One of Lithuania's most significant investments has been in its young people. An estimated 8,000 young Lithuanians have already travelled to work in Ireland. The European Union has enlarged on two occasions since we joined. On each occasion, there have been prophecies of mass immigration and economic decline. However, European leaders have refused to set artificial boundaries to European unity which would deny opportunities to non-member states. On each occasion enlargement has not only improved the lot of the new members, but has also enriched the community as a whole on social, economic and cultural levels.