European Union Financial Transfers to Applicant Countries

Abstract

The overall financial framework of the EU for the years 2000-2006 provides for specific transfers in favour of the applicant countries during future eastern enlargement. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the budgetary implications for the applicants joining the Union.

Generally, the impact may depend on the following factors:

• the date on which the applicant country joins,
• developments in the EU policies, in particular the decisions on the common agricultural policy and guidelines for structural measures,
• the progress made by the applicant countries in terms of GDP growth, increased competitiveness, productivity and their ability to meet the criteria coming from acquis communautaire,
• transitional arrangements that will come out of the negotiations.

In the view of the above, only an overall estimate for certain budget categories was made.