Wider still and wider.

On May 1, 2004 the European Union (EU) will formally admit ten new countries. Then 2007 is the target date for the EU to let in two more relatively poor countries: Bulgaria and Romania. The Swiss and Norwegians show no signs of wanting to join. All the would-be new members are poor or big, or both. Unless the Cyprus re-unification talks go badly awry, Turkey will secure its invitation to start negotiations. And that means that eventual Turkish membership will become almost inevitable--perhaps by around 2015. By then, the four remaining western Balkan countries--Albania, Bosnia, Macedonia and Serbia--might also be joining the EU. If you add in all the Balkan countries, Turkey and a further scattering from the former Soviet Union, you soon arrive at a European Union of almost 40 members. Some people in today's EU may believe that the borders of Europe are those of traditional Christendom, but this position has never been formally endorsed by EU leaders.