Monitor The Strategic Trends

Introduction:

      The European Union has steadily moved forward in its attempt to unite Europe politically and economically.  It has succeeded in creating a European parliament, a court and, in the near future, a common currency.

      January 1, 1999, marked the beginning of the European Monetary Union (EMU) with 11 member countries locking the value of their currency, called the Euro, which actually appeared in 2002.  The Euro has the potential to become a strong force in the international monetary scene, possibly supplanting the dollar as the world's currency of choice.

      Great Britian will not be joining the EMU at the present time.  There has been a great distrust of what Britian sees as a German-dominated monetary union.   The debate is still raging between conservatives who wish to remain independent of the continent and those in the liberal camps who do not wish to be left behind when Europe becomes a superpower.

      One of the more controversial ideas put forward at a recent European summit was a plan for a European income tax to finance the European Union.  The proposal was forwarded by the President of the European Parliament, Jose Maria Gil-Robles.   In his view, the direct taxtion of the people would more closely involve individual citizens with the European government.

      Other issues of concern to the European Union include the admission of new members into the union, which has created a heated debate.  Some of hte countries seeking membership are at odds with each other, like Greek Cyprus and Turkey.   Settling these membership questions will take time.

      [See The Coming World Leader for more on the eventual leader of this ultima te superstate.]

Croatia Votes To Join Troubled European Union January 24, 2012

The G-20 Summit Ends In An Ermph November 08, 2011

Germany, France Push For Euro Zone Government August 16, 2011

Hitler's Anti-Semitism Still Kicking in Europe June 07, 2011

The 2nd Annual KI Conference: Strategic Perspectives II by Chuck Missler

European Union Update: Poland's Balancing Act by Chuck Missler

The New Challenges: Europa Rising: Part IV by Chuck Missler

The 'New Europe' Arises Europa Rising: Part III by Chuck Missler

Profiles in Prophecy Series: Europa Rising: Part II by Chuck Missler

Profiles in Prophecy Series: Europa Rising: Part I by Chuck Missler

EU Update: The European Union: Evolving into a Federalized Superpower by Carol Loeffler

The March Toward Tyranny: The Man On Horseback by Chuck Missler

News Sources

NEW! Subzero Weather Kills 89 In Eastern Europe - Record-low temperatures in parts of Eastern Europe pushed the death toll from Arctic conditions to at least 89 people on Wednesday. In Ukraine, 43 people have died in the past five days. Overnight temperatures sank as low as -27F and hundreds of heated tents have been put up to shelter the homeless. European weather alert network Meteoalarm warned of "extremely dangerous" conditions in several parts of eastern Europe, including Serbia, where a fourth person was found dead overnight in the southwestern Suvobor mountains. Thermometers in parts of Bulgaria plunged to record lows freezing ATM cash machines in Sofia, the daily newspaper Trud reported. Eight people in Bulgaria and 14 in neighboring Romania have now died in the cold snap. Meanwhile in Slovenia, winds of up to 180 kph (112 mph) blew off roofs and prompted authorities to close some schools, authorities said.

Future Of Euro Focus Of Summit This Week - With the fate of the 17-nation single currency at stake at a summit this week, 20 years almost to the day since the Maastricht summit at which European leaders agreed to merge their monies, the same battles are still being fought out. The outcome of Friday's 27-nation European Union summit may determine the course of the world's largest trading bloc. One road leads to a core group of euro zone states forging ahead with closer integration; another to a continuation of the current, multispeed Europe limping along at the pace of the slowest in the convoy; and a third toward a potential breakup of the currency and disintegration of the Union.

Spain Tosses Out The Socialists - Mariano Rajoy's Partido Popular has won a thumping victory in Spain: nearly eleven million votes to the Socialists' seven million, 186 seats to their 110. Spain has entrusted her future wholly to the conservatives. Only three per cent of EU nationals now live under Left-led governments. Yet spending continues to rise (except on defence), bureaucracies continue to grow, powers continue to shift from national capitals to Brussels. Which brings us up against a hard truth. As long as most laws come from Brussels, and as long as economic policy comes from Frankfurt, it doesn't seem to matter much how Europe votes. We'll see.

The European Vortex - The crisis that has engulfed the European Union (EU) is about much more than the euro. As government bonds, share prices and banks swoon and global recession knocks on the door, the first fear is of financial and economic collapse. But to understand what is happening to the currency you also need to look at what is happening to Europe. Some Europeans would like to put up carefully designed fences around the EU's still vast and wealthy market. Others, including a growing number of populist politicians, want to turn their nations inward and shut out not just the world but also the elites project of European integration. And a few from among those same elites, mostly argue that the only means of paying for Europe's distinctive way of life is not to evade globalization but to embrace it wholeheartedly. This is not some abstract philosophical choice. It is a fierce struggle for Europe's future,

Oil Drops On European Debt Crisis Concerns - Oil fell for a second day in New York as speculation Europe will struggle to contain its debt crisis countered signs of declining fuel stockpiles in the U.S., the world's largest crude consumer. "Crude has been suffering from renewed recession fears in the Euro-zone and strong gains in the dollar index," said Andrey Kryuchenkov, a London-based analyst at VTB Group who predicts Brent prices will end the year close to current levels. "Fears over the ongoing debt crisis are still dominating headlines. The situation will not go away overnight." Crude for December delivery was at $98.03 a barrel, down 11 cents, in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange at 1:49 p.m. London time. Prices have risen in the last six weeks, the longest run of gains since April 2009.

Germany To Unplug From Nuclear Power - Chancellor Angela Merkel must carry out a 10 billion-euro ($14.4 billion) expansion of Germany's electricity-delivery network or her decision to exit nuclear power can stunt growth in Europe's largest economy. Germany became the biggest economy to plan an atomic-power exit after a meltdown in Japan stoked safety concerns, costing Merkel's Christian Democrats votes in state elections. Europe's largest power market will be a test case for whether an industrialized nation can rely far more on clean energy without eroding corporate profit.

Anarchists Smash Up Trafalgar Square - They were cleaning up the mess in London yesterday -- replacing the windows at the Ritz, fixing the wooden façade at Fortnum & Mason and attending to a vandalized Trafalgar Square in the wake of Saturday's protests -- and riots -- by trade unionists and anarchists. Think it can't happen here? Think again. The British press reports that up to half a million people took part in the demonstrations, 200 were arrested and more than 160 injured -- including 84 police officers, 11 of whom had to be hospitalized. Why? Because Prime Minister David Cameron announced a $130 billion cut in public spending...

Portugal's Socialists May Fall Just Before EU Summit - Portugal's parliament is expected to reject the government's latest austerity measures on Wednesday, setting the stage for the possible collapse of the minority Socialist administration a day before a European summit. Prime Minister Jose Socrates has said he will resign if the plan is defeated. He has said its rejection would force the debt-laden country to follow Greece and Ireland and seek an international bailout, which he opposes. The government had hoped to obtain support for its plan before Thursday's EU summit, which is expected to approve a beefed-up euro zone rescue fund.