Europe Security Crisis: A Wake-Up Call

● Maple Syrup Meets Belgian Waffles EU Expansion

Canada and the European Union: Strategic Alliance and Future Economic Prospects

1. History and Development of the European Union

The EU began in 1951 with the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC).
With the establishment of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1957 for economic integration, member states began to be closely linked economically.
In 1967, several organizations were integrated into the EC, and in 1993, the current European Union (EU), which cooperates in various fields such as politics, security, and law, was born.
In particular, a large-scale expansion took place in 2004 as Eastern European countries joined the union after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

2. Economic Cooperation, Security, and Social Integration

The EU started as an early economic community and has cooperated over time in a wide range of fields, including politics, security, law, and industrial policy.
Member states contribute to international trade and global economic development through a shared single market and mutual dependence on technology, industry, and labor.
From an economic outlook perspective, economic growth rates among member states have improved markedly, and Eastern European countries in particular have rapidly established a transition to democracy and a market economy.

3. Crises and Challenges: COVID-19, Ukraine War, Brexit

In the 2010s, Euroskepticism spread within the EU.
The Brexit decision symbolically demonstrates the differences of opinion within member states and the undemocratic nature of the decision-making process.
However, in crisis situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 Ukraine war, the importance of cooperation among member states and strategic autonomy has been highlighted.
As a result of these crises, the EU is consolidating internal solidarity, maintaining international trade and the global economic system, and seeking to strengthen strategic autonomy.

4. Relations with Canada and Discussions on EU Membership

Recently, within Canada, arguments for and against “Canada should join the European Union” are fiercely opposed.
The argument presented in the British economics economist column is that Europe needs people as much as resources, and that it can be a win-win strategy if a country like Canada joins the alliance.
In fact, some diplomatic officials evaluate Canada as more European than European countries, and emphasize that both sides share common values and policies such as market economy, social welfare, and climate crisis response.
From a political and economic outlook perspective, the theory that Canada can join the EU is based on the fact that the institutional and emotional gap is not large, but there is also an analysis that it is realistically difficult due to geographical conditions and the positions of EU member states.
Ultimately, cooperation between the EU and Canada is likely to lead to other forms of cooperation models, such as free trade agreements or strategic alliances, rather than EU membership.

5. The Future of Global Economy and Strengthening Strategic Autonomy

After the protectionism of the United States and the all-round pressure of the Trump administration, the world is entering a period of global economic reorganization and re-establishment of the Atlantic alliance in the 2020s.
The EU is strengthening its strategic autonomy, reducing its dependence on the United States, and seeking to secure essential industrial bases (gas, electricity, advanced technology, etc.).
This is expected to lead to the establishment of new alliances and cooperation systems in international trade as well as in the global economy and political security fields.
Canada is also seeking opportunities to strengthen economic and strategic cooperation with the EU in this changing environment.

The EU’s development history dates back to the start of the economic community in the 1950s, the birth of the European Union in 1993, and the large-scale expansion in 2004.
The EU has cooperated in various fields such as economy, politics, and security, and has played a major role in the development of the global economy and international trade.
The recent crises such as COVID-19, the Ukraine war, and Brexit have increased the need to strengthen strategic autonomy,
Discussions on relations with Canada are developing in a direction that seeks various cooperation models such as free trade agreements as well as discussions on EU membership.
Attention should be paid to the reorganization of the international order and alliance relations through key keywords such as economic outlook, European Union, global economy, international trade, and strategic autonomy.

*Source : [14F 일사에프] 이코노미스트 “메이플 시럽, 벨기에 와플을 만나다”… EU의 확장 정책 / 14F

● Germany to Expel Refugees?

German Election System and Changes in the Political Landscape – A Complete Summary of Key Points

1. Basic Understanding of the German Election System

The German election is a unique system that simultaneously applies constituency and proportional representation.
It follows the principle that the will of the voting public should be reflected in the seats as much as possible.
Unlike some systems, it is not a simple winner-takes-all; seats are allocated according to the national vote share.
This results in compensatory seats, and the number of seats can exceed the originally determined quota.
In this process, German parties have faced various controversies due to excessive seat allocation and the balance between constituency and proportional representation.

2. 2021 Election Results and System Reform

In 2021, the number of seats increased from over 600 to 736.
This led to cases where 1038 compensatory seats were added.
Recognizing the issues, the number of seats will be fixed at 630 from the 2025 election, and the ratio of constituency to proportional representation will be adjusted.
This change is an attempt to reflect results that are closer to the actual vote share of the voters.

3. Achievements of Each Party and Political Issues

In the election results, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and the Alternative for Germany (AfD, a far-right party) gained prominence.
In particular, the AfD recorded about 30% of the vote and emerged as the leading party.
Meanwhile, the traditional Social Democratic Party (SPD) failed to secure 120 seats, suffering a major blow as it transitioned to a three-party system.
The left-wing party, Die Linke, successfully secured more than 5% of the vote by meeting the blocking clause and was included in the seat allocation.
Various issues such as immigration, economic policies, and social safety nets are highlighted among the parties, which are expected to influence the future coalition composition.

4. Long-Term Political and Economic Outlook and International Situation

The German election results go beyond a simple win or loss for political parties; they are expected to have a significant impact on Germany’s future economic policies and the international political landscape.
A government led by the AfD is likely to pursue reforms to stimulate the economy, such as tax cuts and welfare reductions.
On the other hand, left-wing parties are expected to focus on expanding the social safety net and maintaining pensions amid the economic downturn.
Changes in relations with the United States, Germany’s increased defense spending, and the reorganization of the defense industry are also expected to act as major variables in the international situation.
The movement to reduce reliance on the United States at the European level, along with France’s nuclear strategy, is also emerging as an important keyword.

