Abstract
M.Ing
The blue flag of the European Union (EU), with its characteristic gold stars,
representative of the European member states, has become synonymous with the
phenomenon of globalisation and continent sized trading blocs. It represents a bold
statement and way of thinking that started many years ago, and has started to
successfully materialise only recently.
The flag of the European Union is misleading, however.
Although these gold stars might all be symmetrically placed and appear to be equi-sized,
in reality this is not so. These stars are anything but equal in size or stature,
and the impact felt by member states, as a result of the new EU rules and
regulations, affect different members in varying degrees and ways. It is this conflict
among states within the techno-economic arena, in a time of change, that is the
subject of this dissertation. In this dissertation, an attempt has been made to
investigate, and subsequently, highlight the impact that the cross-border agreement,
or agreements, as in the case of the EU, has on the smaller economy, and in
particular to its industry.