The EU

EU extends passport-free zone

Border controls in European states from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic are set to cease, as most of the EU's newest members join the bloc's passport-free travel zone.

The entry of nine nations into the EU's Schengen area at midnight on Thursday means citizens can travel between 24 European nations without facing border checks.

"Together we have overcome border controls as man-made obstacles to peace, freedom and unity in Europe," declared Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission president.

Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta are the new Schengen members.

As a condition for joining, the new members have tightened controls on their borders with non-EU nations and linked into an information exchange system for police and border guards around the EU, measures which Barroso said will boost security.

The UK is the only nation who has not signed up to this and its because the Government is scared shitless of the Daily Mail. They are frightened of signing the treaty because they might get bad press.

There is a certain section here in the UK who go apeshit over anything EU related and I think its because the majority are a bunch of racists

Its pretty sad that its 2007 and Britain still cannot move on and accept that we're European, I mean jeez stop with the umming and arring, make a commitment.

Of course the EU has problems, so does all big organizations. But the xenophobia coming from the Little Englander group does anger me, they go on about wanting to withdraw from the EU, but if they want that they should go and pull out of the UN, NATO, The World Bank, WHO and dozens of other international organizations. They need to realize that Britain is a two bit ex imperial backwater

Cheesy Europop

Jaana Pelkonen and Mikko Leppilampi are the hosts for a TV show expected to attract 100 million viewers globally. (BBC)

Eurovision under way in Helsinki

An estimated TV audience of 100 million is expected to watch this year's Eurovision Song Contest from Helsinki, which is now under way.

In all, 24 nations are competing, with Ukrainian drag queen Verka Serdyuchka as the bookies' favourite, just ahead of Marija Serifovic from Serbia.

Viewers can vote by phone and text message once all acts have performed.

Maria Sestic of Bosnia-Herzegovina was first on stage, with the UK's entry, by Scooch, 19th in the running order.

Scooch - singing Flying the Flag - said it would be "really difficult" to follow the Ukrainian favourite.

The Eurovision Song Contest shows up the fact that European nations still remain entrenched in their historical and cultural differences, and which countries stick together, goes someway to enplaning why the EU has had such trouble with the constitution.

National pride and pure cheese sums up The Eurovision Song Contest.