A SPECIAL roadshow in Brussels welcomed 10 new countries to the European Union this week, and 10 MINIs decorated with roof flags were lined up representing the new countries, along with a car bearing the European flag.

On May 1, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Cyprus joined the European Union.

The decorated MINIs were in Brussels city centre on April 30 and May 1 at the Place de Luxembourg, Place de la Monnaie and 'Mini-Europe', the tourist attraction that displays 300 miniature versions of famous European landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben.

MINI has registered more than 375,000 cars worldwide, in 73 different countries since its launch. Later this year, Plant Oxford - home of MINI - will see the 500,000th MINI roll off the production line.

The UK continues to be the world's largest MINI market, having sold a total of 40,510 MINIs in 2003.