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EU expands to 15, becoming bigger and richer
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Reuters
Dec 31, 1994, 8:10:04 PM12/31/94
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BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuter) - Austria, Finland and Sweden
become members of the European Union in 1995 and the world's
biggest, richest supranational bloc got even bigger and richer.
With their entry the EU's total gross domestic product (GDP)
will rise by 7 percent, making it 10 per cent greater than the
United States and 64 per cent more than Japan.
The EU's fourth enlargement extended the bloc northward to
Finland's border, giving it a frontier for the first time with
Russia, and eastwards to Austria, bringing the Union to the edge
of the former Yugoslavia.
The bloc's territory expanded by one-third, its population
by 6.2 percent and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 7
percent, making it a bigger and more wealthy match for its
trading partners.
Although the United States still outstrips the Union's 1.2
million square miles for sheer size, it is now only three times
rather than four times bigger.
With the entry of Austria, Finland and Sweden the EU's
population expanded to 370 million from 348 million -- 40 per
cent more people than in the United States and 64 per cent more
than in Japan.
The three highly industrialized new entrants, whose
populations enjoy a high standard of living, will add to the
Union's competitiveness on the world trading stage and open new
possibilities for exports, officials say.
GDP per head will rise by about 1 per cent. Austria at 122
percent of the average and Sweden at 114 per cent are well above
the EU average while Finland, at 88 per cent, is below.
But the addition of three new members will not make life any
easier for the EU's bureaucrats as Finnish and Swedish take its
web of languages to 11 from nine and officials from three
countries join the large bureaucracy.
There will now be 20 EU Commissioners instead of 17 and 626
members of the European Parliament instead of 567.
Decision-making will become more complicated. Finland,
Sweden and Austria are expected to lend their vote to higher
social and environmental standards in the bloc.
In referendums, Austria's people voted by 66 per cent, Finns
by 56.9 per cent and Swedes by 52.3 per cent to join the Union.
Norway, whose voters rejected membership in a Nov. 28
referendum, remained out in the cold after the enlargement.
But along with Iceland it will continue to have close
trading links with the Union through the European Economic Area
(EEA) common market which has linked the EU and the European
Free Trade Association (EFTA) in a single trading zone since
Jan. 1, 1994.
become members of the European Union in 1995 and the world's
biggest, richest supranational bloc got even bigger and richer.
With their entry the EU's total gross domestic product (GDP)
will rise by 7 percent, making it 10 per cent greater than the
United States and 64 per cent more than Japan.
The EU's fourth enlargement extended the bloc northward to
Finland's border, giving it a frontier for the first time with
Russia, and eastwards to Austria, bringing the Union to the edge
of the former Yugoslavia.
The bloc's territory expanded by one-third, its population
by 6.2 percent and its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 7
percent, making it a bigger and more wealthy match for its
trading partners.
Although the United States still outstrips the Union's 1.2
million square miles for sheer size, it is now only three times
rather than four times bigger.
With the entry of Austria, Finland and Sweden the EU's
population expanded to 370 million from 348 million -- 40 per
cent more people than in the United States and 64 per cent more
than in Japan.
The three highly industrialized new entrants, whose
populations enjoy a high standard of living, will add to the
Union's competitiveness on the world trading stage and open new
possibilities for exports, officials say.
GDP per head will rise by about 1 per cent. Austria at 122
percent of the average and Sweden at 114 per cent are well above
the EU average while Finland, at 88 per cent, is below.
But the addition of three new members will not make life any
easier for the EU's bureaucrats as Finnish and Swedish take its
web of languages to 11 from nine and officials from three
countries join the large bureaucracy.
There will now be 20 EU Commissioners instead of 17 and 626
members of the European Parliament instead of 567.
Decision-making will become more complicated. Finland,
Sweden and Austria are expected to lend their vote to higher
social and environmental standards in the bloc.
In referendums, Austria's people voted by 66 per cent, Finns
by 56.9 per cent and Swedes by 52.3 per cent to join the Union.
Norway, whose voters rejected membership in a Nov. 28
referendum, remained out in the cold after the enlargement.
But along with Iceland it will continue to have close
trading links with the Union through the European Economic Area
(EEA) common market which has linked the EU and the European
Free Trade Association (EFTA) in a single trading zone since
Jan. 1, 1994.
Reuters
Dec 31, 1994, 9:10:09 PM12/31/94
to
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuter) - Here are the key events leading
to the enlargement of the European Union to 15 members on New
Year's Day.
1957 - The European Economic Community is founded with the
signing of the Treaty of Rome by six countries -- Germany,
Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Jan. 1, 1973 - Britain, Denmark and Ireland join the
Community, taking its membership to nine.
Jan. 1, 1981 - Greece becomes the 10th member.
