Riots dampen welcome for new EU members

[T_i_B]

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1208006,00.html

The dawn of Europe's historic expansion got off to a damp start yesterday when police used a water cannon to force back demonstrators trying to disrupt the celebrations for the EU's expansion to 25 member states.

Several hundred anti-globalisation protesters hurled missiles, including a petrol bomb, as they attempted to enter the historic summit in Dublin but were repulsed by gardai. Ten officers were injured and 13 people were arrested.

However, the protests did little to dent the festivities. To the strains of Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy', the official ceremony was marked by moving scenes in the spring sunshine of Dublin, which prompted outbreaks of hugging and even tears among national leaders as the 10 new members were welcomed into the family of nations.

Pat Cox, President of the European Parliament, caught the mood with a quote from the poet Seamus Heaney: 'This is a moment when hope and history rhyme.'

[Michael Costello]

1. Not such a great article

- It does not mention this transition was done on May Day (Labor Day everywhere across the world - except the US)
- Of course it says nothing about why there were "protesters hurled missiles, including a petrol bomb" (and perhaps other protestors as well aside from these ones not mentioned) - because many see the way the EU expansion is being done as bad for poor and working class people.
- It says Italy is "Catholic", despite the fact that it had the largest Communist party in Western Europe from the 1940's to the 1990's, getting over one third of the vote in 1976

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. I don't think the 'May Day' date is particularly significant

and the fact is that Italy is one of the countries pushing for the inclusion of 'God' in the EU constitution, so the description of it as Catholic is apt here. Calling it 'once somewhat communist' would be totally irrelevant.

I'm interested in why you say the expansion is seen as bad for the poor and working class - it's not a criticism I've heard. Can you expand on it? Is it a criticism of any expansion, or just the way it's been done?