European Union

European matrimonyWhat ar the well-nigh pregnant issues liner the European fusion today and why?The European Union is an integration of European states that encompasses different histories, institutions, semipolitical systems and economies. At present the EU boasts 27 phallus countries with a combined population of over cholecalciferol million. The creation of a single currency, the euro, has light-emitting diode these citizens to dep finis heavily on the union for the success of their respective economies. Furthermore, many others nations out with EU legal power rely on the EU for trade, finance and investment aid. Political historians such(prenominal)(prenominal) as Leonard (2005) pick up repugnd that the EU has been in a state of crisis since its inception. However, despite such problems, the EU has emerged as a strong, steady and powerful specialty in the global political arena.The dawn of the 21st century has brought with it irreverent challenges for the EU to addr ess. Many of these issues were outlined by EU President Jose Manuel Barroso in a speech at the European Parliament in 2007. Barroso deferred paymentd economicalal reforms, unemployment, social justice and climate stir as being matters of pressing concern (2007). This essay serves to grittylight these problems and explain why they are the most all-important(prenominal) issues facing the European Union today.One of the major problems facing the EU is the ever increasing levels of unemployment affecting the majority of the portion states. Barroso (2007) express that close to 20 million EU citizens were classed as unemployed. More worryingly, Barroso evince that many of those out of work were of a younger demographic. Modigliani (2005) warned that such judge of unemployment set up induce to resources being wasted, a decline in sidetrack and thus a loss in savings and investment at bottom the economy. Modigliani also hastened to add that unemployment levels can range to c omplicated and long-standing social problems as individuals affected can grow despondent and discouraged by the pretermit of job opportunities. Therefore, unemployment is an important issue impinging on all of the EU states.Bertola (2000) alluded to labour market participation rank, wage inequality, employment dispersion across EU regions and market performance as being the major causes of high unemployment levels at bottom the EU. Labour market performance is guided by establishment and institutional policies in the EU which in turn regard stripped-down wages, assessation and unemployment benefits. Room (2006) and Barroso (2007) argue that although there are many ship canal to shrivel unemployment, such as wage differentiation and geographical mobility, such measures could alter the economic and political equilibrium currently in nates in the EU. Additionally, Wallstrom (2007) is quick to point out that although the elimination of unemployment subsidies across the EU stat es would reduce unemployment levels, it would in consequence increment the poverty and crime rates thus leading to accelerated levels of social exclusion. As a result, these repercussions engender raised alarming concerns for twain public and politicians alike as the EU struggles to implement a programme of reform to address the situation. Access to the member states products, capital and labour resources could provide economic efficiency but the levels of regulating required would sustain extremely hard to sustain.In response to the maturement problems with unemployment, the EU Commission has proposed some measures designed to tackle the issue. These include a revamp of the member states growth and job strategies as well as increasing investment on research and development. It is hoped that this in turn would lead to change magnitude economic output and thus the creation of jobs in the process. However, Wallstrom (2007) argues this could prove a difficult task given the hete rogeneous social and economic structures of the EU member states. Additionally, the collapse of the world economy in 2008 has lead to a global recession and has seen employment levels in the EU increase dramatically. The Employment in Europe Report (2009) estimated unemployment levels in Europe would evolve the10% mark in 2010 and would continue to rise.The issue of climate change has coif to the fore spectacularly in the 21st century and is another important issue facing the European Union. Changes in climate variations are occurring almost the globe raising genuine concerns about the stability of the planets ecosystem. According to Schroter (2005) these deviations may have a direct affect on levels of food intersection and water supplies. For example, Berkhout (2005) noted harvest failure within a demesne can impact the price of certain food commodities in the EU due to imports. Brandt (2001) explains that these festering concerns lead to the implementation of the Kyoto Pro tocol an environmentally matey insurance policy sanctioned via the United Nations Framework Convention on humor Change designed to bring glasshouse gas emissions under control in 1997.In the summer of 2003, a heat flap engulfed more of Europe resulting in record temperatures being recorded. Beniston (2004) stated that the heat wave bore a resemblance to the type of temperatures anticipated by the end of the 21 century. Beniston (2004) concluded that due to an enhanced atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gas, summer temperatures could be expected to increase by 4 degrees celsius on average. According to Christiansen Wettestad (2003), the EU generates one of the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for 25% of the worlds production. Brandt (2001) states the EU expects that there will be a 0.8% increase in carbon copyic acid gas emissions annually. Furthermore, the EU faces additional problems with its failure to persuade its members to adopt the carbon tax due to the many rules and regulations incorporated in the policy (Christiansen Wettestad, 2003).The use of fossil fuels is another factor that leads to global warming and can have a detrimental long term affect on the climate. Kruger Pizer (2004) cite that increased emission levels due to the development of the transport sector have led to further issues for the EU to address. These substantial growths in emission output can have a direct impact on allowance prices if the EU attempted to meet Kyoto Protocol targets by using offset purchases.The growing carbon market is another area of concern for the European Union. Howse Eliason (2008) argue that it is crucial levels of carbon footprint are monitored in order to reduce emissions in the air. According to Kruger et al. (2007) the European Union launched an emissions trading program in 2005 with the aim of meeting the Kyoto Protocol targets for tackling climate change. However, the complexity of the European Union Emissions Tr ading System (EU ETS) is causing the member states to experience various political and economic challenges as they attempt to meet the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol.Howse Eliason (2008) cite that an investigation carried out by the Financial Times concluded that a number of companies operating within EU boundaries receive unjust carbon credits and that this is causing an unfair subsidy distribution in EU states. Howse Eliason, (2008) claim this is an issue because the results do not coincide with emissions reduction. Therefore, the EU inevitably to devise strategies to regulate such outcomes.The issue of gage measures is another hindrance facing the European Union. Kicinger (2004) writes that external threats to security present far great problems than those posed internally. To put it simply, this is because these threats cannot be predicted. One such threat is terrorism. Wallstrom (2007) argues that although Europes policy of passport- exculpate travel is beneficial for business and tourism, it allows cross-border terrorists and criminals freedom of access within the member states. Terrorism is a major issue because innocent peoples lives are at stake. Schilder Hauschild (2004) note that EU states are also used as a base to plan and devise terrorist attacks. These criminals deploy state of the art resources, have well maintained networks and are capable of resorting to horrific levels of violence. Kicinger (2004) writes that Al basis an Islamist fundamental group formed in the late 1980s and noteworthy for its terrorist activities housed logistical cells in the EU member states of the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Spain. Therefore, the concentrated enterprise of the EU to tackle such problems is crucial.Another security concern for the EU is the technological advancements in modern arms. This puts the current security measures in dictate by the EU in question. Flow of trade and investment within the European states has given rise to th e prosperity of the EUs inhabitants. However, in spite of the advantages that free trade has brought, it has also heightened the threat of internal terrorism. Europe is now a playground for organised crime and is rife with drug trafficking, illegal immigrants and harlotry (Schilder Hauschild, 2004).Cross-border and neighboring threats also add to the security concerns of the European Union. Disputes in Kashmir and the Korean Peninsula as detailed by Schilder Hauschild (2004) affected the EU member states both directly and indirectly. The European Union Commission has pledged to combat the security threat and via foreign policy and crisis management initiatives have made comestible for security. According to Barroso (2007), these include securing borders with member states and with international countries more effectively. Moreover, the EU is attempting to regulate policies and agreements with their transatlantic partners in order to minimise any threats posed to security althou gh this is proving a difficult task to achieve.In conclusion, since its formation in 1993, the European Union has served to address a great number of important issues. These issues are not solely confined to the borders of EU but are usually dealt with throughout the world. This essay has highlighted the EUs growing problems with unemployment levels, focused on the pearls of climate change and has detailed the threat of terrorism to the EUs stability. These are just a few of the important issues facing the European Union today.