Lower trade costs and an increase in competition associated with the enlargement of the Single Market will have a significantly positive impact on growth in the European economy as a whole, even if the effects of enlargement will not necessarily be distributed equally across countries, regions and sectors.
Some economic sectors may gain more than others because of an increased demand for their products from the new Member States. As concerns the growth prospects in the new Member States, it is clear that EU membership will have a very positive effect.