EU newcomers welcomed to the club - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Czas na Zywiec · 05-01-2004, 02:05 PM

EU newcomers welcomed to the club

The EU is now the world's largest trading bloc
The new 25-member European Union has heralded its historic expansion with celebrations across the new bloc.
The 15 old members welcomed in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia at midnight.

The most high-profile festivities took place in Ireland, current holder of the rotating EU presidency.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern welcomed the new members and hailed a "day of hope and opportunity".

In bright spring sunshine, the leaders of the new member states were welcomed in a simple ceremony in the grounds of the Irish president's official residence in by their counterparts from the existing 15 members.

ENLARGEMENT NUMBERS
10 new countries (up to 25)
74 million people (up to 455m)
444bn euro of extra GDP
(up to 9,613bn)
738,573 sq km of territory
(up to 4m sq km)

They watched as young people from all 25 countries presented their national flags, which were then raised together alongside the EU flag as a mass choir sang the EU anthem, Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

Mr Ahern spoke of the progress that Europe had made over the past decades, saying it had moved from war to peace.

He went on: "From hatred there is now respect, from division there is union, and from dictatorship and oppression there is democracy. "

But he also made reference to the challenges ahead for the enlarged club - notably the need to find agreement on the thorny issue of a constitution, and to narrow the now even more pronounced wealth gap between members.

"There is indeed much work to be done," he said.

Ireland has mounted its biggest security operation since Pope John Paul II visited in 1979 in preparation for the celebrations and there were fears that anti-capitalist protests could turn violent.

Joy and uncertainty

With a population of 455m, the EU now is the world's biggest trading bloc.

Hundreds of thousands packed city squares in the newcomer states to watch fireworks and hear Beethoven's Ode to Joy - the EU's official anthem.

The BBC's Tim Franks says some enthusiasts are describing the enlargement as a millennial event, comparable to the creation of great empires.

This is a hugely significant day for Europe, our correspondent says, but it is nowhere near the end of the story.

In the existing member states, there is more uncertainty over immigration, over the new balance of forces within the EU and over whom the club should admit next.

For the newcomers, there are concerns about price hikes without commensurate salary increases.

There is also disappointment that established members have placed restrictions of up to seven years on freedom of movement for workers from the relatively poor east into the west.

Eight of the new members are former communist states, joining the Western club only 15 years after most of them emerged from years of Soviet domination. Some did not even regain their independence until just over a decade ago.

The night in pictures
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/...ry/3675373.stm

'No war again'

The other two new members - Malta and Cyprus - are Mediterranean islands.

But Cypriot membership is being overshadowed by the exclusion of the island's Turkish Cypriot part, following an inconclusive referendum on reunification a week ago.

One of the fathers of European reunification, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, spoke through tears when he addressed thousands at a ceremony in the German town of Zittau, which borders both Poland and the Czech Republic.

"The message is there will never again be war in Europe," Mr Kohl said.

Marek Wos, a 40-year-old Polish businessman attending the celebrations in Warsaw, said it was a good day for his country.

"We will no longer be second-class people from a second-class country," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3675801.stm

Jenya · 05-01-2004, 02:13 PM

Chris. Do you have a duel citizenship in the U.S. right now?

Czas na Zywiec · 05-01-2004, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jenya
Chris. Do you have a duel citizenship in the U.S. right now?

I was born here, so unfortunatly I don't. I'm going to try and get citizenship in Poland, though, either when I do study abroad so I can stay there longer or after I finish school. I want to live there at least 2 - 3 years and maybe work at an architectural firm, and then come back here. My parents are only recognized as U.S. citizens here, but when we go back, they're recognized as citiznes of both the states and Poland. I never understood that.

Jenya · 05-01-2004, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Czas na Zywiec
I was born here, so unfortunatly I don't. I'm going to try and get citizenship in Poland, though, either when I do study abroad so I can stay there longer or after I finish school. I want to live there at least 2 - 3 years and maybe work at an architectural firm, and then come back here. My parents are only recognized as U.S. citizens here, but when we go back, they're recognized as citiznes of both the states and Poland. I never understood that.

Well good luck. I have both a Russian and Canadian citizenship in my passport. It took a lot of hard work through a few Russian lawyers and everything, but now I'm recognized as a duel citizen over there.

Try to push for your citizenship over there, because sooner or later you can work on all of the EU countries with no hassles. I wish I had that privilege.

webuster · 05-01-2004, 05:17 PM

For some reason, some people in Dublin are now protesting these additions to the EU.

Liza · 05-01-2004, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Czas na Zywiec
I was born here, so unfortunatly I don't. I'm going to try and get citizenship in Poland, though, either when I do study abroad so I can stay there longer or after I finish school. I want to live there at least 2 - 3 years and maybe work at an architectural firm, and then come back here. My parents are only recognized as U.S. citizens here, but when we go back, they're recognized as citiznes of both the states and Poland. I never understood that.

