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1 (October 25, 2006)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthabbki0001 and id is 1 raw text is: 
                                                               Order Code  RS21344
                                                           Updated October 25, 2006



 CRS Report for Congress

              Received through the CRS Web



              European Union Enlargement

              Kristin Archick, Specialist in European Affairs,
              Vince  L. Morelli, Analyst in European Affairs
              Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade  Division

Summary


     The EU  views the enlargement process as a historic opportunity to promote
 stability and prosperity in Europe. On May 1, 2004, Cyprus, the Czech Republic,
 Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia joined the
 European Union (EU), enlarging the Union to 25 members. In January 2007, Bulgaria
 and Romania are to formally enter the EU. Turkey and Croatia began accession
 negotiations in October 2005. Macedonia was named as a candidate for EU membership
 in December 2005. This report will be updated as necessary. For additional information,
 see CRS Report RS21372, The European Union: Questions and Answers, by Kristin
 Archick, and CRS Report RS22517, European Union Enlargement: A Status Report on
 Turkey's Accession Negotiations, by Vince L. Morelli.


 Background on the European Union

    After World War II, leaders in western Europe and the United States were anxious
to secure long-term peace and stability on the European continent and create a favorable
environment for economic growth and recovery. In 1952, six states - Belgium, the
Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands -
established the European Coal and Steel Community, a single market in these two
industrial sectors that was controlled by an independent supranational authority. In 1957,
the Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community, extending the
common  market to all economic sectors, and the European Atomic Energy Community
to ensure the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In 1967, these three formations
collectively became known as the European Community (EC).

    The EC first added new members in 1973, with the entry of the United Kingdom,
Ireland, and Denmark. Greece joined in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986.
The Single European Act modified the EC Treaties in 1987 by increasing the powers of
the European Parliament and enabling the 1992 single market program to move forward.
At the beginning of 1993, the near completion of the single market brought about the
mostly free movement of goods, services, capital, and people within the EC.


Congressional  Research  Service + The  Library of Congress

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