Hmmm, "virtually dried up". Is that like being "a little bit pregnant"? Oh, and what about the Common Agricultural Policy (of which Ireland is a huge net recipient)? Has that dried up as well?
regards (and kudos for your posts),
MT
All those funds are "drying" up. The problem is that countries like Germany can't afford to pay for them anymore. So the generosity that funded say, Ireland's projects, is no longer available for Eastern Europe's projects. In the end, it's little to do with money - what it is to do with, mostly, is the people voting one way, and the bureaucrats not accepting it.
Regards, Ivan