Abstract
The fifth enlargement of the European Union on May 1, 2004 has led to the accession of ten countries of Eastern Europe. It has been an ambitious decision as these countries had experienced very diverse economic, social and political developments compared to the EU-15. These enlargements directly originate from the collapse of communism and Soviet influence in Eastern Europe. These ten new countries represent 15% of the population of the enlarged EU and 19% of its surface. They also represent 4% of the total GDP, but their rate of growth is high. The EU market has widened: the internal EU market expanded from 380 to 454 million people and has now become the first world market, along with the first economical world-power. This enlargement has taken a very long time to settle as it raised many questions about the benefits and the disadvantages it could bring to both the EU and the new entrants. This enlargement has involved many changes for the new eastern members on the economical, political and social aspects.
