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Global Trends 2030 - Citizens in an Interconnected and Polycentric World - Brussels launch

15 May 2012

The EUISS report Global Trends 2030: Citizens in an Interconnected and Polycentric World was launched in Brussels with an introduction by James Elles MEP, followed by a presentation of the report by the EUISS Director Álvaro de Vasconcelos.  

The three major global trends shaping the future were said to be:

1) The growing empowerment of individuals, contributing to a sense of belonging to a single human community; 

2) A greater stress on sustainable development against a backdrop of greater resource scarcity and persistent poverty, compounded by the consequences of climate change; 

3) The emergence of a more polycentric world characterised by a shift of power away from states, and growing governance gaps as the mechanisms for inter-state relations fail to respond adequately to global public demands.

These three main trends were said to all have profound implications for EU foreign and security policy and should be taken seriously by policy makers both in the EU institutions and Member States. Guest speakers Margaritis Schinas of BEPA and Mario Telo of ULB further highlighted the implications that the major trends currently shaping the world will inevitably have for the EU as an international actor. A question and answer session then dealt with various strategic forecasting issues including how the EU will adapt to the end of global inequality and what security threats may emerge from a more balanced world.