25 Years of EU Enlargement

25th Anniversary of the 2004 EU Enlargement.

Sixth EU joint issue. All 21 eurozone states are releasing a coin with this design on various dates. The coins differ only in the inscription, which appears in the respective national language.

The EU enlargement of 1 May 2004 was the largest enlargement round in the history of the European Union: ten states — including Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and the three Baltic republics — joined simultaneously, fundamentally shifting Europe's political and economic balance. This step held particular significance for Austria: the country shared long borders with several of the new member states and had close historical, cultural and economic ties to Central Europe. The accession of its neighbours opened up existing links to the common internal market and made Austria a central hub in an enlarged Europe.

Looking back over 25 years, the depth of integration becomes clear: border controls disappeared, labour markets grew together, and Austrian companies were among the early investors in the new member states. The 2004 enlargement is now regarded as a key moment in the European post-war order — a political project that permanently overcame the division of the continent after 1945. In 2029, Austria marks this 25th anniversary with a 2-euro commemorative coin, signalling its own role in a Europe that has grown together.