Joining the European Union will boost growth if new members reform

The Association of European Industry and Employers Confederations (UNICE) fully supports the expansion of the European Union (EU), as long as it is based on the state of readiness of the candidate countries to join the EU, the organization revealed in a report. "Expansion will be win-win situation," said president of UNICE, Philippe de Buck. The report mentioned that the transfer of modern technologies, new production and management techniques, harmonization of legal regulations and unlimited access to the common market, would be among the main benefits for the candidate countries. Membership, the report claims, would result in the acceleration of economic growth by 1% to 3.1% per annum. However, these benefits will only appear if candidate countries improve their administration and legal structures and the Union reforms itself as soon as possible. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 24) M.K