Opponents of the Nice treaty argue that we do not need Europe. The opposite is the case. Integration has been good for the economy. Since joining the European Economic Community in 1973 Ireland has received some €35 billion from Brussels, which works out at €10,000 for every citizen. There are now some 750,000 more people in work, our exports, on which hundreds of thousands of jobs depend, have increased in value from €1 billion to a staggering €93 billion and our farmers have received direct payments from the Community of €29 billion.