Europlus: a grand tour of new and future members of the European Union!
In May 2004, the EU increased its numbers from 15 to 25 members when ten countries from Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean joined: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. It was a unique and historic enlargement which signified the re-unification of Europe. When your parents were children it was very difficult to visit the countries of Central and Eastern Europe because their borders were closed behind an 'Iron Curtain'. But now you can visit and make friends in these countries whenever you want. Later on, you might decide you want to go and live or study in one of these places.
In January 2007 the EU got even bigger when Romania and Bulgaria both joined the EU. So now is a good time to discover more about these new members and the countries which have begun discussions to become members: Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Turkey.