2004 war ein wichtiges Jahr für die EU: Im Zuge ihrer bislang größten Erweiterung bekam sie zehn neue Mitgliedstaaten – und neun neue offizielle Arbeitssprachen. Der 1. Mai 2004 war geprägt von Freude, Einheit und grenzenlosen Möglichkeiten. Anlässlich des 20. Jahrestags dieses geschichtsträchtigen Ereignisses tauchen wir in dieser Folge ein in die Geschichte der EU.

Der 20. Jahrestag der größten EU-Erweiterung

Die EU ist eine politische und wirtschaftliche Union mit 27 Mitgliedstaaten. Auch einige Drittstaaten haben Interesse an einer EU-Mitgliedschaft und bereits einen Beitrittsantrag gestellt. Derzeit gibt es neun Bewerberländer. Doch der Weg zur EU-Mitgliedschaft ist lang und der Aufnahmeprozess alles andere als einfach.

Wie funktioniert die Erweiterung der Europäischen Union?

In November 2023, the European Commission presented its annual enlargement reports. Its strategic orientations and recommendations include accelerating the accession process with the Western Balkan countries, opening accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, and granting candidate status to Georgia. According to the European Parliament's 2022 recommendation on the new EU strategy, enlargement policy is 'the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and one of the Union's most successful policies'.

EPRS Policy Podcast: Enlargement policy - Reforms and challenges ahead

Die EU ist eine politische und wirtschaftliche Union mit 27 Mitgliedstaaten. Auch einige Drittstaaten haben Interesse an einer EU-Mitgliedschaft und bereits einen Beitrittsantrag gestellt. Derzeit gibt es sieben Bewerberländer und drei mögliche Beitrittskandidaten. Doch der Weg zur EU-Mitgliedschaft ist lang und der Aufnahmeprozess alles andere als einfach.

Interview with Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007 on the enlargement (audio only)

The story of the EP by its Presidents: Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, EP President 2004 - 2007 - 1. The enlargement

On May 1, 2004, ten&nbsp;new member states joined the European Union, marking the&nbsp;largest enlargement in terms of people and number of countries in the EU's history. Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the Union, growing from 15 to 25 members.

The European Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of these ten nations joining the European Union&nbsp;and engaging in the EP's democratic process to defend the interests of European citizens.

20th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union

Candidate countries include Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered potential candidates.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans (2019-2020)

The EU has developed a policy to support the gradual integration of the Western Balkan countries with the Union. The EU aims to promote peace, stability and economic development in the region&nbsp;and open up the prospect of EU integration.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

Parliament is fully involved in the Stabilisation and Association Process &nbsp;and must also consent to any new accession to the EU. In addition, through its budgetary powers, it has direct influence over the amounts allocated to the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs appoints standing rapporteurs for all candidate and potential candidate countries. Parliament expresses its positions on enlargement in the form of annual resolutions responding to the Commission’s latest annual country reports.

On 1&nbsp;July&nbsp;2013, Croatia became the first of the seven countries to join, and Montenegro, Serbia, the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania are official candidates. Accession negotiations and chapters have been opened with Montenegro and Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo are potential candidate countries.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans

The European Union's enlargement policy is based on established criteria and fair and rigorous conditionality.

Progress along the European path is an objective and merit-based process which depends on the concrete results achieved by each individual country, with the rule of law, justice and fundamental rights being an utmost priority. A credible enlargement perspective requires sustained efforts and irreversible reforms. The EU Enlargement is an investment in peace, security and stability in Europe: a prospect of EU membership has a powerful transformative effect on the partners in the process, embedding positive democratic, political, economic and societal change.

Albania, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey are candidate countries.The European Council has decided to grant the status of candidate country to Ukraine and to the Republic of Moldova in June 2022.

Negotiations are held with each candidate country to determine their ability to apply EU legislation (acquis) and examine their possible request for transition periods.

Enlargement

Candidate countries include Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered potential candidates.

In order to apply for EU membership a country has to be European and respect the EU’s democratic values. It also needs stable institutions guaranteeing democracy and the rule of law; a functioning market economy; and the ability to take on and carry out the obligations of EU membership.

EU Enlargement - Western Balkans - 8th parliamentary term

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participates in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago.

During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, who are invited to attend the sitting.

Formal sitting commemorating the 20th anniversary of the EU's biggest enlargement

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

EP Plenary session - Pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews

Press conference by Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Renew Europe President, on the enlargement of the group

Press conference by Olivér VÁRHELYI, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Joint meeting / Climate Change in the Mediterranean: situation of the UfM members in the enlargement area

Press point following the hearing of Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Hearing of Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner-designate, Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Federica MOGHERINI - Vice-President of the Commission, and Johannes HAHN, Commissioner for the Enlargement Package

UNKN

Angenommener Beschluss über die Erweiterungsstrategie der EU – Westlicher Balkan (Aussprache)

Decision adopted on the EU Enlargement Strategy - Western Balkans (debate)

Vergrößerung und Stärkung des Schengen-Raums: Bulgarien, Rumänien und Kroatien (Aussprache)

Enlargement and strengthening of the Schengen area: Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia (debate)

F. MOGHERINI - High Representative of EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy - J. HAHN - EU Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations - and C. STYLIANIDES - EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Management

Štefan FÜLE - European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy

Erweiterung: Politische Strategien, Kriterien und strategische Interessen der EU (Aussprache)

Enlargement: policies, criteria and the EU's strategic interests (debate)

Erweiterungsbericht über Montenegro (Aussprache)

Enlargement report for Montenegro (debate)

