[PEN-L:33116] EU + 10

[Chris Burford <cburford@xxxxxxxxxx>]

What is the significance of the EU decision to admit 10 more states, and to
bring its population to 450 million? In the short term it may not increase,
but rather reduce, the possibility of a challenge to the power of the USA.


>   International Herald Tribune Monday, December 9, 2002
>
> PARIS The European Union's coming enlargement to 25 members, including
> many former Soviet bloc countries now entering NATO, seems sure to
> increase the United States' overall influence in Europe and within the EU
> - while putting aside for the time being the idea of an emergent Germany
> leading the continent from Berlin.
>
> The entry of these essentially pro-American countries of Central and
> Eastern Europe into the EU, according to a German official, also signifies
> the end of any attempts within the EU to define itself and its evolving
> foreign and security policy as aligned against the United States.
>
> "You can no longer muster a majority for that," said Karsten Voight, the
> German Foreign Ministry's coordinator for German-American relations.


While the size of the market is a great economic advantage, the EU will
have much to do to take full competitive capitalist advantage of it. The
enlargement may put more difficulties in the way of clear leadership
independent of the USA. Even when this consolidation occurs, there may be
new opportunities and risks in the following 5-10 years of enlarging the
market to include other neighbouring states. The size of the market in due
course might counterbalance the lead of the USA provided the USA does not
pull off a more integrated market in the Americas. The ever growing size of
market units, might promote further world market integration rather more
than it promoting counterposed political centres.

The interpenetration and cooperation of imperialisms will be complex.


Chris Burford