Yeah, it's stupid. Supposedly if you're an American citizen you aren't a citizen of anywhere else - but most countries don't have that rule, so you can be a citizen of two countries but the US just won't recognize it

Glad to see the EU's bigger and better

Titania · 05-02-2004, 05:02 PM

Awesome.

One of my friends is Latvian and a bunch of us signed a petition awhile back to get the Baltics in the EU

05-01-2004, 02:05 PM	#1
Czas na Zywiec what up Forum Star Join Date: Jun 28, 2001 Location: Southwest Side, Chicago Posts: 18,398	EU newcomers welcomed to the club EU newcomers welcomed to the club The EU is now the world's largest trading bloc The new 25-member European Union has heralded its historic expansion with celebrations across the new bloc. The 15 old members welcomed in Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia at midnight. The most high-profile festivities took place in Ireland, current holder of the rotating EU presidency. Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern welcomed the new members and hailed a "day of hope and opportunity". In bright spring sunshine, the leaders of the new member states were welcomed in a simple ceremony in the grounds of the Irish president's official residence in by their counterparts from the existing 15 members. ENLARGEMENT NUMBERS 10 new countries (up to 25) 74 million people (up to 455m) 444bn euro of extra GDP (up to 9,613bn) 738,573 sq km of territory (up to 4m sq km) They watched as young people from all 25 countries presented their national flags, which were then raised together alongside the EU flag as a mass choir sang the EU anthem, Beethoven's Ode to Joy. Mr Ahern spoke of the progress that Europe had made over the past decades, saying it had moved from war to peace. He went on: "From hatred there is now respect, from division there is union, and from dictatorship and oppression there is democracy. " But he also made reference to the challenges ahead for the enlarged club - notably the need to find agreement on the thorny issue of a constitution, and to narrow the now even more pronounced wealth gap between members. "There is indeed much work to be done," he said. Ireland has mounted its biggest security operation since Pope John Paul II visited in 1979 in preparation for the celebrations and there were fears that anti-capitalist protests could turn violent. Joy and uncertainty With a population of 455m, the EU now is the world's biggest trading bloc. Hundreds of thousands packed city squares in the newcomer states to watch fireworks and hear Beethoven's Ode to Joy - the EU's official anthem. The BBC's Tim Franks says some enthusiasts are describing the enlargement as a millennial event, comparable to the creation of great empires. This is a hugely significant day for Europe, our correspondent says, but it is nowhere near the end of the story. In the existing member states, there is more uncertainty over immigration, over the new balance of forces within the EU and over whom the club should admit next. For the newcomers, there are concerns about price hikes without commensurate salary increases. There is also disappointment that established members have placed restrictions of up to seven years on freedom of movement for workers from the relatively poor east into the west. Eight of the new members are former communist states, joining the Western club only 15 years after most of them emerged from years of Soviet domination. Some did not even regain their independence until just over a decade ago. The night in pictures http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/...ry/3675373.stm 'No war again' The other two new members - Malta and Cyprus - are Mediterranean islands. But Cypriot membership is being overshadowed by the exclusion of the island's Turkish Cypriot part, following an inconclusive referendum on reunification a week ago. One of the fathers of European reunification, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, spoke through tears when he addressed thousands at a ceremony in the German town of Zittau, which borders both Poland and the Czech Republic. "The message is there will never again be war in Europe," Mr Kohl said. Marek Wos, a 40-year-old Polish businessman attending the celebrations in Warsaw, said it was a good day for his country. "We will no longer be second-class people from a second-class country," he said. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3675801.stm

05-01-2004, 02:13 PM	#2
Jenya Supervisor Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: Canmore, Alberta Posts: 3,359	Chris. Do you have a duel citizenship in the U.S. right now?
	__________________ Head-On...Apply directly to the Forehead! Head-On...Apply directly to the Forehead! Head-On...Apply directly to the Forehead! *Head-ON is available without a Prescription

05-02-2004, 05:02 PM	#7
Titania a part of that Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 04, 2000 Posts: 3,694	Awesome. One of my friends is Latvian and a bunch of us signed a petition awhile back to get the Baltics in the EU
	__________________ I don't mean to put on any pressure, but I know what a thing is right. and I spend every day reconfiguring my senses. I'll give you stars and the moon and a soul to guide you and a promise I'll never go I'll give you hope to bring out all the life inside you and the strength that will help you grow. myspace

05-01-2004, 05:17 PM	#5
webuster Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 26, 2002 Posts: 2,150	For some reason, some people in Dublin are now protesting these additions to the EU.