20 years after EU's Eastern Enlargement: was it an economic success?

In 2004, the EU made its boldest foreign policy move to date. The bloc took in 10 new member countries, many of them were former Soviet states. A critical step to unifying Europe, it was an economic gamble. We asked economist Zuzana Zavarska at the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) if it paid off.

#EU #EastBloc #Enlargement

Follow DW on social media:

[margottomasik]

I travel to Poland quite often and I am just amazed with unbelievable transformation of Poland. 👏👏👏

[RandyLahey-tmmv]

I was born in Poland before we joined EU, in 1991. Joining the union was a game changer for people like me. I never had any problem with finding a job, taking a loan or travelling (which was always difficult for Poles before 2004). EU is not perfect but is for sure a strong driver of our economic growth. Glad to be part of EU <3

[BaumerPaulGefreiter]

I think it was both an economic and an environmental success. Air and water were incredibly polluted here in Czechia before EU laws and EU financial help stepped in.

[ricardomadleno]

As a Western European I’m truly happy for the Eastern Europeans I want to travel through the shown Europe and see wealth and a healthy rich environment everywhere more and more I see myself as European and not just my country nationality.

[qeitkas]

The rise of Eastern Europe is the most not talked about miracle of the last 30 years. It topped GDP growth of so called emerging economies. I absolutely welcome with great optimism this shift of power to the east. Brexit Britain is really not missed if on the other side of Europe, the EU strengthens much more. Eastern European countries are in general hardworking and smart people and will lift Europe as a whole.

[Blanka]

Poland was poorer than Ukraine back in 1991 and look where they are now.

[JakWilk]

Life standard in Poland is similar to Spain right now. Unbelievable success in comparison of misery of 90s I remember very well…

[syednajamulsaqib]

One of the main successes of EU is that it reduced inter-state wars to almost zero level in Europe.

[Jack-ulnn]

The EU has been one of the greatest successes in european history

[lawrencefalk]

Some of these countries would have been massively more corrupt if not in the EU and rule of law helps business considerably.

[eksiarvamus]

Occupied by the Soviet Union, not part of it...

[Duck]

No Ruski bots here yet? They will say its better to be part of Russia... NOPE!

[mikerepairsstuff]

Positive sum game;great message. Great video.

[moritzvilnius]

I'm Swiss living between Vilnius, London and Basel and it is crazy how Lithuania changed during last 10 years! wow!

[unitedstatesoffugu]

The EU's enlargement of 2004 was such a beautiful thing to happen. Europe as a continent spreads far from East to West, so including so many Eastern European Nations at once unified our continent massively. When im traveling the continent, I feel at home in so many different places, whether it's Vilnius, Warsaw or Valletta, Bratislava, Bukarest or Burgas. Yes, I am a huge fan of the EU... It's a genius institution for a rather small region on Earth with even smaller Nations hanging out there together. 🇪🇺

[ayoCC]

with unanimous agreement and bringing europe onto the world stage.
peace and cooperation, prosperity, moving together in a common direction

[zhihonghwang]

EU is a great achivement of the whole human species, which demonstrates that we could set aside all hatry, prejudice, and use tolerance and ration to unite.

[Tomek]

Jako Polak podziwiam Czechów, którzy jeszcze przed przystąpieniem do UE w 2004 roku osiągnęli poziom życia na poziomie 80% średniej unijnej, co świadczy o tym, jak bardzo byli rozwinięci gospodarczo na tle Europy środkowej. Ponadto życzę wszystkim Krajom obchodzącym 20 rocznicę przystąpienia do UE wielu sukcesów gospodarczych i szczęścia

[papi]

UK insisted they be let in, then the UK had a hissy fit and left. Silly Brits

[aga-ja]

EU is the best thing that happened to my country Poland, in centuries🙂 Luckily I don’t remember the ruskies occupation zone times but I remember a bit 90s and beginning of 2000s, Poland is a different country now then it used be. Not so much different than more developed Western neighbours. Eternally grateful for that:) and all the best to all countries that joined EU after 1989, and to those that are candidates!