The year 2001, shows the EU trying to expand its borders and the influence of the G7 on the world.

EU divided on limiting incoming work force
Irish voters oppose plan to expand union
Many Europeans upset with Bush's stances
U.S. now faces a more integrated Europe
Bush calls arms shield 'right thing'
Global-warming pact still a sticking point for Bush, Europeans
Clashes injure 43 while EU discusses expansion
Bush urges Russia to join united Europe
Bush, Putin hold summit
EU reaffirms commitment to expansion


• 5/6/2001 - EU divided on limiting incoming work force by The Associated Press.
      Nykoeping, Sweden -- The European Union was divided by quarrels over how to curb an influx of cheap labor from countries newly admitted to the EU.    At an EU foreign ministers meeting, Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and Austria's Foreign Minister Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who would be most affected, sought a seven-year waiting period before workers from Eastern Europe (Polish, Hungarian and Czech) can come to the EU.    Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, Foreign Minister Josep Pique and Portugal would only back this measure only if they were guaranteed regional aid funding after poorer newcomers join probably in 2004.    The EU will renegotiate its regional aid handouts in 2006.    The European Commission estimated that admitting 10 Eastern European nations (Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Cyprus, Malta, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia and Turkey) to the EU could result in migration of 3.9 million people to the more prosperous Western nations over 30 years.
• 6/9/2001 - Irish voters oppose plan to expand union.
      Brussels, Belgium -- European Union officials promised to press ahead with plans to accept new members, despite a decision by Irish voters to reject the treaty to expand the EU.    Ireland's voters, turning out in low numbers, rejected the treaty by a vote of 54 percent to 46 percent.    The treaty was approved last year by the 15 EU members.    All 15 EU members must ratify the plan.
• 6/11/2001 - Many Europeans upset with Bush's stances - As friction grows president to visit 5 nations in 5 days - by Suzanne Daley, The New York Times.
      Paris -- Across Europe there is little love for America's new president and a growing perception that the United States, under George W. Bush's leadership, is looking out only for itself these days -- polluting the skies, breaking treaties and flirting with new arms races.    Most Americans know Bush is not respected overseas, they are still confident that Bush will represent the U.S. in its best interest.
• 6/13/2001 - U.S. now faces a more integrated Europe - 12-nation union blurs borders, builds confidence - by Paul Geitner, The Associated Press.
      Aachen, Germany -- The last time a U.S. president named Bush visited Europe, the dust had barely settled on the ruins of the Berlin Wall and the continent was just beginning to contemplate knitting itself back together.    This week, as his son makes his first official visit, the Europe he faces is more integrated than ever -- and more assertive about its own interests as memories of the Soviet empire collapsing and Cold War faded, along with the Persian Gulf war.
      President Bush finds himself attacked repeatedly over everything from his stand on global warming to missile defense as the 15 countries of the European Union seek to challenge America's status as the world's sole remaining superpower.    They are speaking more and more with one voice economically and politically to reflect Europe's disappearing borders.    Aachen a historic city at the junction of Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands has road signs that give the name of the former capital of the Holy Roman Empire in three languages.    This is where Charlemagne is buried, and where centuries of emperors were crowned.
      After years of preparation, citizens of 12 European Union nations will begin shopping and paying bills with one currency -- the euro -- in less than six months.    The expansion of other countries eventually could create a single market of 500 million people, bigger than the NAFTA treaty that binds North America.    Globalization is tying economies closer together and U.S. and European companies are pushing more into each other's markets and competing for new ones.    Issues are arising about whether to allow genetically modified foods into Europe or how to regulate the Internet.
      President Clinton got off to a bumpy start in Europe, but soon won praise for helping to calm the Balkans, soothe the Russians and sort out Northern Ireland's troubles.
• 6/14/2001 - Bush calls arms shield 'right thing' - Europe's foes of anti-missile plan unswayed - by New York Times and Associated Press.
      Brussels, Belgium -- President Bush said that the United States would pursue a high-tech missile shield with or without Europe's blessing.    President Jacques Chirac of France called the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty a "pillar" of global security, and said abandoning it in order to build Bush's missile defense would be "a fantastic incentive to proliferate" weapons.    Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany questioned the technical feasibility of the proposed missile defense shield.
• 6/15/2001 - Global-warming pact still a sticking point for Bush, Europeans - U.S. president is steadfast in opposing treaty - by The Associated Press.
      Goteborg, Sweden -- President Bush sparred with European leaders over climate change and was unwavering in his opposition to a global warming treaty.    Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson accused Bush of pursuing "wrong policies" that endanger the environment.    Bush said "We don't agree on the Kyoto Treaty, but we do agree that climate change is a serious issue and we must work together."    The Europeans intend to ratify the 1997 pact while Bush pursues an initiative to boost technology that could reduce global warming.
• 6/16/2001 - Clashes injure 43 while EU discusses expansion by Paul Ames, The Associated Press.
      Goteborg, Sweden -- As 25,000 protesters of environmentalists, antiglobalization and anti-EU activists got involved as rioters battling police in clashes that left 43 people injured, European Union leaders struggled to keep their plans for expansion of former Soviet republics on track despite Irish opposition to the Treaty of Nice, the EU's rule book.   
• 6/16/2001 - Bush urges Russia to join united Europe - He calls for 'a great alliance' on the eve of meeting with Putin - by Frank Bruni, The New York Times.
      Warsaw, Poland -- President Bush offered his vision of a new Europe united in "a great alliance of liberty" and fortified by an expanded NATO.    "The Iron Curtain is no more.    Now we plan and build the House of Freedom whose doors are open to all of Europe's peoples, and whose windows look out to global challenges beyond."    Bush spoke on the eve of this meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, which he hopes for a Russia measured by the strength of its democracy, to become part of Europe, so there is no need of a buffer zone of insecure states separating it from Europe, NATO, even as it grows, is no enemy fo Russia.
      "This free Europe is no longer a dream," he said.    "It is the Europe that is rising around us.    We can build an open Europe; a Europe without Hitler and Stalin, without Brezhnev and Honecker and Ceausescu and, yes, without Milosevic."
• 6/17/2001 - Bush, Putin hold summit - Both leaders say compromise on issues is possible - by The Associated Press.
      Brdo Pri Kranju, Slovenia -- Face to face for the first time, President Bush and Russian President Vladmir Putin pledged to deepen their nations' bonds and to explore the possibility of compromise on U.S. missile defense plans to NATO expansion that Moscow has bitterly opposed.    Bush and Putin meet again next month in Italy at the G-8 summit of industrial powers.
• 6/17/2001 - EU reaffirms commitment to expansion by The Associated Press.
      Goteborg, Sweden -- The European Union sent a clear signal that it will open its doors to new members from formerly communist east by 2004.    The enlargement process is irreversible as stated by the heads of the 15 EU nations.    Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman was pleased with the decision.
      Some claim that the EU is turning into an American twin, which will have a 300 million-person market really soon.
  
  

Last updated January 31, 2004.