Posted on 09/06/2005 6:21:23 PM PDT by Panerai
Almost six out of 10 Romanians believe Romania’s European Union accession in 2007 will bring more constraints than advantages in the short term, according to the results of a survey conducted by the IRSOP agency.
The opinion poll on how Romanians view the EU comes just one month before the crucial EU report due on October 25, by which the Union will judge Romania next spring. Around 56 percent of those questioned in the poll commissioned by the European Commission delegation in Bucharest, said joining the EU will bring more disadvantages than advantages in the short term, but 68 percent said that, in the long-term, EU accession would be more beneficial.
In the poll conducted by the IRSOP agency, 1,001 people were questioned between June 22 and 27.
It has an error margin of 3 percent.
About 85 percent of respondents said spiraling prices, a dramatic fall of living standards and unemployment are their main fears after joining the EU.
East Europe Ping
Since Poland joined recently I can answer to their fears. Prices will be little higher but without exaggeration. Standard of living will be the same in short time perspective. Unemployment is a bit lower in all new member states expect Hungary where is a bit higher than before.
It depends from Romanian politicians attitude, if they will allow to be treated like that, then their wish come true. I hope that they will have always own opinion, that is only way to gain a respect among other members.
Were it my country i'd be afraid that in a few years EU membership will amount to turning one's country into a state-republic where little local control is given over laws, and absolute power is ceded to old Europe.
Giving up old control by Moscow, for Brussells.
Like it or hate it - Romania is already completely dependent on the economy of the west European markets:
Exports - partners:
Italy 20.9%, Germany 15.4%, France 7.3%, Turkey 7%, UK 6.1%, Austria 5% (2004)
Imports - partners:
Italy 18.3%, Germany 17.9%, France 7.2%, Hungary 6.1%, Russia 5.7%, Austria 5.5%, Turkey 4.3% (2004)
Source: CIA-Factbook
Therefore the EU-membership of Romania will give the country a big variety of possibilities. In the moment they do not have a lot of eventualities to bring in their voice in the decision-making body of Europe.
It should be interesting for our American friends, that in the recent years there was practically no German tendency to dominate other countries, although there would have been the potential. Germans are simply too much engaged with their own problems and have no craving for political power since WWII anymore. France under Chirac was a littlebit different, but for sure no real threat to the nations east of river Neisse. Chirac's insulting statements are just a sort of bad attitude.
There is also one thing for sure: Since there is only very little American investment in eastern Europe, the economic influence of the US is only marginal. The only "big deals" have been arms trading and some linked "pay-back-deals" like the new GM-factory in Silesia. America is missing a great chance to gain importance and to earn money!
Lets not forget about EU constitution failure.
Come on! This was no real tendency to dominate somebody! There should be no doubt that such a big nation like Germany needs its proportional share of influence on desicions that are made over issues dealing with German interests. I have nothing against special rights for countries with a smaller populace, but it should be a littlebit balanced. Over a long term it will be impossible to give Poland with 38,6 Million inhabitants (27 seats in the European council) nearly the same proportion than Germany with 82,0 Million inhabitants (29 seats in the European council).
Don't get me wrong, but if we want (or have*) to deal with each other, we should do it honestly.
A solution could be a more federal system that is not centered on the different nations but on the different regions... In the moment Europe is not ready for such a step.
* Some of my compatriots still haven't understood the big chance of Europe.
US is about to open a base in Constanta, the largest port on the Black Sea, which happens to be in Romania. It's a port which can serve both commercial and military needs and it will represent a huge economical advantage for Romania and a huge strategic advantage for us.
Sorry but I don’t buy it. When Germany signed Nicea treaty your politicians didn’t had any problems. In accession referendum we and other nations voted for these agreements. It was a clever move to sell us this voting system hidden behind the constitution but fortunately it failed. Whole EU idea it is many beautiful words and declarations but a lot more hypocrisy and self-interests.
Millitary engagement is economically not really interesting to Romania. The country needs investions in its outdated industry first, since the millitary threat to Romania is extremely little in the moment. Therefore this can only be a small contribution in the rebuilding of this scattered national economy. It is nessecary to increase the still very low income of the Romanian people. A littlebit more wealth is going to make their living much easier and will stabilize the country.
BTW - There is no doubt that this base in Constanta is important to the sucess of the WOT. Therefore it is a very reasonable investent. But this has absolutely nothing to do with the Romanian economy.
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