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 has been EU's environmental policy over past 5 years?

1. EU's response to climate change?

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. What are trade statistics for the EU?
5. What is the energy profile of the EU?

Society - Arthur

1. Does European Union really bond its members together?
2. How do European inhabitants feel about EU?
3. What are the immigration trends to EU for EU and Non-EU citizens?
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?

Geopolitics - Sri Hari

1. Do non EU countries prefer to deal with EU or to deal directly with individual members?
2. Enlargement of EU?
3. The future of European Union: Managing Globalization
4. What is the EU's outlook towards full membership of the Balkans and Turkey?
5. Would EU disintegrate like the USSR?
6. Can EU form a larger economic block with Russia, India and China?
7. In case that the EU will form a large economic block, what USA would do?
8. If Iceland will be the 29th member state, will it cause any friction between the EU and other application states?
9. How will EU and China relationship develop?
10. How will EU and India relationship develop?
11. How will EU and US relationship develop?
12. How will EU and North Africa relationship develop?
13. What role does Africa play for Europe?
14. What if Primakov's triangle becomes a reality?
15. Would Russia with its huge gas reserves would like to play a pivotal role in Europe?
16. 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 - GK & Maurizio

1. Political stability
2. Institutional & Bureaucratic Dynamics
3. To be a world power house
4. Economic Success

Technological Driving Forces - GK & Maurizio

1. Public attitude to science and technology
2. Mobility
3. Nanotechnology
4. Cost of new technology
5. Balancing clean & efficient technology against cost

Environmental Driving Forces - Sri

1. Greenhouse gases emissions trading affecting production in the EU
2. Scarcity of Water in the EU
3. Increasing need to clean energy
4. Interests of lesser developed member states and the cost of subsidizing their practices
5. pressure from developing countries
6. Effects of climate change

Economic Driving Forces - Sameer

1. EU ambitions for economic growth, as expressed in the Lisbon Declaration.
2. Threat of total financial meltdown
3. European integration
4. Europe's Gas Dependency
5. Energy Scarcity in Europe
6. Availability of natural resources

Societal Driving Forces - Arthur

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
6. Availability of skilled & non-skilled labour

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)
• Scenarios on the territorial future of Europe to 2030
• Could we image another future for Europe? (very good resource)

Economic Reports & Statistics

• Statistics and figures for all countries of the European Union
• Europe Interactive Map - Can compare different EU region

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?
4. Will the EU change its environmental focus in the next 20 years?

Meeting Agenda

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