I remember in the early 1980s making friends with a young Hungarian who was in Exeter to last English. At that time it was still very unusual to meet anyone from Eastern Europe. Most of them were not allowed to travel abroad. Even those who could it was very difficult because their currency was worthless. No one predicted then that by 1989 the Berlin Wall would fall and Soviet domination of Central and Eastern Europe would crumble.
This Saturday, May 1, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia become full members of the European Union. They will be joined by Malta and Cyprus. This is an extraordinary political and historical milestone.
For the last fifteen years the former Communist countries have made remarkable political and economic progress. Some people in Britain spend a lot of time complaining about Europe. But for people who have lived under Communism the economic success and political freedom that the EU represents had been their hope. The prospect of EU membership has driven forward and cemented democratic and economic reform, just as it did a generation ago for the people of Spain, Portugal and Greece. Economic growth in countries like Hungary and Poland is outstripping that in �old Europe�. Over time they will catch up. That is good for all of us.
A politically stable and economically prosperous Europe was a dream that eluded previous generations as Europe tore itself apart in wars. We may find aspects of our EU membership annoying or frustrating, but this Saturday is a timely reminder of the huge benefits that the European Union has brought.
