SEPARATION AND COHESION. THE EXAMPLE OF THE NEW EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES. ECONOMIC LESSONS FROM INTEGRATION

Abstract

The aim of the report is to analyze the separation and cohesion of countries on the example of the new member states of the European Union (EU) with the main emphasis on the Baltic States. We observe the impact of European integration on the basis of the main economic indicators of one specific sector of the economy - transportation. Pre-entry cooperation with the EU already improved the cooperation of the EU candidate countries with the old EU-15 countries having the developed economies. It promoted the economy and knowledge of the candidate countries significantly and thus also helped to improve the quality of life. A steep increase in the economic indicators of transportation companies, as well as other main sectors of the economy, however, occurred after joining the EU, in the common market conditions. Global recession also left a mark on the development of these countries. After the crisis, however, the new EU member states, especially the Baltic States, have achieved the largest economic growth in the EU, just like before the crisis. This is evident from the economic indicators of their transportation companies. The small Baltic States can be viewed as an economic model, on the basis of which generalizations can be made regarding other countries. The success of the Baltic States, as well as the development of many other new EU Member States' economies, expressively demonstrates the benefits of cooperation and cohesion of countries. However, it must be said that the development is not linear, but cyclic. They have developed differently and there have been problems as well.