EUROPEAN ROUNDTABLE V

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EUROPEAN ROUNDTABLE V
The EU in Crisis? Difficult Choices Between
Integration and Expansion February 4, 2006
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Some background on the EU

• Vital Statistics
• The institutional framework
• Accomplishments
• Symptoms of a crisis

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Vital Statistics

• Demography
• Economy
• Labor Markets
• Education and Research
• Technology and Daily Life

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Demography
EU 15 EU 25 US
Population (in Mill.) 385 459 291
lt 15 years 16.3 16.4 21.6
gt 65 years 17.0 16.5 12.7
Fertility rate 1.52 1.50 2.07
Infant mortality (per 1000 live births) 4.2 4.5 6.9
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The Economy
EU 15 EU 25 US
GDP (in Bill ) 9 169 9 613 11 084
Annual GDP growth 1.4 1.5 3.5
Share of economy ()
Agriculture 2.0 2.1 1.4
Industry 27.0 27.2 20.1
Services 71.0 70.7 78.6
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Labor Markets
EU 15 EU 25 US
Unemployment 1/05 ( of labor force) 7.9 8.7 5.1
Unemployment under age 25 16.7 18.5 11.3
Employment rate ( of 15-64 yrs old employed) 64.7 63.3 71.2
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Education and Research
EU 15 EU 25 US
of population with higher ed. Degrees 21.8 20.4 26.7
Public expend. on educ. as of GDP 5.22 5.22 5.35
Expend. on RD as of GDP 1.95 1.90 2.59
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Technology and Daily Life
Number per 100 inhabitants EU 15 EU 25 US
Cars 49 46 77
Mobile phones 85 81 49
PCs 34 31 66
Internet users 53 48 55
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EU The Institutional Arrangements

• The European Council (of heads of state
  government) Setting European agenda
• The Council of the European Union (Council of
  Ministers) Senior Co-legislator
• The European Parliament (731) Junior
  Co-legislator
• The European Commission Executive branch
  President 24 Commissioners
• The European Court of Justice

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Accomplishments

• Assuring internal security for Europe
• Pooling economic strength and opening markets
• Creating a respectable monetary union
• Building a functioning institutional framework
• Bringing about a major expansion

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Accomplishments

• Assuring internal security for Europe
• Pooling economic strength and opening markets
• Creating a respectable monetary union
• Building a functioning institutional framework
• Bringing about a major expansion

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Symptoms of a Crisis

1. The failure of the Constitutional Treaty
2. Apprehension over further expansion
3. Unease over unemployment, labor migration, and
   demography
4. Conflicts over budget, agricultural subsidies,
   and the future of international trade
5. Some growth in skepticism and disillusionment

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Schedule of Topics

• Introduction Old and New Challenges for the EU
  The Continuing Tension Between Expansion and
  Integration Hans N. Weiler
• The Failure of the Constitutional Treaty Causes
  and Consequences Christophe Crombez
• Further Expansion of the EU Divisiveness over
  Turkeys Membership Meredith Heiser-Duron
• Discussion
• Employment, Labor Migration and Demography Facts
  and Fears Marina Bourgain
• Budget, Agriculture, Trade The EUs Intractable
  Triangle Timothy E. Josling
• Discussion
• Conclusion