Hungary, East Europe Concerned At 20th Anniversary Of EU Big Bang Expansion
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
BRUSSELS/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – With mixed feelings, Central and Eastern Europe marked the 20th anniversary of the European Union’s “Big Bang” expansion with concerns about its future dampening celebrations.
On May 1, the EU grew from 15 to 25 after being joined by Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
Yet several nations have since struggled to meet Brussels’ expectations regarding improving fundamental freedoms and a rule-of-law-based society.
Hungary, for instance, is still waiting for 19 billion euros ($20.3 billion) in funds the EU continues to withhold, about half of COVID-19 pandemic recovery grants and loans and the other half of so-called cohesion funds, officials said.
Brussels withheld the funds as the Hungarian government had come under pressure about its perceived authoritarian style and massive corruption in the country.
Realizing these and other tensions with those who joined later, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said, “Twenty years ago, the European family embraced 10 new Member States. [However] Our work on the reunification of Europe is not complete.”
“EU enlargement enhances security, justice, and democracy. We aspire for a stronger Union capable of projecting our values across the world,” he added on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
EU ELECTIONS
However, with European elections due next month, the president of the EU’s executive European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said the “Hungarian people have made Europe stronger.”
She noticed that “the vibrant culture and economic dynamism of the Hungarians permeate the entire European Union.”
Von der Leyen recalled that: “Twenty years ago, our [European] family was finally united in a common home.”
She added that “Hungary has always been at the heart of Europe” and that ”generations of Hungarians fought to regain their freedom” under decades of communist rule.
And, “Twenty years ago, you decided to take your rightful place in the middle of our continent. You chose Europe,” Von der Leyen noticed.
While opinion polls suggest many Hungarians have since been disappointed with the EU, a majority still supports membership.
RESIDENTS REMEMBER
Opinion polls also showed that despite tensions, at least eight in ten adults in Poland and six in ten in Hungary say the EU promotes peace, democratic values, and prosperity.
However, as residents remembered the 20th anniversary of EU enlargement, Hungary and Slovakia feared the Ukraine war would overshadow the party.
Since Russia began invading its neighbor in February 2022, hundreds of thousands are believed to have been killed and injured, including many soldiers whose lives had just begun.
Governments in EU countries like Hungary and Slovakia favor peace talks to end the war and refuse to deliver weapons.
And since the EU’s massive expansion 20 years ago, Britain left the club, leaving 27 member states to fend for themselves about their future direction.
Yet, with much at stake, Von der Leyen and others focused on flag ceremonies, which still seemed to make some crowds enthusiastic.
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