Posted on 01/08/2005 4:02:34 PM PST by jb6
EurActiv gives an overview of the main EU policy debates that will dominate the agenda in 2005. From enlargement to climate change and the financial perspectives.
RELATED
Chemicals Policy review (REACH) Transatlantic relations The EU's new neighbours Brief News:
Financial perspectives: The discussion on the next long-term EU budget for 2007-2013 is expected to come to a conclusion in June. The difficult debate will set the six big net contributors UK, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Austria and France, who argue a diminished EU budget ceiling set at one percent of GDP, against net receivers.
Enlargement: Turkey and the EU will have to find a diplomatically viable solution to the unresolved Cyprus-problem before the planned formal opening of accession negotiations on 3 October. At the Brussels summit December 2004 Turkey resisted giving full recognition to Cyprus, but commmitted itself to doing so before October 2005. The signing of accession treaties in April with Romania and Bulgaria will also figure among the highlights of the year. The EU may also open accession talks with Croatia in March.
Lisbon strategy: The mid-term review to be presented at the Spring summit will use the input from the Kok report to try and refocus the ambitious, but so far relatively unsuccesful attempt to simultaneously boost competitiveness, sustainable development and social cohesion.
Sustainable development strategy: The mid-term review of the strategy will also be on the agenda at the Spring summit. The sustainability agenda has been somewhat in the shadow of the competitiveness drive in recent years.
Near neigbourhood policy: The outcome of the Ukraine elections in December 2004 and the Turkey accession talks are expected to renew the debate about the final frontiers of the EU, and trigger new thinking on a model which is more than EEA status, but less than full EU membership.
REACH: The heated debate on the EU chemicals policy review between the Commission and industry is expected to continue. The European Parliament will deliver its first reading in the second half of 2005. Climate change: The UK, which holds the G8 and EU presidencies in 2005, has already declared that climate change will be a top priority. Furthermore the EU's trump-card on its Koyto commitments, the CO2 emissions trading scheme, will meet its first reality-check. The Commission will also present a report of the costs of action and non-action on climate change.
The EU Constitution: The first referenda on the Constitution Treaty are expected to be held in Spain, Denmark and Ireland, and possilbly also in France, Portugal and Poland.
Visit of US President George W. Bush in February: The event is expected to be an important stocktaking of the transatlantic relationship that could set the way forward on issues like post-war Iraq and Iran.
Isn't that nice, they're using 5 year plans.
LOL. Who was the Italian politician who called the EU, Soviet Union West?
In Short:
Commissioner Wallström presented the EU's Autumn 2004 Eurobarometer on 10 December. The poll shows broad support for a European Constitution and a split between 'new' and 'old' Europe on further enlargement.
Brief News:
Some of the main findings of Eurobarometer 62:
Europeans are more satisfied and more optimistic about their future;
Unemployment is the main concern for the citizens; there is a big increase in satsfaction with EU membership (+8 per cent); citizens also seem to have a more positive perception of the EU (+6 per cent) - Sweden and the UK have the lowest scores on perception of the EU;
there is greater trust in the European Commission (note: unelected and uncheckable E.Commission) and the European Parliament;
more than two thirds of respondents support the idea of 'a' European constitution [the survey warns that this does not necessarily mean for the current text];
there is a big increase in support for further enlargements of the EU, but these figures have to be qualified: the support for more enlargement is expressed mainly in the new member states; eleven of the 'old' 15 member states show much less support to enlarge the EU further (only 39% of the French and 36% of the Germans being in favour and Austrians being the most negative on this); (Drag Noch Ost)
there are growing expectations for a real common foreign policy;Would explain why Poland and others are pulling out of Iraq, one united EU/Fourth Reich front againt...(read the next one)
Europeans have a negative image about the role of the US in the world.
The Eurobarometer survey 62 was carried out between October and November 2004. It encompasses the 25 member states, the candidate countries (Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Turkey) as well as Northern Cyprus.
Read my next post, you're absolutely right.
bump
Can we say FLOODGATE? But they plan on accepting Albania and Bosnia too.
I doubt that Putin wants to be a part of it because it would weaken Russian power. Just EU wishful thinkin' that Russian would join up.
Russia is now engaging China and India is some serious business deals.
I don't like that either.
The USA has a serious potential enemy in the EU and in any economic alliance which could damage AMERICAN way of life and freedoms.
I only care about USA. EU is p.u.
I see very few longtime freepers on FR that love the EU.
Oh please, when you thought EU involvement in Ukraine was anti-Putin/Russia you cheerled for it none stop. You hate Russians, we all know that, other then that, you'll bend and go with anyone for your point. Anyone who reads your posts and posting history can see how you skip and jump around.
Turkey will flood the place with muslims from all over the Middle East and the borderless, EU will be the new Turkish empire.
And of course, an enemy to the CHRISTIANS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.
You do remember that the EU did not FORMALLY recognize any contribution of Christianity/the Churches to the developement of Europe don't you???
Oh, if we get a Soros/pro EU backed candidate like kerry and Hitlery next time around.... it will not be pretty for Christians or Jews or Israel.
We need more former Soviet Republics in the EU, they are more pro-American than the western Europeans because they remember the Soviet boot on their necks. Western Europe is ungrateful for how the US protected them during the Cold War, but in the east they value their hard-won freedom.
Putin is smart like a fox. He will play the EU like a violin and then, just Russians did to Napolean and Hitler... he will let them think they can win and then dash their hopes.
You are such an anti-Russian. It clouds your ideas.
Muslims are a danger to the world. Putin knows full well. He will make alliances that suit his needs, with whoever. He is a chess player, I am sure.
China is more of ally to him than the EU. Just watch.
In the end, Christ returns and saves the Christians. Wherever they are. Names of countries will be meaningless to him.
Albania is talking of leaving.
The EU is totally the enemy of the USA, just like the UN.
Oh..I forgot..they are letting the Islamic extremeists in. Please ignore this message.
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