Germanys Proposals on EU Multiannual Financial Framework

Germanys Proposals on EU Multiannual Financial Framework GERMANY’S REFORM PROPOSALS ON THE FUTURE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE MULTIANNUAL FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK Introduction This report is written from the perspective of Germany concerning the EU Multiannual Financial Framework, which is the seven-year structure that regulates its annual budget. The account starts with a review of the existing financial state and standing of Germany within the context of her strength within the network of states. It provides an assessment of the demographic and human resource capabilities of Germany in the areas of education and skills, technology, and research and development. The report proceeds by giving an outline of the reform proposals of Germany on the future strategic direction of the financial framework by highlighting areas of particular interests as regards increasing or decreasing the package, and the potential areas for a rebalancing of the budget. The report concludes by outlining how the proposed spending priorities will give value-added opportunities for the EU as a whole. In writing the report considerations were given to the overall evolution of the budgetary debate over the recent years. 2.1  Reform Proposals Two policy areas which have dominated the overall EU expenditure over the past decades are agricultural and structural policies. The two policy areas are the focus of Germany’s reform proposals. Germany seeks a reordering of spending priorities, maintenance of the overall budget level while exploring other means of revenue generation for the EU budget. The reforms proposed are as follows: 2.2  Proposal 1 Reduce CAP Spending By 10% (Heading 2) According to (EC, 2011), currently over a fourth of the EU budget is expended on subsidies to farmers whether they are involved in any significant economic activity or not. The EC outlines that direct payments to farmers are based on traditional entitlement as opposed to definitive need for social protection in agriculture. Germany proposes that direct payments received by the top 11 EU member states be reduced by 50%. These measures will result in a reduction of CAP spending by 10%, which represents â‚ ¬27.8 billion in the next financial package. 2.3  Proposal 2 Reduce Cohesion Fund Spending by 10% (Heading 1b) According to (Bachtler, 2003), the convergence objective is to correct fiscal and societal disparities amongst EU member states with a GDP less than 75% of the EU average. Currently all regions in EU member states with a GDP above 75% of the EU average are covered under Heading 1b. Germany proposal is that the requirement to have a GDP below 75% should apply to member states only and not the regions. Germany is of the view that restructuring of the eligibility conditions would save a total of â‚ ¬32.5 billion. 2.4  Proposal 3 Increase the EU’s Foreign policy budget by 5 % Heading 4 of the MFF is currently allocated about 6% of the EU budget. (Sà ¶derbaum, 2005) observes that since the institution of the Common Foreign and Security Policy in 1992, the tendency has been to put the heading at the bottom of the budget. He asserts that the poor funding has negatively impacted the management of EU external relations. The 5% additional spending would represent an increase of â‚ ¬2.94 billion. 3. HOW PROPOSED SPENDING PRIORITIES WILL CREATE VALUE-ADDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE EU 3.1  Value Added Opportunities Thus, Germany would like to see the savings from the aforementioned proposals reallocated into the following priority areas: 3.2  Youth Employment According to (Eurostat, 2014), there are 7.5 million youth in the EU not in employment, education, and training. Germany’s youth unemployment represents 7.7 % of this figure. Germany believes this problem can be addressed by apprenticeship schemes and initiatives in Germany and across the EU. Companies who engage in the schemes will benefit from net profits on their investment, and the apprentices will learn skills that will increase the prospect of future employability that will result in increased tax revenue and less welfare payments. 3.3  Competitiveness Research and Development According to the (EC, 2011), the EU accounts for 24 % of global research investments. (Van Noorden, 2014) believes that the EU needs a push presently to increase its Research Development spending because it faces the risk of falling behind its international competitors in America and Asia. Additional spending will help to increase collaboration between science and industry and augment the extent to which researches are successfully translated into new technology, ensuring that the EU is prepared to face the challenges of the future. 3.4  Expansion of the Trans Europe Network According to (Spiekermann, 1996) the purpose of the trans-European networks (TEN) is to improve economic and social cohesion through efficient connection of the main economic centres. The savings from the cuts should be reassigned to completion of key transport projects through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), the EUs funding system for trans-European transport. This would expedite completion of networks that will improve the inter-operability between the central and outer regions of the union, and bring economic opportunities and beneficial social impact. 3.5  EU Foreign Policy (Euractiv, 2011), outlines that the EU struggles to find a single voice global affairs and is often marginalized by other countries. It presents the argument that the EUs declining influence abroad is proportional to its foreign expenditure and the size of its diplomatic corps. (Emerson, et al, 2011), expresses the need for a restructuring of European diplomacy through the building of a first rate diplomatic corps. The spending will strengthen EU’s influence so it can play an active role in creating peace and well-being in an interdependent world. 3.6  Renewable Energy (105 Words) References Bachtler, J., 2003. Reforming EU Cohesion Policy: An Assessment of the Debate.Intereconomics,38(6), pp. 302-305. Emerson, Michael, Rosa Balfour, Tim Corthaut, Jan Wouters, Piotr Maciej KaczyÅ„ski, and Thomas Renard.Upgrading the EUs Role as Global Actor. Centre for European Policy Studies, 2011. EurActive (2013, January 23) .The EUs role in global governance. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/eus-role-global-governance-linksdossier-503726 European Commission. (2011). CAP Towards 2020 Impact Assessment. Retrieved February 10, 2014, fromhttp://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rica/pdf/PO0202_direct_payments.pdfEuropean Commission. (2011). Innovation Union Competitiveness Report 2011. Overall picture: Europe’s competitive position in research and innovation. Retrieved March 5, 2014, from http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/pdf/competitiveness-report/2011/overall_picture.pdfEuroStat (2014).Unemployment Statistics. Retrieved February 10, 2014, from http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Unemployment_statistics Sà ¶derbaum, F., Van Langenhove, L. (2005). Introduction: the EU as a global actor and the role of interregionalism.European Integration,27(3), 249-262.Van Noorden, R. (2014, January 08). China tops Europe in RD intensity. Retrieved February 14, 2014, from http://www.nature.com/news/china-tops-europe-in-rd-intensity-1.14476. Conclusion Germany considers that the principal means by which the EU can meet its objectives is through innovation, technological advancement, research and development, employment creation, training, new skills development, economies of scale, a modern energy policy, and a comprehensible and participatory foreign policy. In order to achieve these key targets fundamental changes are necessary in the content of the budget, revenues, and the overall spending programs so that budget expenditures can add beneficial value to the EU. Under this budgeting approach, priority would be given to policy areas that are most favourable to long-term competitiveness. Given the traditional budgeting pattern of the past Germany appreciates that this is an ambitious budgeting framework to advocate, but it is one that would provide lasting value by making the EU the most competitive and modern society in the world. Lastly, Germany recognizes the need for other means of revenue to finance future EU budgets. Many options has been proffered, such as an EU tax on financial transactions, revenues from greenhouse gas emission, EU tax linked to air transport, EU VAT, and EU energy tax. The issue of EU own resource is a controversial one because Member States have always shown opposition to the idea of an EU tax. In addition, introducing a new tax in the current economic climate runs the risk of disaffecting citizens and other Member States. However, Germany is of the view that deliberation must continue on the development of viable options through which the EU budget can be financed in order to relieve the donor fatigue on her part and other net contributors.

