European Union changes could affect US alliances

The European Union decided Wednesday to induct 10 new Eastern European countries in May 2004, which will establish a total of 25 countries in the EU.\nSince most of Eastern Europe supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq which created a distinct division between Western and Eastern Europe, some speculate on the changes in U.S. alliances with Europe. \nProfessor of southeast and modern European History Maria Bucur said she believes countries like Romania and Bulgaria allied with coalition forces because they still have strong memories of the U.S. as a power that could have saved them from the communist empires. Bucur said the alliance was more about the past rather than agreeing with everything that the U.S. has to offer.\n"Nobody expected the French and Germans to come in and save the Poles, Czechs, or Romanians," Bucur said. "They always expected the Americans because they were the guys who won the war. It was pretty clear that the United States saved Western Europe from communism."\nBucur called Eastern European support of the war in Iraq a "make-shift situation" because U.S. forces will not likely stay in countries like Romania and Bulgaria. \n"The U.S. has been rather notorious in relations with small countries in Europe," she said. "They were our last resorts because Turkey denied us."\nBucur said she believes it is up to diplomats of such small countries to remind the U.S. they are on edge because they serve as bridges to the Middle East.\nBucur said she can only imagine the moment when France and Germany look around to see many other members who have supported President Bush and the war, and are forced to speak with a different voice. \nShe said she believes small eastern European countries might serve a purpose of mediating between western Europe and the U.S. However, she also thinks the major power lies in the relationship with Great Britain rather than eastern Europe. \n"Tony Blair has gone along with Bush until now," she said, "but he toned down the direct affiliation with the U.S. at the EU meeting yesterday." \nThough these countries will not be the largest economic members of the EU, their numbers will likely give them an important voice.\nPresident of the European Commission Romano Prodi addressed the rift in his speech at the treaty signing. Prodi said the war in Iraq has demonstrated Europe needs to put forth more of an effort to work as a collective body in order for their voice to be heard. Prodi also asserted that European countries will have much more weight in international decisions if their voice is heard as one.\nThe EU has largely been made up of Western European countries since it was established in the mid-1950s. Bucur said the 10 new Eastern European countries have been kept from the EU mainly because they have certain expectations for countries such as political stability and economic growth. Bucur pointed out eight of the 10 countries have former communist governments.\n"Why would you want to take on a partner in an economic union whose going to be a liability to you as opposed to being and active member?" she said.