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BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Reporters' Log - EU Enlargement

Angus Roxburgh :: Vilnius, Lithuania :: 1600GMT

It's been 24 hours full of symbolism here in Lithuania. After the fireworks and the concerts came the raising of the European Union flag in front of the presidential palace and the naming of Europe Square in the capital, Vilnius. This is one of the poorest countries in the EU, but it also has a booming economy - it grew nine percent last year and so people are full of hope that with the help of regional subsidies and the huge tariff-free market, the standard of living will grow rapidly. There are fears too that Lithuanian farmers and industries will find it hard to compete, but for the moment such worries are far out-weighed by a great sense of history.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3662949.stm∞