Reaping budget benefits

"All EU members benefited from the Union's enlargement," said the EU Budget Commissioner, Dalia Grybauskaite, when discussing the first budget after the bloc's expansion. Although the major beneficiaries are the old EU members, all the new countries also received more money than they contributed, with the surplus coming to EUR 2.9 (zł.11.3) billion overall. The year preceding the accession, it was just EUR 1.3 (zł.5.08) billion.

Poland ranks 10th in the list of beneficiaries in the EU-25 in 2004. The biggest beneficiary was Spain, which got EUR 16.4 (zł.64) billion from EU coffers. The Iberians are followed by France, with EUR 12.9 (zł.50.4) billion, Germany, with EUR 11.7 (zl.45.7) billion, Italy, with EUR 10.4 (zl.40.6) billion, and the UK, with EUR 7.1 (zl.27.7) billion.

In total, Poland received EUR 2.7 (zł.10.5) billion. After deducting the contribution the country had to pay, Poland's budget balance was EUR 1.4 (zł.5.5) billion in the black.

Grybauskaite explains that the financial means for new members are smaller than expected as the funds have only stared to flow. Besides, in 2004-2006 payments to new members are graduated and will increase with the new budget, which will cover the period 2007-2013. This is why new member states have been keen to close an agreement on the new budget.

Funds aimed at agriculture and rural regions' development amounted to EUR 43.6 (zł.170) billion and constituted 47.5 percent of the 2004 budget. This means that these subsidies fell compared to 2003, when they reached EUR 44.4 (zł.173) billion. Administrative spending was largely concentrated in Luxembourg and Brussels, where the seats of EU institutions are located.

Despite skepticism over admitting new members, the figures show that new members are not a major burden for the EU. The budget remained below one percent of GDP calculated in real payments. All member states have obtained EUR 92 (zł.359) billion altogether, for regional development, agriculture, creating new jobs, and research.

The bulk of the EU budget's income was member states' contributions. In 2004, they amounted to EUR 82.9 (zł.324) billion.