Regional Geography: Discuss how the impact of the expansion of the EU will have on member states.
The member state I have studied is Ireland. The enlargement and expansion of the EU has presented both problems and opportunities for existing members in relation to economic and sovereignty issues.
The EU has grown since its origins in 1957 to its present day number of 27 member states. The most recent additions were Romania and Bulgaria in 2007. In fact twelve members in total have joined since 2004 (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus plus two mentioned above). This almost doubling in size has seen the addition of new members who are largely peripheral and underdeveloped regions and will, at first, be beneficiaries rather than contributors to EU funding. As a result funding such as the Structural fund which had been directed towards original periphery regions (like the West of Ireland) will now be redirected to these new areas. These new EU members have a much higher reliance on agriculture (28.5%) compared to existing members (5.5% on average). While this activity provides a lot of employment it is poorly developed and policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will see much needed funds being sent for the development and modernisation of machinery to the new states. Any funding diverted to the new members is less money available for the Irish farmers who rely on the subsidies for sheep numbers, forestation and land maintenance. In addition Irish farmers will experience greater competition on the open market and may see prices drop due to the new competition provided by the new member states.
However, Ireland has benefitted from EU expansion. In recent years the Irish economy expanded rapidly and saw a highly educated and skilled workforce emerge. The recent boom also saw a gap in unskilled workers to perform the manual jobs required. The solution was provided by migrant workers from new member states such as Poland. These workers were necessary to maintain economic growth in the tourism and trade industries. In addition nurses from new member areas were necessary to compensate for the drop of nurses available in Irish hospitals. The new members also provided a larger market for Irish goods and a greater number in possible customers throughout the EU.
While EU expansion has benefitted Ireland it has meant a continued reduction in Ireland’s sovereignty. This is the rights and responsibilities of a country to govern itself. When Ireland joined the EU we agreed to a set of common trade, rights and responsibilities. Since joining the EU in 1973 we have seen a reduction in the control of Irish fishing, farming, banking and commerce laws and possible conflict with a common defence policy as Ireland tries to maintain its neutral policy.
This question could be rephrased to ask you about the Impact of EU expansion on Irelands economy and culture. To answer this you would focus on the increase of new members working in Ireland (2009=150,000 foreign workers), school children either born and / or attending schools, growth of Polish shops, increase in demand for housing (rented or to buy) and demand for extra services in the community. Culturally the language and face of Ireland has changed in recent years. Estimated 300,000 people from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia alone. Explain the change in language, tv, advertisements and music.
The member state I have studied is Ireland. The enlargement and expansion of the EU has presented both problems and opportunities for existing members in relation to economic and sovereignty issues.
The EU has grown since its origins in 1957 to its present day number of 27 member states. The most recent additions were Romania and Bulgaria in 2007. In fact twelve members in total have joined since 2004 (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus plus two mentioned above). This almost doubling in size has seen the addition of new members who are largely peripheral and underdeveloped regions and will, at first, be beneficiaries rather than contributors to EU funding. As a result funding such as the Structural fund which had been directed towards original periphery regions (like the West of Ireland) will now be redirected to these new areas. These new EU members have a much higher reliance on agriculture (28.5%) compared to existing members (5.5% on average). While this activity provides a lot of employment it is poorly developed and policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will see much needed funds being sent for the development and modernisation of machinery to the new states. Any funding diverted to the new members is less money available for the Irish farmers who rely on the subsidies for sheep numbers, forestation and land maintenance. In addition Irish farmers will experience greater competition on the open market and may see prices drop due to the new competition provided by the new member states.
However, Ireland has benefitted from EU expansion. In recent years the Irish economy expanded rapidly and saw a highly educated and skilled workforce emerge. The recent boom also saw a gap in unskilled workers to perform the manual jobs required. The solution was provided by migrant workers from new member states such as Poland. These workers were necessary to maintain economic growth in the tourism and trade industries. In addition nurses from new member areas were necessary to compensate for the drop of nurses available in Irish hospitals. The new members also provided a larger market for Irish goods and a greater number in possible customers throughout the EU.
While EU expansion has benefitted Ireland it has meant a continued reduction in Ireland’s sovereignty. This is the rights and responsibilities of a country to govern itself. When Ireland joined the EU we agreed to a set of common trade, rights and responsibilities. Since joining the EU in 1973 we have seen a reduction in the control of Irish fishing, farming, banking and commerce laws and possible conflict with a common defence policy as Ireland tries to maintain its neutral policy.
This question could be rephrased to ask you about the Impact of EU expansion on Irelands economy and culture. To answer this you would focus on the increase of new members working in Ireland (2009=150,000 foreign workers), school children either born and / or attending schools, growth of Polish shops, increase in demand for housing (rented or to buy) and demand for extra services in the community. Culturally the language and face of Ireland has changed in recent years. Estimated 300,000 people from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Slovakia alone. Explain the change in language, tv, advertisements and music.
