Free Republic

Well, are the inhabitants of the EU prosperous or not? Yes and no. Many Europeans (and Americans as well) would say the US is part poor, part affluent, arguing that wealth is distributed in a very uneven way in that country. However, regarding regional GDP/capita, there probably are even greater differences between the EU citizens than between US Americans (regardless of the reasons to this situation)! For instance, according to the study, Inner London is more than 36 times richer than North Eastern Romania! The article: "Regional GDP per inhabitant in the EU27 GDP per inhabitant in 2004 ranged from...

The European Commission is due to announce the timetable it will adopt for admitting Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union. It is expected that Bucharest and Sofia will be told they can join on 1 January 2007 - but under strict conditions. They will be checked for progress in curbing organised crime, controlling animal disease and instituting procedures for administering farm aid. The conditions are tougher than imposed on previous new members, observers say. The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Strasbourg says they are intended both as a reassurance for EU citizens, only half of whom support further enlargement, and...

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Setting the stage for its largest expansion ever, European Union (news - web sites) leaders agreed Friday on financial terms with 10 countries, mostly from the formerly communist east, to bring them into the union in 2004. At the same time, the EU leaders told Turkey it can open its membership negotiations "without further delay" if it meets membership criteria in a December 2004 review. The date was two years later than Turkey had wanted, but firmer than initially offered. Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul came to Copenhagen demanding a 2003 starting date. At one point during...