Increasing Europe’s Prosperity MICHAEL DAUDERSTÄDT P ublic support for the project of European unification and the eu ’s in­fluence in the world depend primarily on Europe’s economic success. Europe is one of the world’s richest regions and this wealth appeals above all to its poorer neighbors. At the same time, Europe is also one of the poorest performing regions in terms of growth – measured by gdp – which limits its ability both to exert influence overseas and to satisfy its citizens: unemployment and inequality in particular have grown in the course of the integration process(see Table 1). Europe’s growth profile is also quite heterogeneous: individual member states are growing rapidly (above all, Ireland and some new member states) and also in terms of productivity per hour Europe appears in a better light, although it is not reinforced by long working hours, externalization of costs, and high population growth(as, for example, in the usa , China, and India). Whether such reinforcement represents a desirable increase in prosperity, however, is questionable and should be left to the free choice of the citizens. Table 1: The Economic Tragedy of European Integration, 1961–2005 Year Growth Unemployment Wage share 1961–1970 4.8 2.0 72.3 1971–1980 3.0 3.8 73.9 1981–1990 2.4 8.5 72.1 Source: European Economy(figures relate to eu -15). 1991–2000 2.1 9.4 69.2 2001–2005 1.6 7.8 68.4 Six years after the adoption of the Lisbon strategy the German Council presidency is confronted by the challenge of boosting Europe’s economic dynamism. In this connection old worries have been augmented by new ones due to changes in the world economy(the rise of China and India) 28 Dauderstädt, Increasing Europe‘s Prosperity ipg 1/2007