Lib Dems celebrate 2nd anniversary of European enlargement

9.02.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 12th May 2006

EU enlargement is the single most significant contribution to peace

20 years ago, during the cold war, few would have believed that Europe could heal divisions which had separated its people since the Second World War. The fall of the Berlin wall kick-started a process of rapprochement and reconciliation which led to ten new Members joining the EU two years ago - many from the old Communist bloc.

EU enlargement strategy is the single most significant contribution to peace and development in our near neighbourhood. The prospect of eventual membership provide an enormous incentive to candidate countries and potential candidate countries to push through the necessary changes that will raise standards of living and economic and social prosperity."

EU enlargement has been an extraordinary success - Graham Watson MEP

Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson who is Leader of European Liberal Democrats, said "The European Commission's assessment, in February this year, provided the statistical proof to what Liberals instinctively knew - that workers from new Member States have helped to fill the gaps in western European labour markets without taking away existing jobs. However I am somewhat disappointed to detect that, once the euphoria of 1st May 2004 had died down, the warmth of the initial welcome of the new Member States has cooled in several Member States and amongst sections of the population fuelled by a steady stream of scare stories from ill-informed media sources. EU enlargement has been an extraordinary success story, bringing greater economic growth, a skilled and determined work force and a new sense of idealism to our Union. It is these very factors that will allow Europe to thrive in a rapidly globalising world. We must not allow populist misgivings to cloud our judgement or our commitment to extending our community of values and internal market for the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital."