Surely these countries are entitled to share in a Common Agricultural Policy, to receive Structural and Regional Funds to develop their infrastructures, to provide protection for their workers, to provide decent levels of social welfare payments and to ensure that their female citizens receive equal treatment, equal pay and equal opportunities. We should do everything in our power to ensure that these developments are brought to the applicant countries, not some time in the future but as soon as possible. Surely the people of this country, who have benefited so much from the European project, should not be throwing a spanner in the application works of other member states. How would we have reacted had some of the existing member states stalled our membership application when we were trying to join?