EU parliament welcomes deputies from new states

Amid flag-waving and cheers, the European Union's legislature yesterday welcomed 162 new deputies from the 10 predominantly central and eastern European countries that joined the EU on May 1.

"Welcome home," European Parliament President Pat Cox told Members of the European Parliament, children and leaders of parliaments from the 10 new states as the flags of their countries were raised and the EU anthem, Beethoven's Ode to Joy, was played by the Strasbourg city orchestra.

Security was discreet, with two armed French policemen on the rooftop during the 20-minute ceremony, which took place under an overcast sky.

"This is a moment of rebirth," said Mr Cox. "This is a moment of real hope."

Charting the uprisings against communism across eastern Europe from the 1950s to the 1980s, Mr Cox said EU enlargement, joining East and West, was a first for the old continent with free people freely deciding to unite.

Former Polish President Lech Walesa, founder of the Solidarity movement in the shipyards of Gdansk that sparked the collapse of communism, was a special guest.

"The struggle was long and very difficult," he said. "Faith and solidarity... have made miracles happen."

Parliament's enlargement is symbolic as the new deputies, elected representatives in their national parliaments, do not have any responsibilities.