'EU entry no guarantee of success'

EU MEMBERSHIP is not a guarantee of economic and social progress, employers group IBEC has told eastern European businesses.

According to IBEC's director of enterprise Brendan Butler, the benefits of EU membership can only be realised if they are underpinned by strong national policies.

Mr Butler warned businesses in the 10 countries who joined the EU over the weekend, as well as countries whose applications are currently under consideration, that Ireland's first 15 years in the EU provided evidence that EU membership alone was not enough to fuel economic progress.