2004 enlargement of the European Union
The largest enlargement of the European Union (EU), in terms of number of states and population, took place on 1 May 2004.
The "Polish Plumber" cliché adopted by Poland's tourism board to advertise Poland as a tourist destination on the French market. (English translation: "I am staying in Poland, come in large numbers")
Celebrations at Fort Saint Angelo commemorating Malta's entry into the EU
Celebration in the Jubelpark in Brussels
Enlargement of the European Union
The European Union (EU) has expanded a number of times throughout its history by way of the accession of new member states to the Union. To join the EU, a state needs to fulfil economic and political conditions called the Copenhagen criteria, which require a stable democratic government that respects the rule of law, and its corresponding freedoms and institutions. According to the Maastricht Treaty, each current member state and the European Parliament must agree to any enlargement. The process of enlargement is sometimes referred to as European integration. This term is also used to refer to the intensification of co-operation between EU member states as national governments allow for the gradual harmonisation of national laws.
The European Commission, which plays a central role in the enlargement process.
The Iron Curtain's fall enabled eastward enlargement. (Berlin Wall)
