People are ready, business / Europe is not

Stories / possible developments

People are ready for a change as the society is more flexible, and the the state of the economy continues to slip.
EU governments are bogged down by politicians who are out for intrests of their particular country due to the dissolving state of the EU.
Businesses are hesitant to innovate and invest as legislation is stuck in first gear due to the low liberalization of labor laws.
Low economic growth is seen across the board.
Nationalistic governments limit foreign investment.
Large multinationals struggle as fierce competition from smaller rivals increases. Unable to draw up more competetive contracts with unions, small adaptive enterpreneurships flourish.
Massive layoffs at Phillips, Daimler Benz and SAP.
Galileo space program falls apart as control cannot be agreed upon. Germany wants to retain majority share and increase control in the program, and causes EU countries to withdraw their contributions.
Britain exits from the EU. Transfer payments and unfair portions of agricultular subsidies are paid out of Britains expense. Britain expends ties with America.

Arjan

Strong left-wing governments win elections in france and germany, while Labour has a historic loss in the UK
This unravels strong nationalistic labour forces within several countries, with more power for the unions again.
This results in the upkeeping of strict labour laws and a dissolving state of the EU
eventually the spending patterns and measures of the socialis movement causes a less flexible EU and organisation (under pressure of socialist movements and the unions), bringing economic growth to a halt
while the blue collar workforce is advocating many of the measures of the government the white collar workforce is becoming increasingly mobile, individualistic, demanding, and informed, causing a change towards a more flexible society
while european businesses struggle to become more competitive the asian (china) corporations are knocking on the porch of Europe's market
the socialists are brining europe into a deadlock by insisting on trade barriers
this causes further deterioration of the economy, while the new eastern member states seriously considder to join the russian led free trade zone in the area of independent states

Jasper

Many companies in the air traffic industry report record high turnovers and seem to finally have overcome the slughish years
A new wireless network is being launched and wireless internet is available everywhere. This new network also enables stable connections while moving (e.g. in cars/trains)
Because of the troubling state of the EU, many Asian economies switch to the Dollar as the main trade currency, which consequently leads to a huge decline of the value of the EURO. The Dollar becomes the #1 currency again.