Enlargement is one of the most important oppurtunities for the European Union at the beginning of the 21st century. It is a unique, historic task to further the integration of the continent by peaceful means, extending a zone of stability and prosperity to new members.
However, the enlargement facing the EU today poses a unique challenge, since it is without precedent in terms of scope and diversity: the number of candidates, the area (increase of 34%) and population (increase of 105 million), the wealth of different histories and cultures.
EU enlargement is a process still going on and will certainly take a long time to come true. In a short essay format, discuss the problem with reference to:
• The extract above.
• Your experience in interviewing young people fro the surrounding area.
• The interpretation of data carried out by the different groups in your class.
Conclude your essay with your personal opinion and some practical proposals that may promote integration among European young people.
In the following essay I am going to discuss EU Enlargement, in particular starting from the extract taken from a web site, my experience in interviewing young people from the surrounding area and the interpretation of data carried out by the different groups in our class.
The European Union is not the result of one single development. In fact, the process of integration is ongoing. With leadership of Brussels, were many of the most important governing institution are located the European member States are engaged in a project of deepening and widening.
Deepening refers to the level of integration between the Member States: in other words, integration from the economic, cultural and political point of view. Widening refers to expanding the number of Member States that belong to European Union, that is enlargement.
In 2004 the Member States became 25: so, the union increased of 34% and its population increased of 105 million. In these States the process of widening is concluded, but the process of deepening is ongoing.
After interviewing young people my idea about EU information given is negative. I think young people are not eager to know about the European Union, the context in which they live. Young people pay more attention to local politics because we perceive distance between us and the EU. Also the media and school do not give us information about the reality in which we live, so we can not comprehend and we remain ignorant.
I think that discussion at school level are ways to learn something about the EU.