"Our new Europe is born" - EU agrees enlargement at historicCopenhagen summit

Leaders of the European Union reached a historic agreement in the Danish capital Copenhagen on Friday, setting out the financial terms for expanding the EU to take in ten new countries, the Czech Republic among them. Those expecting the summit to run into difficulty were proved wrong - the EU 15 and the ten leading candidates for membership managed to reach a compromise, and there is now little to prevent them joining in 2004. Rob Cameron was in Copenhagen, and brings back a special report.

"Our new Europe is born" - EU agrees enlargement at historicCopenhagen summit

Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Javier Solana, photo: CTK

"This is indeed a historic moment, and a day to remember. For the people of Europe, and for the whole world."

The Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, speaking at the close of the Copenhagen summit on Friday evening. Flanked by prime ministers and presidents of the 15 EU member states, as well as the leaders of the candidate countries, Mr Rasmussen announced that after half a century, Europe was finally to be reunited.

"Today we have closed one of the bloodiest and darkest chapters in European history. Today we opened a new chapter. Europe is spreading its wings in freedom, in prosperity, and in peace."

And those sentiments were echoed by political leaders from across the European Union. Austria's Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner was clearly moved by the historic occasion.

"It is a truly historic moment. When we were all sitting together, and one by one the new member states, or the future member states, spoke about their experiences and now their emotions - I must say this was really a fantastic, even a passionate moment for Europe."

In fact so moved you'd think enlargement has already taken place. It hasn't of course - the ten leading candidates won't join until May 2004, and they still have to hold referenda on accession.

Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, photo: CTK

But the Copenhagen meeting was historic, if nothing else because the EU managed to do what many believed was impossible: reach an agreement on money. With the EU's biggest net contributor, Germany, deep in recession, and the EU's soon-to-be biggest net recipient, Poland, pressing hard for more cash, some predicted the summit would end in failure. It didn't, and most candidates came away with a financial package they can sell to their own people. The Czech Republic emerged with a much better deal than expected. Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla:

"In the end we succeeded in negotiating entry conditions to allow a smooth landing in the European Union. We managed to increase the level of direct payments to 183 million euros, which is the second highest figure after Poland. The talks on agriculture were also successful - the Czech Republic will remain self-sufficient in the production of basic foodstuffs. But the EU is about much more than money and statistics. The EU has been a guarantee of Europe's peace and security for half a century, and the Czech Republic will now play a role in ensuring its future."

But with some ambivalence at home towards membership, Mr Spidla and his colleagues still have some explaining to do if the forthcoming referendum on EU membership is to be a success. One section of Czech society which is deeply apprehensive at joining the EU are Czech farmers, who held a series of noisy demonstrations before the summit to voice their discontent. I asked Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda whether he believed Czech farmers would be satisfied with the outcome of the talks.

"I believe that they will be happy, because the representatives of the agricultural sector, they were here in Copenhagen, and we were in touch with the gentlemen who represent the agricultural sector. I believe that we are capable of giving a clear and positive answer from Copenhagen, yes."

Another problem will be the size and sheer diversity of the new European Union, which will stretch from the southern tip of Spain to the Russian border. Many in today's EU know little about their future neighbours, most of whom are from the former eastern bloc. One Czech journalist pointed out to British Prime Minister Tony Blair that according to a recent EU survey, only a quarter of Britons could even place the Czech Republic on the map.

The EU summit in Copenhagen, photo: CTK

"Well I'm not aware of that survey. But I suspect actually, if you don't mind me saying so, that maybe if you'd used the old historical term [Czechoslovakia] before the Czech Republic and Slovakia separated, you might have found it was rather different.…you're about to tell me you surveyed them on that as well! OK. Whatever! But I think most people do know the importance of the European Union in Britain, and of the enlargement process. So as far as I'm concerned we want to be a very good partner of the Czech Republic in the new Europe. So maybe survey them in a couple of years' time."

How well the new Europe will work will of course depend on the continuing political will of its leaders, not to mention simple economic realities. But for Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Copenhagen was a celebration of the rebirth of Europe.

"This is a truly proud moment for the European Union. It is a triumph for liberty and democracy. And to our new members I say - warmly welcome to our family. Our new Europe is born."