One day, 10 new members and Europe becomes 25

Derek Scally takes a notional whistle stop tour of the new member states to see what each will be up to on May 1st.

Derek Scally takes a notional whistle stop tour of the new member states to see what each will be up to on May 1st.

A private plane, a deep wallet and an iron stomach are all that's needed to set a world record on May 1st: simply visit all 10 accession state capitals in one day, party with the locals and sample their food and drink. It promises to be one of the best parties the continent has ever seen, so please observe the "fasten seatbelts" sign as we take off on a whistlestop tour.

First stop is sunny Malta, where the main concert will take place in the harbour area while the capital, Valletta, will host a European village and a huge fireworks show at midnight.

"It's a perfect time to visit," says Vincent Cassar, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Youth and the Arts. "Some 600 years ago we had the Maltese Knights from all over Europe in Malta. History is repeating itself now."

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Anyone with a thirst or a hunger on them should find a bar serving Farsons lager and pick up a Pastizzi, a soft pastry filled with ricotta. Cyprus celebrations remain a mystery, even to the Cypriots themselves, but visitors to the compact capital of Nicosia will find it hard to avoid the party of May 1st.

Join the locals drinking a Keo beer and some keftedes (fried meatballs) before jetting off to Slovenia. Celebrations here will begin at dawn on May 1st when mountaineers place the Slovenian flag and the European Union flag at the summit of Triglav, the highest mountain, 2,864 metres high.

There will be "no borders" parties at each of Slovenia's borders with Austria, Italy and Hungary and a big party in the capital, Ljubljana.

"It's about having fun because there was no celebration after the referendum," says Matjaz Kek, a government spokesman.

Pick up a beer, either Union or Ylatorog, and try some smoked pork sausage with cottage cheese-filled dumplings on the side. The Hungarians will be dancing on the banks of the Danube in Budapest on May 1st and celebrations will continue in Budapest right up until May 9th, Europe Day, fuelled by Dreher beer and langos (fried bread dough).

If the Slovaks have anything planned for May 1st, they aren't saying. The beautiful capital of Bratislava is always worth a visit, though, and the main square is certain to be party central. Grab a Slovak sausage or a lokse (potato pancake) and wash it down with a Zlaty bazant beer.

The accession states with the largest populations, the Czech Republic and Poland, still have no firm plans for May 1st. Prague's Old Town Square will probably be the central focus for Czechs, with the Staropramen beer flowing until late in the night. In Warsaw, celebrations will be held in the old town and castle, meticulously reconstructed after the second World War.

Fill yourself up with some delicious cold beet soup and a glass of Zywiec beer.

Up north, the Lithuanians have plans to issue commemorative stamps and coins as well as events in schools across the country. Main celebrations include a "We are Europeans" concert in Vilnius Cathedral Square and a European village at Vingis park in the centre of Vilnius.

You'll find a similar Day of European Cultures across the northern border in Latvia where celebrations are based around the themes "Europe is Us" and "Europe is a Europe of Diversity".

Try some grilled pork and Tervetes beer as you watch the symbolic raising of the flags of all 25 EU member-states and the European Union flag over the parliament. "We know how to celebrate and we will definitely do so. There's a national holiday the next day, which helps," says Mr Andris Govins of the European Movement Latvia.

Last stop is Tallinn, the fairytale capital of Estonia, where the concert in the old town square will continue as long as the crowd keep cheering.

"I think it will be a good time to visit Tallinn as there will be lots of parties. Estonians love to party, so come on up," says Paavo Palk of the European Information Office. Have a Saku beer to wash down a blood sausage and party through to dawn, thanks to the summer white nights when the sun barely sets. One day, 10 new EU members and the mother of all hangovers the following morning.