Letter to the Editor: EU offers new hope

From Mr Roland Rudd

Today is the second anniversary of the accession of 10 new countries to the European Union. Just two decades previously, during the cold war, the world was in the midst of a showdown between communism and western liberal democracy. But the accession of the new countries in 2004, most of which had been communist, heralded a significant step on the road of political and economic reforms. As a result of accession, an extra 100 million citizens have joined the EU and can benefit form the economic opportunities presented by European integration, and the political reform precipitated by joining. The task of assimilating the former communist bloc into the EU and bringing some political cohesion to Europe should not be taken for granted. It is a remarkable achievement.

Roland Rudd
Chairman, Business for New Europe