Source: Stratfor

The key areas of focus for 2019 will be:  completing the work in the area of migration; reinforcing the Economic and Monetary Union; addressing increasing tensions in the global trading system; tackling continued challenges to the Rule of Law in some member states; and finding an agreement with the UK on its withdrawal from the EU.

Financial Markets

Establishing a Capital Markets Union remains a top priority. The Commission emphasizes the need to reach an agreement on the pending proposals with regards to:

In the next European elections an historic breakthrough by the extremists, populists and nationalists has been forecast, with the latter not being by nature extremely in favour of Europe. Their victory has already been announced for May 2019. However, this is a somewhat hasty analysis and illustrates poor knowledge of the European election method.  

Indeed, we must be careful with the designation "extremist, populist" which masks a multi-facetted reality.

Author: Paul Hockenos in CNN

" Europe's far right has its sights set on the European Union’s parliamentary elections, which take place in May next year. With national populists surging across Europe, the vote could prove a game-changer for the continent's hallowed postwar project of integration and peace. And, in stark contrast to the EU's supporters, the right looks organized, determined and ready to let rip.

Brexit remains in disarray and so the chance of a ‘no deal’ remains a very real possibility. A ‘no deal’ Brexit does what it says on the tin. It means the UK and the EU would be unable to reach a withdrawal agreement. If no agreement can be made, it means there would be no 21 months transition period. If that was the case, consumers, businesses and public bodies would have to respond immediately to changes as a result of leaving the EU. On 29 March next year, the UK would leave the EU and everything associated with that would come to an end. These are just some of the consequences:

Million Tons CO2

What can we expect at COP24?

• Climate change is continuing globally and in Europe. Land and sea temperatures are increasing; precipitation patterns are changing, generally making wet regions in Europe wetter, particularly in winter, and dry regions drier, particularly in summer; sea ice extent, glacier volume and snow cover are decreasing; sea levels are rising; and climate-related extremes such as heat waves, heavy precipitation and droughts are increasing in frequency and intensity in many regions.

"My message to Europe’s leaders is: don’t believe this Brexit “deal” will hold. It is a bad deal for both sides. It isn’t liked by the British parliament or the British people or even a significant part of the remaining cabinet. So be prepared for all eventualities, including the possibility of a new referendum.

On 11 December, the House of Commons will debate and then vote upon a government motion to approve the EU withdrawal agreement and accompanying political declaration. The terms of the UK's departure from the EU. But at the moment, it looks as if Theresa May faces an incredibly hard job getting it passed. She leads a government with a working majority of just 13. Only seven Tory rebels are needed to defeat it.