The intention of the ongoing review of the EU budget is to create a budget that is better adapted at facing future challenges. At the same time it raises fundamental questions about what the EU is and should do.
The new U.S. administration inherited a formidable set of international challenges including wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the prospect of a nuclear Iran and a resurgent Russia. Moreover, a deep economic crisis has radically changed the preconditions for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy and the international status of the USA during the previous president reached unprecedented low levels.
The General Court has since 1998 developed its practice on cross-border healthcare. But the development has taken place without guidance from EU regulators.
The French Presidency selected four priorities – immigration, defence, climate change and energy, agriculture – in line with the European agenda but also with national interests. The Union for the Mediterraneanwas later added to this list.
The Swedish EU Presidency during the second half of 2009 will be constrained by a number of external factors such as the investiture of a new Commission, a newly elected European Parliament and it will probably be held under constitutional uncertainty. Nonetheless, the Swedish Government will want to make a mark on the priorities of the European Union during the Presidency.
The Lisbon Treaty leaves behind an urgent need for the consequences of our membership in the EU to be reflected more appropriately in the constitution than they are today. The Lisbon Treaty takes the last final steps in a long reform process and the Swedish constitution's life together with the EU is now entering a new phase with new requirements.
Energy security has gone high up on the EU's agenda under both the framework for energy and security policy. The development means that Member States must consider how and to what extent energy policy should be part of a more general attitude in the field.
The Lisbon Treaty could take effect before the 2009 European Parliament elections. The treaty could be approved by the Irish Parliament and exceptions can be given to the remaining changes that must be decided in a subsequent referendum.
The report analyses the effects of free movement for workers from the new Member States to Sweden. The immigration is still small compared with total immigration to Sweden.
When changes to the Lisbon Treaty are discussed it is often mentioned of the more forceful formulation in the area of EU external actions and the new posts created within the EU's institutional structure that is expected to lead to greater coherence. An equally important but less noticed policy that has also been written into the Treaty is that of consistency between internal and external policies.