Newcomers let hair down for ‘Big Bang’

MILLIONS of people across the “new Europe” celebrated with street festivals yesterday in a jubilant countdown to the European Union’s historic enlargement.

Prime ministers gathered on a mountaintop in Slovenia, a bell tolled in Budapest and flags flew in Prague as 10 countries, eight from the former Soviet bloc, celebrated ahead of joining the EU at the stroke of midnight.

Dozens of events were to culminate with spectacular fireworks displays in the 10 newcomer nations at midnight when the EU becomes a potential economic and political powerhouse of 25 nations and 450 million citizens.