By the end of 2002 Ireland will have received some €34 billion in net transfers from Europe since joining the EEC in 1973, the Minister for Finance Mr McCreevy said today.
Mr McCreevy stressed today his own view that a No to Nice will undermine the central position which Ireland has held in the EU and will dilute Irish influence in the key future negotiations, including those related to funding.
The Minister stressed that Ireland remains a significant net beneficiary of the EU budget. In 2001 Ireland’s net EU transfer is €1.3 billion. To raise this amount domestically would require an increase in the standard rate of income tax of nearly 4 per cent, according to Mr McCreevy.
He added that "significant" CAP and structural fund receipts are due to Ireland over the rest of the period to 2006 and Ireland will be a substantial net beneficiary for the period as a whole.
Mr McCrrevy said that it is imperative that Ireland retains its central position for future EU negotiations on crucial issues, including the post-2006 EU Budget negotiations.