Our World in 2018

EUROPE’S FUTURE
A beach ball emerges from the water.
N|
- Again on security: are we willing
terrorism? Are we willing to allocate
funds and create the necessary
European institutions, or will the
intergovernmental way prevail?
Again, this would require far-reaching
decisions within the EU.
- Border protection: in my opinion,
this constitutes a real European duty.
Considerable funding is required.
- Migration: the rapid population
growth in Africa will continue for the
foreseeable future, this will lead to
major migration movements within
Africa and beyond. Thus, there will
be continued pressure on Europe’s
borders.
- Development assistance: after
50 years of development assistance,
a real impact assessment of that
assistance needs to be conducted,
one that has an impact beyond the
circle of assistance specialists. Why
are so many major recipients of aid
in the lower echelon of the doing
business index? What steps are being
taken to encourage the setting up of
businesses, and to advance the rule
of law? Why are education systems
so poor and is professional training
so underperforming?
- How do we interact with and
support our direct neighbours: the
Balkans, Ukraine, the countries in the
Caucasus region, North Africa? What
else do we need to do so that they can
achieve economic growth, social and
political stability?
And, last but not least, 2018 will
challenge us all to bridge the gap
between East and West, between
South and North – to work for a
united and strong European Union.
The world
is changing
fast, Europe is
changing fast,
new challenges
ask for our
involvement.
OUR WORLD | 2018
27