CNN is planning to air a special programme looking at the countries about to join the European Union.

European Quest, to air next Friday (April 30) at 11pm BST, will feature anchor Richard Quest reporting from Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - all countries that will form part of an enlarged European Union from May 1.

As Quest explains in his CNN.com blog, the programme is "trying to avoid pompous grand statements of what "A New Europe" means," because "others far more qualified are reporting on the large issues affecting the EU such as the constitution, monetary union and immigration." "Instead," he says, "I want to get to the spirit that moves the people in countries like Hungary and Slovakia... As they go about their daily business, do they perceive that the EU means anything in their lives? Or is it all hot air and fury from politicians?"

European Quest will also air on Saturday, May 1 (5:30pm, 8:30pm) and Sunday May 2 (11:30am). It is not scheduled to go out on CNN's American domestic channel.