceded to the European Union on 1st January 2007, followed by Croatia in 2013. These nations have equally benefited from access to the Single Market, as well as from technical and financial aid to support the implementation of structural reforms.

 

Presently, the Republic of Moldova holds candidate status for EU accession, alongside eight other countries. Following the positive assessment by the European Council in December 2023, Moldova is gearing up for the commencement of accession negotiations.

 

In March of the current year, the European Commission forwarded the preliminary negotiating framework to the European Council and issued its communication on reforms and policy assessment preceding enlargement. As outlined in the document, candidate countries may access certain privileges akin to those of EU member states in specific sectors even prior to formal accession. However, the realization of these benefits hinges upon adequate preparation by both the EU and the candidate countries, given that the accession process is contingent upon merit and robust, enduring political dedication.

 

 

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September 2024

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