"European unification is a complex process," says Günther Verheugen, the EU Commissioner in charge of enlargement. "At last, we can overcome the artificial division of Europe brought about by two World Wars. The goal is in sight, almost within our grasp."

The European Union is negotiating membership with ten applicant countries - Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus, the Slovak Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, and Malta.

These prospective EU members have been bringing their political, economic and judicial systems in line with EU standards. If all goes well, they can become regular members of the Union in 2004.

According to Günther Verheugen, EU enlargement is a big challenge, but there are no serious alternatives. "If Europe wants to maintain its political and economic position in an age of globalization; if its economy is to be productive and competitive enough to keep on providing Europeans with the same, or even better, prospects of prosperity, then Europe needs to act as one in the core policy areas: economic, fiscal, monetary and social policy."

To find out more about the candidate countries, please click on the links below. We will add more country profiles to this list soon.