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The European Union (EU) experienced significant changes in 2004 as it enlarged from 15 to 25 members and continued work on a new constitutional treaty to institute internal reforms and further EU political integration. In 2005, the EU is expected to build on these efforts and seek to implement several recent foreign policy and defense initiatives. This report describes the current status of the EU’s “constitution,” EU enlargement, the EU’s evolving foreign and defense policies, and possible implications for U.S.-EU relations.

This report provides answers to key questions related to the European Union (EU). It describes the EU’s evolution, its governing institutions, trade policy, and efforts to forge common foreign and defense policies. The report also addresses the EU-U.S. and EU-NATO relationships.

In June 2004, the European Union (EU) concluded work on a constitutional treaty that contains changes to the EU’s governing institutions and decision-making processes. This new “constitution” grew out of the 2002-2003 Convention on the Future of Europe and previous EU efforts to institute internal reforms ahead of the Union’s expansion from 15 members to 25 in May 2004. The “constitution” aims to enable a larger EU to operate effectively and prevent gridlock, but it must still be ratified by all member states before it enters into force. This report provides background information on the Convention and describes the EU “constitution,” its key provisions, next steps, and possible implications for the U.S.-EU relationship.

Mexico has a population of slightly over 100 million people making it the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world and the third most populous country in the Western Hemisphere. Based on a gross domestic product (GDP) of $677 billion in 2004 (about six percent of U.S. GDP), Mexico has a free market economy with a strong export sector that is very sensitive to changes in the U.S. economy. Mexico’s economy is relatively small compared to the U.S. economy. Economic conditions in Mexico are important to the United States because of the close trade and investment interactions, and because of other social and political issues that could be affected by economic conditions, such as immigration.

The connections between trade and migration areas longstanding as the historic movements of goods and people. The desire for commerce may often be the principal motivation, but they need to send people to facilitate the transactions soon follows. Recognition of this phenomenon is incorporated into the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which includes provisions for aliens who are entering the The United States solely as “treaty traders” and “treaty investors.” Although the United States has not created a common market for the movement of labor with our trading partners, there are immigration provisions in existing free trade agreements (FTAs) that spell out reciprocal terms regulating the “temporary entry of business persons.”

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In late 2002, Brazil initiated a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement case (DS267) against specific provisions of the U.S. cotton program. This report provides background to the dispute, as well as details of the WTO dispute settlement case. It will not be updated. For information on the U.S. response to panel recommendations and their implications for the U.S. cotton sector, see CRS Report RS22187, U.S. Agricultural Policy Response to WTO Cotton Decision.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen to BRAC Commission regarding Cannon Air Force Base.

Commissioner's Base Visit Book - Fort Gillem's Closure Recommendations dated 10 June 2005

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen to BRAC Commission regarding Cannon Air Force Base.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen to BRAC Commission regarding Cannon Air Force Base.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen to BRAC Commission regarding Cannon Air Force Base.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen to BRAC Commission regarding Cannon Air Force Base.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen to BRAC Commission regarding Cannon Air Force Base.

Letters from Norma Stroik to Commissioners dtd 20 May 2005 concerning the closing of Cannon AFB.

Letters from Janna Pemberton to the Commission dtd 27 May 2005 concerning the closure Cannon AFB.

Base Input: Report of Data and Analysis Deviations of the BRAC Proposed Realignment of the 130th Airlift Wing Yeager Air guard Station, West Virginia

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen to BRAC Commission regarding Cannon Air Force Base.

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen urging the commission to recommend that the installation be closed

Community Correspondence - Letters from a concerned citizens regarding the closure of NAS JRB Willow Grove in Horsham Pennsylvania

Department of Defense Clearinghouse Response: DoD Clearinghouse response to a request from the BRAC Commission for a copy of the white paper in minutes from the 12Apr2005 "Military Value Update" Civilian Personnel Offices, "the Chair noted the top two jocations in military value were not chosen as receiving locations and asked the analysts to list talking points with the retionale for the decisions." a) please provide complete list of talking points referred to in the minutes; b} Rock Island Arsenal isprovide complete list of talking points referred to in the minutes; b} Rock Island Arsenal is not closing. CPO is not in leased space. Rock Island was ranked #1 with military value of 0.843. Rock Island capacity analysis shows shortfall of 6%; Aberdeen shortfall is 10%. Please discuss in detail the rationale for relocating Rock Island CPO to Ft Riley and Aberdeen.

Community Correspondence - Letters from a concerned citizens regarding the closure of Indiana Military Installations, NSWC Crane and CAAA

Community Correspondence - Letter from a concerned citizen to BRAC Commission regarding Cannon Air Force Base.