European Union (EU) is an association of sovereign states in Europe made of about 28 states. The states were brought together by their political, economic and social factors. The union was formed by countries signing treaties that gave the countries in the union privileges and obligation to the union (European Union, N.p). The union has some affiliation with even nations that are not officially members of the union. It is aimed at bringing European countries together and sharing democratic ideas or joining them in other integration without necessarily being part of their integration. However, the union has recently been threatened by the recent economic crisis intriguing doubt about its necessity. Furthermore, efforts to regain their confidence are underway. The success of the European Union can be explained in three different aspects being the politics, economics, and social aspects (Acevedo, 17).
Despite the challenges faced by the EU, the future seems rather bright. The European Union was formed for the purpose of the political leadership and a political boldness of its citizens. EU countries have increased their support for populist and nationalist political parties. For future success of the Union, the Europeans should react to the harsh political globalization. Political globalization is the quest for a political order that has merely outgrown its regional structure. The lifestyle in Europe is so hard to defend and maintain therefore to cause it to lose. This political globalization has an impact on the countries in the unions will be able to make a difference. The future success of the union will also be spawned by the involvement of visionary politicians. Visionary leaders will enhance a wide spread of the integration in encouraging more countries to sign treaties or sign up for membership. This will give the union good bargaining power, share sovereignty and construct a strong legal base to oversee projects. The success of the union, on the other hand, would be achieved if the EU will resolve the identity crisis it has faced for a long time. Member nations were not able to agree on the “finalite politique.” Therefore, if EU can strengthen its political institution, it will cement their success and that of their member countries (Acevedo, 38).
European Union economy is better that Indian and Brazilian economies. States in the European Union have been able to reach the multinational level if integration on the economic issue. The coming together the nation has seen policies that govern government expenditure on health, social welfare, education as applied at the national level. The Europeans integration's prospects are consolidated on managing flexibility, euro, and enlargement. Consolidating the euro will boost economic integration among EU states (European Union, N.p). Euros are very beneficial to the economy, despite, the problem faced in the economy. The challenges the euro faces, for instance, the growth rate in the euro zone being low. The union will have to find ways to solidify the euro as demonstrated by the Entrance of Estonia to the euro currency system. Another way of strengthening the security policy and the common foreign this will rouse the tension and disturbance in the Balkans and Pressure from the US. Financial crisis in Greece and Ireland showed the venerability of the union for crises management and prevention brought a debate over the issue. Therefore, the union should make efforts to increase the competitiveness of euro in the world market (Acevedo, 67).
The final aspect is the social policy of the European Union that affects the success of the union. EU takes responsibility of social fields such as employment, education, industrial health, and social protection. Since the growth of the social competence over the years, it has been the concern of the EU since it covers the several individual policy. The social factors around the EU faced are a problem such as demographic, income inequality migration and social trends. The EU should consider improving childcare facilities, labor market, and a flexible working hour. Furthermore, the more attention should be given to the tax base collected in the states this will help invest more on the young since they have a more productive future tax base. The social factor faced by the EU should not be ignored as seen by some of the countries since they have a significant impact on the future success of the union.
References
Acevedo, B. J., European Commission, & European Commission. (2008). Research for Europe: A selection of EU success stories. Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
European Union. (2010). Consolidated versions of the treaty on European Union and of the treaty on the functioning of the European Union: Charter of fundamental rights of the European Union. Luxemburg: Office for Official publications of the European Communities.
