Regional Integration Ireland and the European Union First let us look at (regional economic integration). The (REI) “Agreements among countries in a geographic region are to reduce and ultimately remove tariff and nontariff barriers to the free flow of goods, services, and factors of production between each other”(allvoslog 2009) Pro Integration for Ireland Irelands experience with regional integration is the history of the involvement between Ireland and the E.U. In January of 1973 Ireland joined the EEC and participated in all the economic, monetary, and social programs. Many of the programs that came about by the integration are; common agricultural policies break with estg 1979, European social funds and H.R. development policies, European regional developmental funds 1975, and direct elections to European parliament 1979. Ireland is also one of the 11 founding members of the Euro zone which is officially the Euro area, and is an economic and monetary union. The EU is made up of sixteen countries, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. An assessment of the Irish experience of regional integration shows a small state has significantly reduced its economic dependence on a much larger neighbor. That this small state has been put on a politically equal footing with a previously-dominant neighbor, and this previously isolated state has become an active part of an influential bloc This Massive collective of countries offers the coming together of many different cultures, with complex, and advanced ideas from all walks of the European life giving many facets to the abundance of opportunity for integration to truly work. The European Central Bank is the responsible party of the monitory portions of the E.U. and though there is no common representation, Governance is handled by the currency Union. (Hill 2007)
References: Coman, A., & Coman, P. (2010). Ireland: An Example of Best Practices in the Utilization of EU Funds. Amfiteatru Economic, 12(28), 661-674. Retrieved from EconLit with Full Text database. International business : competing in the global marketplace / Charles W. L. Hill. — 7th ed Dennis L. Cuddy, Ph.D. June 12, 2006 (USA TODAY)