Fantasy of the European Union Term Paper

Total Length: 1690 words ( 6 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 6

Page 1 of 6

The less negative situation encountered in the Czech Republic could be explained by the fact that since 1990 the expenditure on health services per capita has been permanently increasing despite the restrictions of social expenditure imposed on the Czech economy (data from CEORG research Health Care System in Central Europe: December 2004).

Conclusions. A survey conducted by the CEORG in November 2004, 5 months after the accession of the four Central European countries (data from CEORG research EU Membership: November 2004) illustrates the positive feelings of Hungarian, Czech, Slovakian and Polish citizens regarding the European Union membership of their countries. The rate of agreement with EU membership was generally very high - over 75% in all the four countries - with variations among age groups, gender and occupation, and ranges from 81, 6% in Slovakia to 74, 7% in Hungary of the total number of respondents agreeing with EU membership for their country. Citizens' expectations for a better life were moderate but very strong. Today, over 3 years from the accession, an impartial observer can notice that these countries are still encountering huge difficulties in converging with old EU members due to internal political and economic frailty. The relationship between political turmoil and economic performance has not been the same in all four countries; in fact, their post-accession path has taken them to different places, as the Czech Republic and Slovakia are benefiting from a steady GDP growth despite internal conflicts whereas Hungary and Poland are advancing at a slower pace due to internal factors such as high unemployment rate and corruption.
Nonetheless, despite these differences, one can safely argue that European Union accession has not brought about the drastic changes that were expected; thus the myth of European deletion of the communist past has been deconstructed, at least for these four Central European states.

Aslund, Anders. "Economics, Not Politics, Is Central Europe's Big Problem." Financial Times. 8 Nov. 2006. Available online: Peterson Institute. http://www.petersoninstitute.org/publications/opeds/oped.cfm?ResearchID=682

Rupnik, Jacques. "Populism in Eastern Central Europe." Transit 33. 10 September 2007. Available online: Eurozine. http://www.eurozine.com/articles/2007-09-10-rupnik-en.html

Central European Opinion Research Group. "Level of Satisfaction regarding Economic Situation. http://www.ceorg-europe.org/

Central European Opinion Research Group. "Health Care System in Central Europe. http://www.ceorg-europe.org/

Central European Opinion Research Group. "Personal Trust in Different Categories of Social Institutions. http://www.ceorg-europe.org/

Central European Opinion Research Group. "EU Membership. http://www.ceorg-europe.org/

Gallup International.….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"Fantasy Of The European Union" (2007, September 15) Retrieved May 18, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/fantasy-european-union-35783

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"Fantasy Of The European Union" 15 September 2007. Web.18 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/fantasy-european-union-35783>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"Fantasy Of The European Union", 15 September 2007, Accessed.18 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/fantasy-european-union-35783