Suchergebnisse

Enlargement has been fundamental to the idea of European unification from the start, & between 1957 & 1965 the EU grew from six to 15 members. But it was not necessarily ready to welcome others when communism collapsed in Eastern Europe in 1989. For their part, the newly liberated countries were too pleased to have regained their independence to be prepared to surrender it to what they saw as another possible overlord. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 & the realization of the mutual advantages that might flow from the enlarged EU changed attitudes on both sides & terms were set out at Copenhagen in 1993. Since then, this meeting of minds has been strained by problems & suspicions in both East & West & by the disintegration of Yugoslavia. However, the recurring crises over Yugoslavia have brought the EU to the point of considering eventual enlargement to the whole of Eastern Europe, & extensive negotiations are in train with a view to the first new members joining in 2003. But a real meeting of minds depends on the outcome of the Inter-Governmental Conference already meeting. It needs to ensure that the terms of entry for the new East European members do not involve any greater loss of precious sovereignty than for the present 15. Adapted from the source document.