BRINGING COMMONSENSE TO BRUSSELS

   15/04/2003

 

 

ENLARGED EU MUST NOT BECOME A BLANK CHEQUE BOOK 

Euro MP David Sumberg has given a cautious welcome to ten new countries joining the European Union vowing to fight tooth and nail to ensure North West taxpayers still get value for money.

Mr Sumberg said history had been created when MEPs gave the final assent to the ten countries seeking Membership of the European Parliament.

Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, are now set to join the EU in 2004.

But Mr Sumberg said the new bigger EU must not confuse its priorities.

"We all agree that it is tremendous - after fifty years of struggle against Communism - to see Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the others taking their seat at the European top table,' he said. "But the EU exists for the benefit of all members not the few. Let there be no doubt, the new countries will be expecting huge investment almost immediately. It is imperative therefore that the EU exercises control and caution. The EU must not get carried away signing blank cheque after blank cheque for the new countries. The new members must be given a clear message by the EU that membership is not the cure to all ills or a license to print money. Of course the new members must receive investment but equally the UK must not be neglected. 

"The North West contributes massively to the EU's budget and must see the fruits of that investment. Many deprived parts of our region still need European investment to revamp run down areas and create jobs and commerce. British MEPs must fight for a fair deal for UK taxpayers in the new EU."

Additional Information

All but one of the applicant countries will hold a referendum on EU membership. Malta led the way on 8 March 2003, although the result of its referendum will not be binding. Slovenia was next on 23 March with another non-binding vote. In both cases the vote was yes to EU membership. Five binding referendums then follow: Hungary on 12 April, Lithuania on 11 May, Slovakia on 16-17 May, Poland on 8 June and the Czech Republic on 15-16 June. Next comes Estonia on 14 September, where the result will be non-binding, and Latvia with a binding vote on 20 September. Cyprus is not planning a referendum.


 

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