Quote:
Originally posted by Schwan
All the new member countries have to pay the membership fees from day one, and they won't be getting all the priviliges just yet. Some of the countries will become equal members in three to five years, and through this time they will have to pay full membership fees all the same. The enlargement means big income for the "old" EU countries from day one, not to mention a large market to have your goods exported to.
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What? That's bizarre. The membership fee is no great benefit to the current member countries. Paying for Poland's CAP (if it were in the state of other countries') would wipe out any contribution.
Ireland (where I am) is the best example. We have paid a contribution all the way through, but only became
net contributors after 2001.
As for exports into your country, sure. But that's a good thing too.. since it means that consumers have more choice and Polish companies get to trade out on a fairer basis.
I have my reservations about some of the countries entering the EU, but in the end, they should all join, so they might as well do it now.
I just want to see the liberal humanist character of the EU continue on. In many ways, we provide an important perspective from rich and influential body, that is not the US.
This is only ever a good thing.