Yurttas Journal
Entry 7/30/2014
First day in
Vienna, we are visiting Haus der Europaeschen Union (House of EU) in Austria. They
are the voice of Austria in EU. They brief the media, report back to Brussels
on political, economic, and social developments in Austria. They provide
information across Austria in partnership with national and local authorities,
social partners, and NGO's.
After 20 years of membership in EU, only 44% of Austrians say that EU membership has been beneficial to them. 35% of Austrians find that EU membership has not been beneficial and the rest of the population seem to have neutral feelings toward the EU membership. According to the Austrian respresentative, EU should be more involved in world affairs, not militarily per say but more diplomatically. EU enlargement and unification is one of the most peaceful international achievements in history.
EU involvement in world conflicts may provide similar peaceful and diplomatic solutions. One major issue that they have to deal with is the economy and youth unemployment. A second major issue is in the foreign policy area that is engagement in neighboring countries that are in turmoil, such as Ukraine. Enlargement of EU seems to be a foreign policy success in stabilizing neighboring countries and creating peace.This enlargement however is not going to be extended to Turkey, a candidate country. Turkey is too different and a contender for power. Germany doesn't want to share that power.
After 20 years of membership in EU, only 44% of Austrians say that EU membership has been beneficial to them. 35% of Austrians find that EU membership has not been beneficial and the rest of the population seem to have neutral feelings toward the EU membership. According to the Austrian respresentative, EU should be more involved in world affairs, not militarily per say but more diplomatically. EU enlargement and unification is one of the most peaceful international achievements in history.
EU involvement in world conflicts may provide similar peaceful and diplomatic solutions. One major issue that they have to deal with is the economy and youth unemployment. A second major issue is in the foreign policy area that is engagement in neighboring countries that are in turmoil, such as Ukraine. Enlargement of EU seems to be a foreign policy success in stabilizing neighboring countries and creating peace.This enlargement however is not going to be extended to Turkey, a candidate country. Turkey is too different and a contender for power. Germany doesn't want to share that power.
Yurttas Journal
Entry 8/1/2014
Today our visits
and lectures further explore Austria and EU relations. Austria has joined EU in
1995, but many questions and worries remain in the minds of Austrians. Average
citizen sees EU as behemoth of regulation. People percieve that excessive
regulation interrupts people’s lives. It is
difficult to convince an average citizen that EU is good. Austria is a neutral
country.
EU military plans concern neutral countries like Sweden or Austria. These countries worry about getting drawn into conflicts that they don’t want because of EU membership. Austria is a gateway to west from neighboring countries. Vienna is the capital of the "Danube-Europe." Therefore, immiggration is an issue.
In Germany, there is a GPA requirement to be eligible for enrollment to medical school. In Austria, there is no such requirement and this attracts students to Austrian schools. Many immigrants come to find jobs. Immigrants are resistent to learning German. This creates difficulties in integrating the immigrant families into Austrian society. For the immigrants, it is difficult to find jobs if they are not competent in German.
Unlike the US, the education system has turned blind eye to educating immigrant children on learning the language and integrating. In the US, the school system offers ESL, English as a Second Language, classes to the children of immigrant families. Turkey has a large young population, therefore there is a large immigration to EU for jobs from Turkey. Turkish immigrants are proud of their culture and resist to such integration.
EU military plans concern neutral countries like Sweden or Austria. These countries worry about getting drawn into conflicts that they don’t want because of EU membership. Austria is a gateway to west from neighboring countries. Vienna is the capital of the "Danube-Europe." Therefore, immiggration is an issue.
In Germany, there is a GPA requirement to be eligible for enrollment to medical school. In Austria, there is no such requirement and this attracts students to Austrian schools. Many immigrants come to find jobs. Immigrants are resistent to learning German. This creates difficulties in integrating the immigrant families into Austrian society. For the immigrants, it is difficult to find jobs if they are not competent in German.
Unlike the US, the education system has turned blind eye to educating immigrant children on learning the language and integrating. In the US, the school system offers ESL, English as a Second Language, classes to the children of immigrant families. Turkey has a large young population, therefore there is a large immigration to EU for jobs from Turkey. Turkish immigrants are proud of their culture and resist to such integration.
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