5. Coalition Government Formation and Future Tasks

The formation of a coalition government seems essential after this election.
Negotiations may be difficult due to policy differences and seat allocation issues in the coalition process.
Each party must compromise on its position and reach an agreement on pledges that reflect the will of the people.
In particular, conflicts are expected in areas such as immigration issues, economic recovery, and security strengthening.
Detailed announcements regarding the composition of the Chancellor and the cabinet are expected in the coming months.

6. Conclusion – The Future of German Politics and its Impact on the Global Economy

The German election is expected to be a major turning point not only for the victory or defeat of political parties but also for the economy and international politics as a whole.
This change has the potential to cause a significant ripple effect not only within Germany but also on the global economy and politics.
It is necessary to pay attention to future developments, focusing on key SEO keywords such as economy, elections, Germany, parties, and the United States.
Close observation is needed as the choices of the people and the international situation will act as important variables in the coalition government formation and policy-making process.

< Summary >
The German election system adopts constituency and proportional representation methods to maximize the reflection of the people’s vote share.
As the number of seats surged as a result of the 2021 election, the need for system reform emerged, and it will be operated with a fixed number of 630 seats from the 2025 election.
The achievements of each party are clear, such as the AfD’s dominance, the SPD’s failure, and the strengthening of left-wing parties, and major issues such as immigration and economic policies are being highlighted again.
Germany’s economic revitalization and changes in the international situation are expected to unfold depending on the coalition government formation and policy agreement.
Changes in relations with external variables such as the United States and France are also expected to have a significant impact on German politics and the global economy.
</ Summary>
[Related Articles…]
Summary of German Election Analysis
Outlook on the Impact of American Politics

*Source : [최준영 박사의 지구본 연구소] 독일도 난민 추방하겠다? 역대급 총선 이후 독일 근황 [지구본 뉴스룸]

● Europe’s Military Awakening

Analysis of Europe’s Enhanced Self-Defense Capabilities, Revival of Student Military Training, and Economic and Security Changes Under Trump’s Diplomatic Strategy

Changes in President Trump’s Behavior and Europe’s Response

As President Trump pursues a policy focused on practicality rather than long-standing allies of the United States, voices calling for Europe to develop its own defense capabilities have grown louder. In particular, as the U.S. continues to press on the issue of NATO defense spending, European countries are accelerating the preparation of their own security measures. Trump’s remarks and actions have directly impacted Europe’s security awareness.

Moves to Strengthen Defense Capabilities in European Countries

The European Union is currently preparing a procurement plan worth 24 trillion KRW for defense capability improvement, including arms purchases, by 2030, considering the possibility of the U.S. completely withdrawing from NATO. In particular, France, as a nuclear power, has expressed its willingness to provide a nuclear umbrella to European allies and is conducting discussions for the establishment of an independent security system. Some countries are accelerating defense budget increases along with discussions on the revival of conscription.

Revival of Student Military Training and Changes in Education

A trend of reviving basic military training for students is emerging, mainly in France and Poland. France is conducting a pilot program of 12-day basic military training for those aged 15 to 17 and is considering making it mandatory by 2026. In Poland, shooting training has been mandatory for high school students since last year. These moves resemble the revival of student military education, which was abolished during the Yushin regime era in the past.

President Trump’s Ukraine and Energy Strategy

President Trump emphasizes that Europe should take responsibility for security guarantees after the war in Ukraine, asserting his country’s interests and securing shares in natural resources. The U.S. is excluding Ukraine’s request to join NATO, showing a desire to shift the burden of supporting Ukraine to Europe. This strategy is expected to affect the global economic outlook in terms of international relations and security strategy.

Breaking Away from U.S. Dependence and Europe’s Security Self-Reliance Theory

Europe, which once depended on the U.S.-led NATO system, now seeks to reduce its dependence on the U.S. through its own weapons systems and strengthening its defense capabilities. European countries are pursuing increased defense spending and the development of their own defense industries, and their movement to redefine their role in the world economic order through advanced security strategies is evident. However, reliance on the U.S.’s core weapon operation and technology may also act as an obstacle to Europe’s independent defense capability building.

Overall Economic and Security Change Outlook

The discussion on self-reliant security in Europe, triggered by President Trump’s behavioral changes, is expected to have a significant impact on the global economic outlook in conjunction with changes in the international situation. Diversified defense capability strengthening attempts, such as the revival of student military training, increased defense spending, and plans to provide an independent nuclear umbrella, are signals of reorganizing the existing security system. Tensions and confusion arising from the strategic readjustment process with the United States can have direct repercussions on the world economy and changes in the international situation.

< Summary >

Analysis of Europe’s Defense Capability Enhancement, Revival of Student Military Training, and Trump’s Economic and Security Strategy

Trump’s Practicality-First Policy

As U.S. President Trump shifts to a diplomacy focused on practicality instead of long-standing allies, security awareness in Europe is spreading.

Europe’s Moves to Strengthen Its Own Defense Capabilities

The EU has prepared a 24 trillion KRW defense improvement plan by 2030, and France is focusing on providing a nuclear umbrella and increasing defense spending.

Revival of Student Military Training

Military training for adolescents is being reintroduced in France and Poland, delivering messages of strengthened security education and national integration.

Ukraine Policy and Changes in the International Situation

Trump is transferring Ukraine’s security guarantees to Europe, foreshadowing changes in the international situation linked to the U.S.’s energy and resource strategy.
All of this acts as a very important issue in terms of the global economic outlook, the world economy, the international situation, security strategy, and European defense.

*Source : [KBS News] [이슈] 군복 입고 교련·징병제 논의까지…자강론 택한 유럽/2025년 3월 24일(월)/KBS