Europe flies flag for new member states

The EU’s 10 new member states were officially welcomed to the European Parliament today.

A colourful ceremony at the parliament’s Strasbourg home followed the Union’s enlargement to 25 countries on Saturday.

Welcoming representatives from the accession countries, European Parliament president Pat Cox said: “Welcome to Strasbourg. Welcome home.”

During the ceremony, the presidents of the parliaments of Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Slovenia and Slovakia each presented their nation’s flag to a soldier from Eurocorps, the EU/Nato rapid reaction force headquarters in Strasbourg.

Then, as a crowd of about 2,000 people looked on, the flags were hoisted to join those of the EU’s other 15 member states in front of the parliament building.

EU ambassadors and MEPs also watched as a band played Beethoven’s Ode to Joy - the EU’s official anthem.

President Cox said the enlargement marked the end of an “extraordinary democratic journey to an EU of common values.” He heralded “a moment of rebirth and of real hope”.

Former Polish president Lech Walesa, who was present as a special guest, said he was delighted to celebrate the culmination of a “long and difficult struggle”.

The ceremony preceded the opening of the European Parliament’s final legislative session before the June European elections and the first of the enlarged Europe.

Following an €11m revamp, the parliament will now play host to 788 MEPs, including 162 from the accession states.

After this week, most members are expected to return to their respective countries to begin campaigning for next month’s polls.