European Union Enlargement - a good idea?

Is it really a good idea? The general consensus is that it is, but has the case against been made? There seems a concerted effort not to make such a case. The CRCE itself has no point of view on the matter but its directors have been concerned at the lack of balance in the discussions.

When the esteemed Economics Editor of the Sunday Telegraph, Bill Jamieson, and historian and acknowledged EU expert, Helen Szamuely, approached the Centre with the idea of looking at the idea of Enlargement from another angle, we were delighted to publish their researches as an Occasional Paper.

A ‘Coming Home’ or Poisoned Chalice? - EU Enlargement with a Foreword by the Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP was launched at Politico’s Bookshop in London to great acclaim, and is a CRCE Bestseller.

With the Nice Summit at the end of 2000 it is required reading!

The British Prime Minister gave a speech in Poland (October, 2000) "calling for the EU to become a global superpower to rival the economic and political strength of America" (Daily Telegraph, 7.10.00.)

Where are the other arguments. ? It has been two years since Bill Jamieson - Economics Editor of The Sunday Telegraph & historian, Helen Szamuely looked at these from the point of view of the applicant countries.

In A ‘Coming Home’ or Poisoned Chalice? both the politics and economics of enlargement come under critical scrutiny. Clearly set out and packed with facts and figures, this is a must read for everyone who cares about Europe and her future.

See what the Reviewers said:

"An eloquent statement of the case that the countries of central and eastern Europe are wrong to give such high priority to joining the European Union!" - Samuel Brittan, Financial Times (London) 3 September 1998

"An EMU which imposes a ceiling on growth and employment will lead, probably to a breakout by at least one country, but only after longer and more bitter social tensions than exist at present. Only then will Europe awake to its lost place in the world. By then, the Eastern Bloc members, so Szamuely and Jamieson forecast, will be as far behind the present member states as they are now. Membership will eliminate the competitive advantage of their cheap skilled industrial labour. Far from winning a market for their agricultural products they will be eating subsidised German and French food exports. They are already having to give up new economic freedom in the quest for membership. The d envisaged in the EU budgets up to 206 will not be there, because it is predicted on GNP growth rates which the EU will not achieve." Alan S Milward, Times Literary Supplement, 25 September 1998

In the House of Lords, Lord Pearson of Rannoch spoke forcefully about the Enlargement issue: "I should have thought that all the CEECs really need is defence from NATO and access to the market, which, of course , is denied them, I am not alone in this view. I have here a serious study which I have recommended to your Lordships before. The study is called ‘A Coming Home or Poisoned Chalice? written by the distinguished economist, Mr Bill Jamieson, economics editor of The Sunday Telegraph and by Dr Helen Szamuely, a well known expert on Eastern Europe." - Hansard (Proceedings in the House of Lords), 7 December 1999

Shortly before the Helsinki Summit, Helen Szamuely gave a talk at the CRCE and this is available as a CRCE study too: A Delayed Homecoming? An Update on European Union Enlargement

This publication is particularly interesting as it also includes part of the discussion with the audience.

For full details of both books see the publications page.