Erweiterungsbericht über die Türkei (Aussprache)

Enlargement report for Turkey (debate)

Erweiterungsbericht über das Kosovo (Aussprache)

Enlargement report for Kosovo (debate)

Erweiterungsbericht über Serbien (Aussprache)

Enlargement report for Serbia (debate)

Erweiterungsbericht über Bosnien und Herzegowina (Aussprache)

Enlargement report for Bosnia and Herzegovina (debate)

Erweiterungsbericht über Island (Aussprache)

Enlargement report for Iceland (debate)

Erweiterungsbericht über die Ehemalige Jugoslawische Republik Mazedonien (Aussprache)

Enlargement report for the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (debate)

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Interviews

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Arrivals and family photo

EP Plenary session - 20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement

AFET - Exchange of views with Foreign Affairs Ministers of Member States on the EU enlargement policy ahead of the March 2024 European Council

EP Plenary session - Deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement

EP Plenary session - Council and Commissions statements - 30 years of Copenhagen criteria - giving further impetus to EU enlargement policy

EP Plenary session - Commission statement - EU enlargement policy 2023

AFET - Presentation of the 2023 Enlargement Package and the new Growth Plan for the Western Balkans bythe Commissioner Olivér Várhely.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Oliver VARHELYI, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

AFET Interparliamentaryy Committee Meeting ' Moving the EU enlargement forward - 20 years since the Thessaloniki Declaration '

Minority Intergroup - Minority rights in the EU enlargement process

AFET - Exchange of views with Gert-Jan KOOPMAN, Director-General, European Commission, Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations

EP Plenary session - Question Time to Commission - Strengthened EU enlargement policy to the Western Balkans

EP Plenary session - New EU strategy for enlargement

EP Plenary session - EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package

AFET Committee - Presentation of the 2022 Enlargement Package by Oliver VARHELYI, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Balázs is a together.eu volunteer, politics student, and was born on 1 May 2004, from Szeged, Hungary. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. Young people, born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, testimony on their feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Hungary

Veronika is a communicative and active young student of bilingual gymnasium from Slovakia. She was born on the 1st of May 2004, which is the same day the country she is from joined the European Union. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. This news item shows young Veronika studying in Slovakia, spending time with her friends and sharing her testimony on the feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Slovakia

Milda is a student at ISM University in Vilnius, Lithuania. Bernardas is a student at Vilnius Gediminas technical university (VILNIUS TECH) in Vilnius, Lithuania. They were both born on 1 May 2004. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. Young people, born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, testimony on their feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Lithuania

Kyriakos is a student at the department of Mathematics and Statistics in the University of Cyprus, Nicosia, born on 1 May 2004. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. Young people, born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, testimony on their feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Cyprus

Nela comes from Czech Republic where she currently studies at the Faculty of Law. She was born in May 2004 around the same time Czech Republic joined the European Union. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. This news item present young Nela's life in Prague and her testimony on the feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Czech Republic

Maciej and Aleksandra are young people and students from Poland that were born in May 2004. In the same month, Poland joined the European Union. In this news item both Maciej and Aleksandra shows their daily student life and share personal testimonies on the feelings about this historical event and the EU. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement as well. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union - Poland

Ylenia is a dedicated student of European studies in Malta who was born on the 1st of May 2004. On that same day, Malta joined the European Union. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. In this news item young Ylenia shares her testimony on the feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Malta

Ema and Lejla are young Slovenians that were born in May 2004. The same month Slovenia joined the European Union. Along with their daily life, sporting, and studying they share testimonies on the feelings about this historical event and the EU in this news item. Meanwhile, Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivering.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Slovenia

Eliass is a mechatronics student at Rezekne Academy of Technologies in Rezekne, Latvia, and was born on 1 May 2004. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. Young people, born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, testimony on their feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Latvia

Lisbeth is a physiotherapy student, born in May 2004, from Tartu, Estonia. Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the EU’s biggest enlargement. Young people, born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new member states, testimony on their feelings about this historical event and the EU. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Born European - 20th anniversary of the 2004 Enlargement of the European Union – Estonia

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement, the EP buildings in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg are illuminated.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: illuminations of the EP buildings in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Ode to Joy, performed by the Voix de Stras' acapella choir

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: One round of Political group leaders

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Speech by Romano PRODI, former President of the European Commission

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting. Three young guests ask questions Georgios IACOVOU, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Antanas VALIONIS, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Pavel TELIČKA, former Chief Negotiator for the Czech Republic's EU accession negotiations.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Young guests ask questions Georgios IACOVOU, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Antanas VALIONIS, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and Pavel TELIČKA, former Czech Chief Negotiator

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Speech by Pat COX, former President of the European Parliament

EP President Roberta Metsola, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, former EP President Pat Cox, and former Commission President Romano Prodi participate in a formal sitting of Parliament to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2004 EU enlargement round along with representatives from the ten countries, that joined the EU 20 years ago. During the ceremony, the guests answer questions from a group of young people born on or around 1 May 2004 from the new Member States, who are invited to attend the sitting. Four young guests ask questions to Leszek MILLER, former Prime Minister of Poland, Anton ROP, former Prime Minister of Slovenia, Mikuláš DZURINDA, Former Prime Minister of Slovakia and Christina OJULAND, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement: Guests ask questions to Leszek MILLER, former Polish PM, Anton ROP, former Slovenian PM, Mikuláš DZURINDA, Slovak Former PM and Christina OJULAND, former Estonian Minister

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20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

20th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement - Parliament’s seats illumination

EP Plenary session - Pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews

EP Plenary session - Pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews