Future of the European Union in 2030

Team Composition

• Arthur Danzi
• Gudmundur Kristjansson
  
• Mauricio Suzuki
  
• Sameer Agarwal
  
• Sri Hari Krishnan
  

Research Questions

EU & Europe Definitions - Mauricio

1. What is the definition of Europe?
2. What countries are part of the European Union?
3. What is the history of the European Union?
4. What are the candidate countries that want to be part of the European Union?
5. What is the euro zone?

Politics - GK

1. How is the European Union Governed
2. What are the main bodies of the EU?
3. How is the European parliament elected?
4. How is the European parliament structured?
5. How do the countries work together?
6. How does the EU take decisions?
7. How does the EU tick?
8. How is the EU budget managed?
9. Are there any planned budget policy changes?
10. What is the main driver for the EU expansion?
11. Will the expansion of the EU now come to a halt?
12. Is public opinion in the EU in favour of more enlargement?
13. What are the main issues in Europe (other than financial)?

Policy - GK

1. What are the Agriculture policies of the EU? - check if you agree GK
2. What are the Energy policies of the EU? - same here, M
3. What are the Infrastructure policies of the EU?
4. What are the Regional policies of the EU?
5. What are the Environment policies of the EU? - same here
6. What are the Educational policies of the EU?
7. What are the foreign policies of the EU?

Environment - Sri Hari

1. What is the key driver for environmental policy changes for EU the past 5 years?
2. Will the EU change its environmental focus in the next 20 years?

Economics - Sameer

1. What is the GDP and Growth Rate of the EU?
2. How is monetary policy governed within the EU?
3. What can cause the instability of the Euro?
4. Will the EU change its Economic policy because of the financial crisis in 2007-10?
5. How will be the energetic matrix in 2030?

Society - Arthur

1. Does European Union really bond its members together?
2. How do European inhabitants feel about the creation of the EU?
3. Will the large immigration numbers affect EU policy towards expansion?
4. What present of EU states are satisfied with being a member state?
5. How "European" are EU citizens and do they share a common identity?

Terrorism - Mauricio

1. What has been the impact of terrorism on the EU?
2. How the recent rebirth of radical nationalist movements influences the EU?
3. European countries are fighting against terrorism but, what about separatist groups like IRA and ETA?

Demographics - Sameer

1. What is the population of the EU and how is it distributed?
2. What are the main religions practiced in the EU?
3. What are the main languages spoken in the EU?
4. What are other key demographic statistics for the EU?
5. What is the level of immigration and emigration?
6. What are the main issues with changing religion makeup of Europe?
7. What will be the main issues with the ageing population of the western EU states?

