April 22nd 2004 issue
EU Accession: In from the Cold
Europe has come a long way since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. On May 1, the European Union's borders will stretch from Lisbon to the borders of the Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. It's a political and cultural triumph but, as in all previous enlargements, harsh economic challenges remain, writes Gabi Thesing. Read full article.
Cyprus
Cyprus, the third-largest island in the Mediterranean, can trace its civilisation back 10,000 years. Read full article.
Czech Republic
The second-largest of the accession countries, the Czech Republic was created after the "Velvet Divorce" from Slovakia in 1993. Read full article.
EU Accession: Estonia
The most northern and smallest of the accession countries, this Baltic state is so tech-savvy that it is sometimes referred to as e-Stonia. Read full article.
EU Accession: Hungary
Hungary as it currently exists was founded in 1919, following the collapse of the Habsburg Empire. Read full article.
EU Accession: Latvia
Latvia's capital, Riga, was once known as the Paris of the north. Its people voted overwhelmingly to join the EU so the former Soviet puppet could regain its place at the heart of Europe. Read full article.
EU Accession: Lithuania
Lithuania was the first of the Baltic states to declare independence from Russia in 1990. This paved the way for the bloodless restoration of independence for fellow Baltic states Estonia and Latvia. Read full article.
EU Accession: Malta
Malta is at a crossroads between Europe and Africa and, although tiny in comparison with other accession states, it has long been a melting pot of civilisations in the heart of the Mediterranean. Read full article.
EU Accession: Poland
The biggest of the accession countries in terms of population, Poland is positioned at the heart of Europe. The country has a turbulent and violent history. Read full article.
EU Accession: Slovakia
Land-locked Slovakia (Slovak Republic) in Central Europe became an independent country in 1993, when Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and Slovak Republics. Read full article.
EU Accession: Slovenia
A largely mountainous country stretching from the Alps to the Adriatic Sea, Slovenia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. Read full article.
