[...]... difficult In: Europe: Financial Crisis and Security Issues Ed: Patrick B Werthers ISBN: 97 8-1 -6 176 1-6 7 3-0 © 2011 Nova Science Publishers, Inc A EUROPEAN ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW The real test for European governments and institutions comes when faced with the most difficult of circumstances At such times, they need to show imagination; they need to show determination; and they need to... stand-by and off mode electric power consumption, set top boxes and fluorescent lamps; The Commission will urgently draw up measures for other products which offer very high potential for energy savings such as televisions, domestic lighting , refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, boilers and air-conditioners d) Research and Innovation The financial crisis and the subsequent squeeze on financial. .. European Parliament, making compromise and coalition-building important elements of the legislative process Following the June 2009 election, the center-right Group of the European People‘s Party (EPP) and the re-named center-left Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in Europe (S&D) remain the two largest political groups Every two -and- a-half years (twice per parliamentary term),... 'European energy-efficient buildings' initiative, to promote green technologies and the development of energy-efficient systems and materials in new and renovated buildings with a view to reducing radically their energy consumption and CO2 emissions [5] The initiative should have an important regulatory and standardisation component and would involve a procurement network of regional and local authorities... To boost Europe's lead in fixed and wireless communications and accelerate the development of high value-added services, the Commission and Member States should work with stakeholders to develop a broadband strategy to accelerate the up-grading and extension of networks The strategy will be supported by public funds in order to provide broadband access to under-served and high cost areas where the market... stability and confidence in the still-fragile financial sector and create the conditions for a sustained economic recovery The crisis has shown risks in the current governance of financial markets which have or could become real and systemic in times of serious turbulence The pace of reform will be maintained in the coming months to restore stability and protect the interests of European citizens and business... arrangements and decision-making procedures Enlargements in 2004 and 2007 increased the number of member countries in the EU from 15 to 27 The EU has a strong common trade policy, and a developing Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) for a more united voice in global affairs It has also been developing a European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) in order to improve its military capabilities and capacity... missile defense policy NATO has deliberated long-range missile defense, and has taken actions that some interpret as an endorsement of the U.S GMD system The GMD plan has also affected U.S.-Russia relations Former President Putin and his successor, Vladimir Medvedev, have argued that the proposal would reignite the arms race and upset U.S .- Russian-European security relations U.S officials dispute Russia‘s... in construction and in the financial position of households and businesses, and the faint prospects of recovery as a result Consequently, the beginning of economic recovery will be later rather than sooner and, in the best-case scenario, not before the second half of 2010 xviii Patrick B Werthers Until then, the unemployment rate, already double that of the EU, will continue to rise and could even... Although some issues require unanimous consensus among member countries, EU decision- making is supranational on most economic and social issues The three main institutions of the EU are the European Commission (essentially the EU‘s executive), the Council of the European Union (representing the national governments), and the European Parliament (representing the citizens of the EU) The yet-to-be-ratified . crisis and security issues / editor, Patrick B. Werthers. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 97 8-1 -6 210 0-1 3 6-2 (eBook) 1. Financial crises Europe. 2. Global Economic Crisis, 200 8-2 009. 3. Security, . subsequent recovery even more difficult. In: Europe: Financial Crisis and Security Issues ISBN: 97 8-1 -6 176 1-6 7 3-0 Ed: Patrick B. Werthers © 2011 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. A. Additional E-books in this series can be found on Nova‘s website under the E-books tab. EUROPEAN POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, AND SECURITY ISSUES EUROPE: FINANCIAL CRISIS AND SECURITY