20 years since the accession of 10 States to the European Union: A new constitutional moment for Europe
On 1 May 2004, ten new Member States joined the European Union: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. This was the largest single enlargement in terms of both peoples and countries. Moreover, this accession brought to the common EU legal space a great variety of national histories, legal cultures and traditions. In view of the degree of integration that the EU had achieved by 2004, on the one hand, and the diversity that the ten new Member States represented, on the other hand, the importance of the moment cannot be overstated. It is fair to say that in itself the 2004 enlargement was a constitutional moment – a paradigm shift – that united Eastern and Western Europe into a common constitutional project. The European Union spread its values and principles to parts of Europe with particularly complex histories. While the ten new Member States entered the EU with a particular determination and hope for freedom, justice and prosperity, that determination would be tested by important challenges.
To mark this important anniversary the Court will host a conference on Friday, 3 May 2024, from 09:00 to 18:00, entitled “20 years since the accession of 10 States to the European Union: A new constitutional moment for Europe”.
This conference will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement, by looking at the contribution that it has had in moving the EU integration project forward. Has it influenced a greater consolidation of EU law, as well as a more detailed regulation of some areas falling within the competence of the EU? Or, on the contrary, has it brought about new obstacles to the application of EU law? 20 years down the road, what are the lessons learned on the widening and deepening of the European integration project? Has the largest single enlargement with its successes and challenges brought about a stronger Union of European citizens?
Attendance at the conference will be by invitation only. However, it will also be possible to follow the event via a livestream on this website.
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