Abstract
The fifth enlargement of 2004 was the most ambitious in the history of the European Union. It was the largest ever in terms of number of countries (10) and population (75 million) acceding to the European Union. This paper focuses on the economic results of the enlargement. The paper questions whether the 2004 enlargement boosted the EU-15's and/or new member states' economies. It also examines whether Western European countries' initial fears were actually justified actually and whether the EU-15 paid the bill for Eastern and Central European economic success. The paper includes graphs and tables.

Paper Outline:
Introduction
The Challenging Fifth Enlargement has Undeniably Boosted Newcomers' Economies
Two Years Later: An Economic Success?
Has Western Europe paid the Bill for Eastern and Central European Economic Success?
Conclusion
References

From the Paper
"It is almost impossible to draw conclusions regarding the migration of Eastern European workers to the EU-15 since all but three of the old member states (Ireland, the UK, and Sweden) have applied transitional restriction since May 2004. Other old Member States maintained a work-permit regime combined with a quota system, invoking an up-to-seven-year derogation from the principle of free movement of workers granted by the 2003 Accession Treaty. We can nevertheless notice that migratory flows from the EU-10 have been small, even towards countries that have allowed unrestricted movement of workers. This is consistent with the experience of previous enlargements: mobility of labor remains very low in Europe."

Tags: poland, slovenia, euro, Katinka, Barysch, CAP