Spain expressed on Saturday its welcome to the expansion of the European Union (EU), saying the expansion would bring opportunities for the countries to enter the bloc.
  
Jose Luis Gonzalez Vallve, Spanish director for the European Commission, told the press that the new EU member countries would benefit from the same aid which Spain has received for 20 years.
  
From May 1, the EU is to increase the number of its members from 15 to 25 with the accession of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
  
Bulgaria and Romania will join the bloc in 2007.
  
The "100 million inhabitants means a huge market" and the new citizens of the EU "probably never had wines from Ribera del Duero, tasted Guijuela hams or visited our beautiful cities," said Gonzalez Vallve.
  
As the main countries assisted by the economically stronger EU nations, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece have benefited a lot from their membership, he said.
  
"We must see all this as a huge opportunity to increase our wealth and our exports," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2003)