Geopolitics - Sri Hari

1. Do non EU countries prefer to deal with EU or to deal directly with individual members?

Back on June 30, 2009, the UK House of Commons Defence Committee issued a report entitled “Russia: A new confrontation.” What a title to make friends and influence people? Looking at EU-Russia relations, the report points out that Russia has a preference for dealing with EU member states bilaterally rather than multilaterally. The report quotes Russia’s 2008 foreign policy which says that “Russia will seek due respect for its interests including in the sphere of bilateral relations with individual EU member countries.” Where is the problem? The report goes on to say that a bilateral approach enables Russia to secure itself the best deals and play one country off against another and this approach is adopted in the dealings of Russia with the EU. Should Russia be blamed for that? All European nations have done this when the opportunity arose. It should be recognised that there are profound differences between member states on the EU’s relationship with Russia. The reality is that some EU countries (especially the larger ones) prefer to address some of the main issues on a bilateral basis, in particular in the energy area. Some member states prefer to deal directly with Moscow on economic and energy matters and leave the most difficult issues –such as democracy and human rights, trade barriers and reciprocal access to investments in some sensitive sectors– to the EU. In any case, Russia isn’t the only country that takes advantage of the European Union’s divisions. The United States regularly takes advantage of its relationship with the United Kingdom, Holland and Poland. The United States continues to use bilateral relations even with non-preferred partners when it suits its purposes. The open skies agreement for example with Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Germany, Luxembourg and Sweden did allow US airlines to improve their position in the European market. The unwillingness of the European member states to allow the Union to negotiate for them did provide an opportunity for the US and given the upper hand the US has used the bilateral negotiations strategically and skilfully. In areas of crucial importance to the US, the EU is not a unified actor. The US continues therefore to rely primarily on bilateral relations with national capitals. Or consider the case of Japan. In the 80s Japan sought to have an increased role and a stronger voice in international affairs. But the Commission’s role and powers were a source of some confusion or even frustration for Japanese officials as it claimed to speak for Europe, except on matters which they were no agreement between the member states and was therefore constrained in it ability to conclude any agreement it would have wished. Remember at that time the Commission President Jacques Delors was particularly vocal about the need to prevent Japanese domination of certain industry sectors. Or consider the case of China and the frustration that develops about the EU as a foreign policy actor when the EU cannot speak with one voice. It has been difficult for the EU to reach a single common policy towards China. Each member state has its own history –from extremely rich to almost inexistent– with Asia and especially China and some have competing economic interests. Values and their understanding and interpretation can be a factor of divergence; on human rights there are different sensitivities amongst European countries. Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands put the issue at the top of the agenda since their public opinions and parliaments pay great attention to the problem. At the other end of the spectrum, the Latin countries seem relatively less concerned. Germany, the UK and France fall in the middle. Varying European economic interests are also a source of divergence within the EU over China. The 27 member states have different interests. Neither do member states agree on the interpretation and consequences of China’s strategic rise. So Russia is not the only country that takes advantage of the European Union’s divisions. In fact every country probably spends a great deal of time thinking about how it can use tactics against the EU. How can the EU solve the problems of the world if it cannot solve its own problem of disunity. By its incoherent action the EU remains an under-achiever in its relations with Russia and that’s not Russia’s fault. There is no Russian “divide and conquer” strategy. Russia does not play the “divide and conquer“ game attributed to its EU policy. On the contrary, Russia wants the EU to conduct a coherent common policy on all matters, as was pointed out in Russia’s Foreign Policy Concept, approved by President Dmitry Medvedev “The Russian Federation is interested in the strengthening of the European Union, in the enhancement of its ability to present agreed positions in the areas of trade and economy, humanitarian issues, foreign policy and security.” Russia’s pragmatic protection of its national interest is defined in clear, non-ideological terms in common-sense language. What is clear is that there is an absence of unity on the part of the EU. The European Union, which is now at a highly critical moment in its history, must articulate more options with respect to Russia than seeing it simply as a threat that uses so-called geopolitical tactics. By interacting, both sides can have an extremely positive influence on each other but the European Union needs to put first its house in order. Let us remember that Europe needs Russia, while the EU is the partner that Russia needs to develop an economic base which is not almost wholly dependent on the sale of crude oil, gas and certain other mineral and metal products. Christian D. de Fouloy is President of the Association of Accredited Lobbyists to the European Parliament and a political scientist. He’s a frequent writer and public speaker on international issues. Source:http://www.neurope.eu/articles/95524.php

1. What is the EU's outlook towards full membership of the Balkans and Turkey?
2. Would EU disintegrate like the USSR?
3. Can EU form a larger economic block with Russia, India and China?
4. In case that the EU will form a large economic block, what USA would do?
5. If Iceland will be the 29th member state, will it cause any friction between the EU and other application states?
6. How will EU and China relationship develop?
7. How will EU and India relationship develop?
8. How will EU and US relationship develop?
9. How will EU and North Africa relationship develop?
10. What role does Africa play for Europe?
11. What if Primakov's triangle becomes a reality?
12. Would Russia with its huge gas reserves would like to play a pivotal role in Europe?
13. How does the world (US, BRICS,etc.,) perceive the EU? Would they want a strong EU?

Infrastructure - Arthur

1. Does the EU need to focus on new infrastructure approaches?

Driving Forces

Political Driving Forces

1. World Unification
2. Threat of war
3. The Rise of BRIC Economies

Technological Driving Forces

1. Public attitude to science and technology
2. Mobility
3. Nanotechnology

Environmental Driving Forces

1. Greenhouse gases emissions trading affecting production in the EU
2. Scarcity of Water in the EU
3. Increasing need to clean energy

Economic Driving Forces

1. EU ambitions for economic growth, as expressed in the Lisbon Declaration.
2. Threat of total financial meltdown
3. European integration
4. European dependence on Russian Gas

Societal Driving Forces

1. EU view of itself – culturally diverse or seeking homogeneity – with the associated political implications
2. Increasing Mobility
3. Aging population
4. Changes in Religion buildup of Europe
5. Aging Europe

References

Scenario Reports

• NIC Europe 2020 - Scenarios - Workshop Date: April 28-29, 2004 - Venue: Budapest, Hungary
• New Technology Wave – Scenarios for Europe in 2020 (pdf)
• European Energy to 2020 - A scenario approach (pdf)
• Water Scenarios for Europe and for Neighbouring States
• Trends and drivers of change in the EU transport and logistics sector: Scenarios (pdf)

Economic Reports

• Statistics and figures for all countries of the European Union

Presentations

• Conference "Reforming the Budget, Changing Europe"

News & Other Sources

• Trends and drivers of change in the EU energy sector: Scenarios
• Economic Problems of European Union
• Immigration Problems in EU
• Immigration in the European Union: problem or solution?
• Q&A: EU enlargement
• About the European Union on Wikipedia

Interview Questions

1. What are the main political issues currently facing the European Union
2. What are the main political forces in the European Union
3. What will happen if Turkey is accepted as part of the EU?

Meeting Agenda

September 9, 2009 - 17:00 to 18:30
September 14, 2009 - 14:00 to 15:00