Hades vs. Demons :: Ancient Greece Greek History

Hades vs. Demons Greek Mythology and Religion Mythology is the study and explanation of myth of a particular culture. Myth, is a cultural phenomenon that can have many different point of views. Mythology and religion in the past still influence today. It is difficult to imagine that ancient myth and history has had a tremendous impact not only in today's culture but also in lifestyle and religious beliefs. To some extend, people rather believe that there is no consequence in your sins in the afterlife. Mythic stories, for example, show how the world began, how humans and animals were created, and how certain manners, and specific human activities originated. Ancient Greek religion has been the main stream of investigation and research from classic times to the modern day. In Greek mythology, Hades, also known as Pluto, is the god and ruler of the underworld, which is the kingdom of the dead. He is an egotistic god, who is greatly concerned with expanding his society. Often Hades is severely cautious and selective on permitting any of his people to leave. It's unquestionable that even the commander of the underworld had fallen in love with Persephone. Although the relationship between Hades and Persephone appears to have established badly, their union was peaceful. For most, life in the underworld was not enjoyable. It's more like a tormented and miserable dream, full of shadows, without sunlight or hope, a joyless place where the dead slowly fade into nonexistence. It's a realm not only for the sinners but also for the saints. When we speak of demons we immediatelymagine of a red evil spirit with an extended pointy tail. But many of us ask ourselves, Demons? Where and how did demons come about? The word demon is derived from the Greek daimon, which in ancient times signified various kinds of spirits or semi-gods, which particularly weren't evil. The term "demons" was not always understood to have the absolutely negative indication that it does today. Our current use of the term "Demon" is a malignant spirit, which usually from the New Testament. However there is still great indecision as to whether or not demons are considered to be distinct and separate from the devil and his fallen angels. It is mentioned in the New Testament, chapter 5, verse 12, by Josepheus a method of exorcism which is prescribed by Solomon. "Prevailed or succeeded greatly among them down to the present time" .