Jan. 1, 1986 - Spain and Portugal join, making 12.
July 17, 1989 - Austria applies for membership.
July 1, 1991 - Sweden applies for membership.
March 18, 1992 - Finland applies for membership.
Nov. 25, 1992 - Norway applies for membership.
Dec. 11-12, 1992 - Leaders of what has become the European
Union agree at the Edinburgh Summit to launch negotiations with
Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Feb. 1993 - Accession negotiations open with Austria,
Finland and Sweden.
April 5, 1993 - Negotiations open with Norway.
March 1, 1994 - Sweden, Finland and Austria agree entry
terms with the Union.
March 16, 1994 - Norway strikes entry deal with the Union.
March 30, 1994 - Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden tie up
final details of EU entry terms.
May 4, 1994 - European Parliament agrees to EU enlargement.
June 12, 1994 - Austria votes 66.4 percent in favor of EU
entry in referendum.
October 16, 1994 - Finland votes 56.9 percent in favor of EU
entry in referendum.
Nov. 13, 1994 - Sweden votes 52.3 percent in favor of EU
membership in referendum.
Nov. 28, 1994 - Norway votes by 52.1 per cent against EU
entry in referendum.
Jan. 1, 1995 - Austria, Finland and Sweden enter European
Union, taking it to 15 members.
to the enlargement of the European Union to 15 members on New
Year's Day.
1957 - The European Economic Community is founded with the
signing of the Treaty of Rome by six countries -- Germany,
Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
Jan. 1, 1973 - Britain, Denmark and Ireland join the
Community, taking its membership to nine.
Jan. 1, 1981 - Greece becomes the 10th member.
Jan. 1, 1986 - Spain and Portugal join, making 12.
July 17, 1989 - Austria applies for membership.
July 1, 1991 - Sweden applies for membership.
March 18, 1992 - Finland applies for membership.
Nov. 25, 1992 - Norway applies for membership.
Dec. 11-12, 1992 - Leaders of what has become the European
Union agree at the Edinburgh Summit to launch negotiations with
Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Feb. 1993 - Accession negotiations open with Austria,
Finland and Sweden.
April 5, 1993 - Negotiations open with Norway.
March 1, 1994 - Sweden, Finland and Austria agree entry
terms with the Union.
March 16, 1994 - Norway strikes entry deal with the Union.
March 30, 1994 - Austria, Finland, Norway and Sweden tie up
final details of EU entry terms.
May 4, 1994 - European Parliament agrees to EU enlargement.
June 12, 1994 - Austria votes 66.4 percent in favor of EU
entry in referendum.
October 16, 1994 - Finland votes 56.9 percent in favor of EU
entry in referendum.
Nov. 13, 1994 - Sweden votes 52.3 percent in favor of EU
membership in referendum.
Nov. 28, 1994 - Norway votes by 52.1 per cent against EU
entry in referendum.
Jan. 1, 1995 - Austria, Finland and Sweden enter European
Union, taking it to 15 members.
Reuters
Dec 31, 1994, 9:10:09 PM12/31/94
to
Reuters
Dec 31, 1994, 9:00:05 PM12/31/94
to
BRUSSELS, Belgium (Reuter) - Here are some key facts about
the European Union, now expanded to 15 members with the
admission of Austria, Finland and Sweden on New Year's Day.
MEMBERS - Austria, Finland and Sweden joined Belgium,
Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
SIZE - The Union's land mass increased by one-third to 1.25
million square miles.
POPULATION - The Union's population increased to 370 million
from 348 million.
LANGUAGES - The number of official EU languages grew to 11
from nine with the addition of Swedish and Finnish, joining
French, English, Dutch, Greek, Danish, German, Italian,
Portuguese and Spanish.
ECONOMY - The EU's Gross Domestic Product per head rose by 1
percent and its total GDP by 7 percent on enlargement.
THE FLAG - The EU flag of 12 stars in a circle on a blue
background will not change.
the European Union, now expanded to 15 members with the
admission of Austria, Finland and Sweden on New Year's Day.
MEMBERS - Austria, Finland and Sweden joined Belgium,
Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.
SIZE - The Union's land mass increased by one-third to 1.25
million square miles.
POPULATION - The Union's population increased to 370 million
from 348 million.
LANGUAGES - The number of official EU languages grew to 11
from nine with the addition of Swedish and Finnish, joining
French, English, Dutch, Greek, Danish, German, Italian,
Portuguese and Spanish.
ECONOMY - The EU's Gross Domestic Product per head rose by 1
percent and its total GDP by 7 percent on enlargement.
THE FLAG - The EU flag of 12 stars in a circle on a blue
background will not change.
Reuters
Dec 31, 1994, 8:10:04 PM12/31/94
to
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