Final answer:
The EU's labor demands are met through worker mobility within its member states, increased immigration from peripheral countries, and organized labor's ability to negotiate. Despite facing a potential labor shortage due to low population growth, the EU maintains high labor standards and focuses on sustainable economic and social policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The labor demands of the European Union (EU) are being met by various means, primarily due to the union's fundamental principles of free movement of goods, labor, and capital across member states. This ensures that there is mobility for workers within the EU, facilitating the filling of job vacancies where they are most needed. However, Europe is in stage 5 of the index of economic development, indicating low or negative population growth, leading to a potential labor shortage, particularly for entry-level service jobs. To counteract this, there has been an increase in immigration from peripheral countries and regions both within and outside of Europe, looking for better opportunities.
Beyond internal adjustments, some countries in the EU have turned to global strategies to meet labor demands. Strategies include the formation of trade unions, as evidenced by the historical movement in Poland under the leadership of labor activist Lech Wałęsa, enabling organized labor to bargain for better wages and conditions. Additionally, economic policies encouraging industrial cooperation among nations have helped maintain the EU's high standard of living and competitive edge in the global economy.
Ironically, while the EU itself practices high labor standards, there is ongoing debate regarding the labor practices of trade partners, with some arguments favoring the restriction of imports from countries with lower labor standards. Nevertheless, the primary focus remains on meeting the labor needs effectively while maintaining sustainable economic growth and social welfare within the EU.