Efficiency and Collaboration Proposal

Efficiency and Collaboration Proposal Learning Team D: Terry Hooks, Dante Legare, Reginald Mitchell, Javier Sanchez, and Stephanie Wright University of Phoenix BIS/220 Lakeesha Seawood November 10, 2011 Efficiency and Collaboration Microsoft Excel to Microsoft Access Benefits in the Work Environment The benefits of using Microsoft Access in the work environment for the Party Plates Company would be the ease of creating â€Å"contacts, issue tracking, project tracking, and asset tracking,† (Software-Matters, 2011). This program would help the company by maintaining the current clients and customers previous orders, attach receipts, shipment orders, and any other documents directly to their profile. The company will be able to forecast future orders and share the information across the company using Windows SharePoint Services. Using this option will help the employees share information, back up the data, and will ultimately keep everybody working in a joint collaborative effort. Reginald Mitchell The excel spreadsheets that are currently being used work primarily off of memory. If the save icon is not clicked all work will be lost if the program is closed accidently. The same tragedy can happen if there is a power loss as well. The benefits of using access are it works primarily off of storage. The data that is entered is automatically saved and the database is updated. While using access more than one person can work on the same file at one time. Excel only allows one person to use the spreadsheet at one time. Stephanie Wright Information from Excel Excel Exported to Acces. Examples of Tables, Reports and Queries. Javier Sanchez Suggestions for Improvement The implantation of the Transaction Processing System will help the company to monitor, collect, store and process data generated from the daily transaction. This system will replace the antiquated system that is in place currently. Transaction processing system Transaction processing system Transaction Transaction Business database Business database Detailed reports Detailed reports Paper plates Paper plates The data that is collected from transactions are placed into batches. This system is called Batch Processing. Using collaborative software such as Peachtree by Sage (www. peachtree. com) will help the company manage their financial transactions. Using this software the company will have access to sales ledgers, purchase ledgers, sales order processing. Stephanie Wright Conclusion In conclusion, the Party Plates Company would have easier access to pertinent data. By manipulating fields and properly formulating the tasks required in an excel spreadsheet, the company can track what is needed in each department and apply it to its database more efficiently. The Party Plates Company can also quickly make reports from each department within the company. For example, if the Supervisor or Department Manager of the Human Resources Department wanted a report on all personnel that had missed more than five days of work over a three month period, excluding holidays, vacations, and maternity leave. He or she would simply access the database and simply click the required field to receive the answers desired for the report in particular. With excel alone; this would be more of a tedious task. With excel one could enter the data in fields and have such data imported to access to be stored. This helps every business because the data is saved and can be retrieved at a later date if necessary for reports, strategy building, and brain storming new products or projects. If a database is built with the proper parameters the product will be more conclusive for the task of the company, or a department within the company that the database is built. In summary the implantations of the various information systems will allow the company to operate more effectively. Dante L. LeGare Reference Software-Matters. 2011. Microsoft Office Access benefits. â€Å"Software-Matters†. Retrieved from http://www. software-matters. co. uk/microsoft-access-benefits. html.

Martyn Pig Quotes Essay - 611 Words

Martyn Pig Quotes - Themes Dominance/Power â€Å"I looked at my dads arm chair, my armchair† – Role reversal Fantasy vs Reality â€Å"Something I don’t know what it was. It wasn’t real.† â€Å"Its strange, the lack of emotion, the absence of drama in reality. When things happen in real life, extraordinary things, theres no music, theres no dah-dah-daaahhs. Theres no close-ups. No dramatic camera angles. Nothing happens. Nothing stops, the rest of the world goes on.† â€Å"Reality. When you gradually come to realise that all that stuff in books, films, television, magazines, newspapers, comics - its all rubbish. Its got nothing to do with anything. Its all made up. It doesnt happen like that. Its not real. It means nothing.† Morality†¦show more content†¦But I never meant to kill him.† Pg 24 – â€Å"hoping I could get away with pretending that he was ill in bed, asleep. Not dead, just asleep.I had no choice. Do you understand ? I had no choice.† Alcoholism â€Å"He looked like what he was: a drunk.† Pg 10 - Short and simple, no beating around the bush. Martyn has given up denying the terrible state is father is in, it is clear that he accepted long ago hi father has a serious alcohol problem. The sincerity of the sentence infers Martyn’s resentment and hatred towards his dad’s self-imposed alcoholic condition. â€Å"But with me, he was a drunk with responsibilities, a drunk with child benefit, a drunk with someone to clear up the sick.† Pg 11 - ‘But’ highlight two alternate realities and how different Billy Pig’s life would be without Martyn, showing the positive impact that Martyn has had on his life. Ironic because William Pig had a very negative impact (relative to readers opinion) on Martyn’s life. â€Å"Alcohol. It sucks the life out of a face and replaces it with its own dumb shine of inanity. It’s up to you. If you want to lose yourself, have a drink.† – Talking directly to the reader engaging them in the story and emphasises how badly his dad alcoholism impacted his life, and strongly warns the readers against it. Loneliness/Isolation: â€Å"A great swirling mess of sound searing its way into my head† – Martyn’s mind is different; he is isolated from the outsideShow MoreRelatedA Modest Proposal, to Save the Country’s Image: Examining the Oppression Toward the Irish Poor2071 Words   |  9 Pagesadvantages might be enumerated. For instance, the addition of some thousand carcasses in our exportation of barreld beef: the propagation of swines flesh, and improvement in the art of making good bacon, so much wanted among us by the great destruction of pigs, too frequent at our tables† (Swift). With the graphic imagery Swift was aiming to send a message across to his audience, he did not want anyone to take his proposal seriously it is very crucial to even think of taking the life of a baby to use it