1.   Membership had brought several years of sustained economic growth, with a high level of foreign investment.

2.   But all this is changing, in large part because of the pressures that global trade membership will bring.

3.   AFL-CIO membership also brings political resources to national heath care and education issues that are important to both the nurses and public school employees.

4.   It has put its membership application on ice out of fear of domestic opposition, but would dearly love the access to markets and other benefits membership would bring.

5.   NATO membership would bring Romania a guarantee of Western military protection against Russia or any other potential aggressor.

6.   Officials from the six countries attending the Parliament session said they felt certain that EU membership will bring increased prosperity and political stability.

7.   Still, many Chinese intellectuals welcome the possibility that WTO membership might bring enough pressure for change to override domestic resistance to needed economic and political reforms.

8.   Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash insisted the EU withdraw its plans for accession talks, saying membership would bring the island closer to Greece.

9.   Turkey has lobbied hard for Romania and Bulgaria to be accepted into NATO, saying their membership would bring greater stability to southern Europe.

10.   But the industry harbors no protectionistic feelings and welcomes the competition EU membership would bring to its oil fields, Steinum said.