German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has described the enlargement of the European Union by 10 states 20 years ago as a “moment of European happiness.’’

On May 1, 2004, the EU grew from 15 to 25 members and added 75 million new citizens, Mr Steinmeier said at a joint news conference with Czech President Petr Pavel in Prague on Monday.

“The enlargement of the European Union at that time, I think, was an impressive example of a momentous and successful transformation in Europe, which finally overcame the division of Europe that resulted from the cold war.’’

The EU’s largest single enlargement to date saw the former Eastern Bloc states of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland join the EU along with Malta and Cyprus.

Mr Steinmeier travelled to Prague in the afternoon to celebrate the anniversary with the Czech Republic.

He said, “I am sure that membership in the EU has changed the Czech Republic, but the Czech Republic has also changed the EU.’’

Mr Steinmeier said even today, the enlargement of the EU is of central strategic interest for Germany, the Czech Republic and the European Union.

He said, “Germany stands by the accession prospects of the candidate countries of the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia.’’

(dpa/NAN)