Analysis: “Europe in the period of reflection”

In its talking point, Werner Becker from Deutsche Bank Research discusses the different challenges the Austrian presidency will face and how EU matters will be addressed in the first semester of this year.

Werner Becker from Deutsche Bank Research argues that “anyone who had believed that the budget compromise reached at the December summit would immediately enable the Austrian presidency of the Council of the EU to address other important EU matters in the first half of 2006 has been sorely disappointed”. 

The Austrian presidency will face several challenges, especially how to overcome widespread euroscepticism, how to improve communication in the EU, how to tackle the single market and liberalization as well as to deal with the enlargement debate. However, Werner Becker from Deutsche Bank Research thinks that “the Austrian presidency would be well advised not to saddle the current reflection period with a new discussion on a core Europe, an approach currently favoured by France and Belgium, for instance” as this “could easily undermine the idea of European integration”. 

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