January 16, 2005
No kidding!?!
THE CIA has predicted that the European Union will break-up within 15 years unless it radically reforms its ailing welfare systems. . .In a devastating indictment of EU economic prospects, the report warns: "The current EU welfare state is unsustainable and the lack of any economic revitalisation could lead to the splintering or, at worst, disintegration of the EU, undermining its ambitions to play a heavyweight international role."
It adds that the EU’s economic growth rate is dragged down by Germany and its restrictive labour laws. Reforms there - and in France and Italy to lesser extents - remain key to whether the EU as a whole can break out of its "slow-growth pattern". . .
The report says: "Either European countries adapt their workforces, reform their social welfare, education and tax systems, and accommodate growing immigrant populations [chiefly from Muslim countries] or they face a period of protracted economic stasis."
As a result of the increased immigration needed, the report predicts that Europe’s Muslim population is set to increase from around 13% today to between 22% and 37% of the population by 2025, potentially triggering tensions.
The report predicts that America’s relationships with Europe will be "dramatically altered" over the next 15 years, in a move away from post-Second World War institutions. Nato could disappear and be replaced by increased EU action.
More here. The entire report can be found there.
Posted by Carine at January 16, 2005 09:15 PMFifteen years? It would last that long? Amazing. Won't it be Eurostan by then?
Posted by: Valerie, Texas at January 16, 2005 11:58 PMFile this one under "old news".
Nato could disappear and be replaced by increased EU action.
roflolmao!
Posted by: Doug at January 17, 2005 08:31 AMrest easy my little EUrocrats. The CIA is wrong way more then they are right.
They list Coute d"Ivorie as the crown jewel of North Africa.
They predicted that Afghanistani forces would repulse America and never ever would there be a Democracy there.
Oh and they missed an attack on the WTC even after being informed of arab pilots in training skipping the day they taught landings.
Papertiger,
I think you're right. They must be wrong. It can't take so much time before the EU break-up ;)
Posted by: Carine at January 19, 2005 07:22 AMI think it will take less time, they're not allowing for emmigration (I seem to recall reading there's a native Dutch outflow).
Posted by: Jay at January 19, 2005 07:25 AMI'm not sure about the time frame, but the gist that the EU will probably implode is right. You can't tax yourself to prosperity and the EU hasn't learned that quite yet.
Posted by: El-ahrairah at January 19, 2005 12:39 PM
