Question

Which of the following developments has caused recent controversy between richer and poorer members of the European Union?

A.
the use of the euro

B.
the cost of caring for refugees

C.
the decline in the fertility rate

D.
the use of nuclear energy

Answer 1

The main controversy between richer and poorer EU members is the cost of caring for refugees, exacerbated by an existing decline in Europe's fertility rate and the resultant economic and social challenges.

Step-by-step explanation:

The controversy between richer and poorer members of the European Union (EU) is most accurately described by option B, the cost of caring for refugees. Richer EU countries are often expected to contribute more in aiding refugees, which has led to tension regarding the distribution of economic responsibility. The influx of refugees, coupled with pre-existing problems such as the decline in the fertility rate and the resulting demographic challenges, stresses the social welfare systems of European nations, creating a divide in opinion on how best to manage these issues.

As Europe is experiencing a low fertility rate, fewer children are being born, leading to an aging workforce and a potential shortage in the labor supply needed to sustain economic growth and fund pension systems. This issue is also tied to cultural tensions arising from immigrants often having different backgrounds from the local populations. Thus, while matters such as the use of the euro, nuclear energy, or even fertility rates play significant roles in the EU dynamics, it is the management of refugees that has sparked recent controversy among member states, especially between richer and poorer countries.

Answer 2

the use of nuclear energy

Step-by-step explanation:

Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which most frequently is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant. As a nuclear technology, nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium. Nuclear decay processes are used in niche applications such as radioisotope thermometric generators. Generating electricity from fusion power remains at the focus of international research. This article mostly deals with nuclear fission power for electricity generation.This is the main controversy that is recent.