Groot vuurwerk en feestvieringen voor uitbreiding EU (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Celebrations across Europe at midnight tonight will mark the entry of ten new member states in the EU.

From Tallin to Valletta and Budapest to Dublin, concerts, fireworks, exhibitions and parties will be staged as Union undergoes its biggest enlargement ever and symbolically reunites the Continent.

Leaders from all 25 member states will gather in Dublin, currently the capital of the EU, for a formal enlargement ceremony on Saturday afternoon. The city is also currently hosting the world's biggest interactive work of art, a collection of light "sculptures" to welcome new EU members.

In the self-styled capital of the EU, Brussels, there will be a fireworks display at

mini-Europe, a scaled-down version of the Continent.

The day itself will be marked by markets, fetes and music. Other more idiosyncratic events include a team of Hungarian athletes who have run from Budapest with the flags of the ten new member states.

Parisians will take to their feet - or rather their wheels to celebrate enlargement. In the evening of the 30th, a large-scale roller-blading procession will take place in the French capital. In addition, cartoons and musical events will be held throughout the city on 1 May.

Trees, lights and biggest maps in the world

Several countries will also celebrate in more unorthodox ways. A million trees will be planted by some 20,000 people in Estonia, while in Lodz, Poland, scouts are sewing the what they say will be world's biggest map of Europe.

Meanwhile in the Czech Republic, mist from water cannon and floodlights will create a rainbow linking 'old' and new 'Europe' and in one part of Hungary there will be a 24-hour bicycle race.

However, not all member states are taking part in the celebrations to the same degree. Some such as the UK and Italy and Spain have no major events taking place.

In any case, EU leaders are already unveiling celebration speeches.

European Commission President Romano Prodi said, "Five decades after our great project of European integration began, the divisions of the Cold War are gone - once and for all".

"Our new members bring to the Union the cultures and diversity of 10 countries with distinct historical roots stretching back through the centuries. We share the same destiny and we are stronger when we act together. I urge all Europeans to join in celebrations of this astonishing achievement".

Irish prime minister and current head of the EU, Bertie Ahern, said in a speech in Prague recently: "'Enlargement is about opening minds as well as borders".

From midnight tonight the EU membership will leap from 15 to 25 as the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus join the club.