Seminar paper from the year 2004 in the subject Business economics - Economic Policy, grade: 2,3 (B), Leeds Metropolitan University, course: EU Policy & Business, language: English, abstract: 1. Introduction For many centuries Europe was torn by the antagonism of power. During the world wars a united Europe seemed like an inconceivable illusion. But utopia became reality. Now, 15 years after the fall of the Berliner wall Eastern countries are joining the European Union. The EU enlargement on 1 May could be the beginning of a modern fairy tale. On this day the European Union opened its doors to another 75 million people from the 10 new member states of southern Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Never before in its long history has Europe been more united than nowadays. (Warren, 2004) With a total population of approximately 450 million people the EU has created the world`s largest single market which will have a enormous impact on the world market as well as on the markets of the old member states. (MDR, 2004) The EU enlargement obviously impacts the established political order of the EU, however it is now - despite doubtlessly existent risks - broadly seen as a great chance in a political, economical and also very much in a cultural way. There has been a big discussion involving all different levels of society and politics about where this is going - and where it will all end. (Wallendorf, 2004) This work will focus on Germany as an old member of the European Union and examine the extent to which the benefits of the 2004 enlargement outweigh the disadvantages. Due to the word limitation the major issues will be mentioned but the attention will focus more on the implication for the German economy, although the issues sometimes interact each other it is not always possible to separate them. The agriculture sector will be left out of consideration. The pictures used in this report are taken from the official homepage of the German Government and the European Commission. [...]

Published in association with the Anglo-German FoundationBritish and German support for eastward enlargement of the EU has been crucial in driving the process forward and giving it momentum; unless this commitment continues, and strengthens, the process could falter. Yet, not only have Britain and Germany had very different views on EU integration for many years, they also have differnt geopolitical interests and very different levels of economic involvement in central and eastern Europe. In this book, leading British and German experts present a new analysis of British and German interests in enlargement and assesses contemporary policy approaches. Based on economic analysis, policy documentation and interviews with key policy-makers, they consider the scope for Britain and Germany to work together on enlargement, as well as highlighting the areas that could drive them apart.

Fully revised and updated this fourth edition is a comprehensive introduction to the politics of the Irish republic. Includes coverage of the 1997 general election, and the creation of a new coalition of Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats under Bertie Ahern that year. Examines the implications of a written constitution, changes in the party system, the power of major interest groups, the role of the civil service, the position of the media and membership of the European union. Places the Republic in its international political context, examining its relationship with Britain and the United States and includes full coverage of recent developments such as the Good Friday Agreement and the 'Celtic Tiger' economy. Reflecting recent developments in Irish politics, the book now has an entire chapter devoted to political corruption.

This innovative volume analyzes historical, strategic and domestic political influences on the character and dynamics of the European Union's eastern enlargement. Its main focus is on interactions between Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, in political-diplomatic, commercial-economic and socio-cultural fields. The book also examines the wider European and international contexts to show that as enlargement advanced, we also witnessed an increase in the potential for conflict among EU members, old and new. Steve Wood provides an eclectic and topical appraisal, which identifies the German state as the crucial actor in both the enlargement venture and parallel processes of bilateral reconciliation. The book is recommended to those with interests in contemporary Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, and European integration.

Selected by Princeton University as Noteworthy Book in Industrial Relations and Labor Economics for 2010. Are immigrants from the new EU member states a threat to the Western welfare state? Do they take jobs away from the natives? And will the source countries suffer from severe brain drain or demographic instability? In a timely and unprecedented contribution, this book integrates what is known about post-enlargement migration and its effects on EU labor markets. Based on rigorous analysis and hard data, it makes a convincing case that there is no evidence that the post-enlargement labor migrants would on aggregate displace native workers or lower their wages, or that they would be more dependent on welfare. While brain drain may be a concern in the source countries, the anticipated brain circulation between EU member states may in fact help to solve their demographic and economic problems, and improve the allocative efficiency in the EU. The lesson is clear: free migration is a solution rather than a foe for labor market woes and cash-strapped social security systems in the EU.