Prague: Conference “EU Enlargement- 5 years after”

The objective of a conference organized on 2nd. march by the Czech Presidency in the Council of the EU and by the European Commission was to review the effects of the largest Enlargement in the EU history on the economic and social development of the old and the new EU Member States. The conference concluded that the enlargement was beneficial for both parties: EU15´s GDP raised by 0,5 % and EU10´s GDP by 1,75 %. According to both the Czech Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Council of the EU Topolánek and the Chairman of the European Commission Barroso solidarity approach which accompanied the enlargement in 2004 should be applied even now in the economic crises.

More information, speeches of speakers and a press conference record are available here.