Latvia has formally applied to join the European Union, but concedes the road ahead will not be easy

Date: 19/10/1995

The small Baltic state, which regained its independence only four years ago after half a century as part of the Soviet Union, has made EU membership a key plank of its foreign policy since 1991. Latvia already has an association agreement with the EU and is the first of the Baltic countries to apply formally for membership. Latvian President Guntis Ulmanis said he hoped the application would convince sceptics of Latvia's determination to integrate itself into the West. Poland, Hungary and Slovakia have also formally applied to join the EU and the Czech Republic has said it intends to do so early next year.