The integration of rural regions of Ireland and Poland into the European Union

Against the background of the enlargement of the European Union, Ireland is often mentioned as a key example for the Central and Eastern European countries of a successful European integration process. Thereby, the development of the complete Republic of Ireland since the EU accession in 1973 is analyzed. If you survey separately the economic and social development of urban and rural regions, it emerges that the rural regions could hardly participate in the economic success of Ireland and that disparities have increased. Many farmers are depended on public welfare to make a living, as the Irish living costs have increased during the last years. Consequently today about one third of the Irish households live - in spite of the economic success of the Celtic Tiger - under the relative poverty line. Against the background of this depletion process, the question comes up whether Ireland can act as a paradigm for the European integration process of Poland. Looking at the initial situation of Ireland in 1973 and the current situation in Poland, several parallels exist, however, also strong distinctions. While major similarities can be determined with the agricultural structures as well as with the social value system, developments in Poland are still subject to the not yet completed transformation process from a socialistic to a democratic and capitalistic system. Moreover, the different size and amount of population of these two countries must be considered regarding the European integration process. On the basis of two rural regions as examples -Powiat Zlotow in Northwestern Poland and County Mayo in Western Ireland – rural development shall be presented and compared at the time of EU accession as well as today. Concluding perspectives of the transferability on the regional level shall be pointed out