Enlargement of the EU – yes or no?
The European Union is home of 27 European countries nowadays. Over more than 50 years united Europe has changed its face increasingly. There have been several changes in the size and quality of the European Union. The Union has opened its door to its new members in a few waves. The EU has also made a unified market and currency and amplified its responsibility from economic and social politics even to foreign and safety politics. Every expansion enriched the European Union by a big cultural and language diversity which is characteristic for Europe. On one hand, the enlargement means the EU will have more influence in the world of political affairs because it is bigger, it will have more power and will therefore create greater stability and peace. On the other hand, this process faces some economical and social problems. It is true, there are both positives and negatives in EU enlargement, but we think there are more reasons for not expanding of the EU nowadays.
Firstly, enlargement could produce high levels of migration as workers move from the new member states where unemployment is high to those old member states where it is low. It was anticipated that workers would be able to move freely. However, the old member states have created restrictions on the entry of labour into their countries for at least the first two years of enlargement.
Secondly, there are concerns that some new member states will not have the necessary standards and systems in place, e.g. in meeting standards in food hygiene, and regulations on agricultural production. Meeting environmental standards may be too high cost for some, while bringing public services up to standard will mean increased taxation for many citizens of the new member states.
Furthermore, by expanding the EU risks infiltration of low quality products to its market. Also the products of low quality from African or Asian countries would wear signature “made in the EU“ after the integration. It is the main interest of the EU to produce top quality products to its and also worldwide market and not to be harmed by the low quality products.
Last but not least, there is a certain degree of scepticism towards the enlarged EU, because we feel that the big European Union will lead to greater detachment of EU institutions from the local populations, and to a more cumbersome decisionmaking process. New enlargement would mean taking more risks, and it would be harder to tackle organised crime.
On the other hand, there are confessedly some advantages of expanding the EU. This process could mean spreading the stability and prosperity in the EU to middle and east Europe. Enlargement will generate economic growth in both 'old' and 'new' member states: in the new states the reform of economic systems to a market economy will generate increased productivity and efficiency and allow them to be able to take advantage of the Single Market through increased trade; in the old states as trade and investment opportunities increase with the new states.
On the the plus side is the fact, that companies in existing member states will have more confidence with those in the new member states, as they will be operating on a level playing field in terms of EU legislation. There would be more job opprtunities.
Another advantage is, as the future members conform to EU rules on pollution of air and water, their environment is becoming safer for their own citizens, and for those in adjoining countries.
Finally, the EU is extending a comprehensive safety culture to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and bringing their nuclear plants up to higher levels of safety.
To conclude, there are evidences for and also against the enlargement of the European Union. We say “no” to the enlargement of the EU. Too many states without completely stable economies have entered the Union in recent years. The problems began with the worldwide financial crisis and continued with the failure of Greek and Irish economy. We are lucky that bigger economies such as Spain and Portugal were able to hold on. Otherwise, there would not be enough monetary resources left to dig out of troubles then, since the finances in Euroval are limited. In the end it could result in fallen Euro currency. We know that not every member state can reach the same economic level but it would be good to wait for the situation to stabilize and countries start to prosper. Until the hectic period ends, the European Union should not be enlarging itself.
Žiadne komentáre:
Zverejnenie komentára