Welcome New Neighbours

Today 10 countries join the European Union, creating an even more European Union. This is a historic landmark. Fifteen years after the collapse of the iron curtain, middle-European countries, some of whom are in the heart of European history, return to their rightful place in the European family. Building these new ties is a step forward in extending the stability of the continent. It's been a long way since the original six countries (NL, B, L, D, F, I) founded the European Community for Coal and Steel, making it impossible for either one to build a war-industry on its own, by bringing coal and steel production under collective influence. And there is a long way still to go.

For these 10 new member are at the same time the biggest opportunity for Europe, as well as the biggest threat to the European Union. We need to reform the decisionmaking structures fast, radically change the illogical emphasis on farming policies which paralyze the EU financially, and above all turn the pseudo-democratic constructs into democratic ones, or the European Union will drown like a dinosaur in a swamp.

So a heartfelt welcome to

Estonia

Lithuania

Latvia

Poland

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Hungary

Slovenia

Malta

and Greek-Cyprus (who will join only half, as they decided to shape the future by looking in the rear view mirror in last months referendum)

We can use the 74 million extra pairs of hands, there is still a lot of work to be done.

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(posted by Ton Zijlstra at May 1, 2004 08:39 AM)