EVALUATION OF THE EU MEMBERSHIP OF THE NEW MEMBER STATES

HUNGARY AFTER FIVE YEARS OF EU MEMBERSHIP

Abstract

When analysing the impacts of EU membership on NMCs, and in particular on the
Hungarian economy, we consider integration maturity as a theoretical framework.
Integration maturity can be defined as a capability to exploit the benefits of the given
form of integration to the maximum, while the costs and drawbacks can be minimised. Integration maturity can be measured by comparing costs and benefits. A
country is mature for integration if membership on the whole is advantageous for it.