Democracy Impacts

Migration, Greek Debt Reveal Stark Divisions Within EU

July 07, 2015

The New York Times reports that two recent issues facing Europe - the arrival of waves of migrants in Southern European countries and negotiations over Greece's debt payments - have spotlighted deep divisions among EU member states and have led to the rise of anti-EU sentiment across the bloc.
Extensive Report Calls for EU Reform or British Exit

July 06, 2015

A new, 1000-page report from the nongovernmental organization Business for Britain - entitled "Change, or Go" - calls for Britain to exit the EU if UK Prime Minister David Cameron cannot reclaim substantial sovereign authority from the EU in upcoming negotiations.
Telegraph: Events Show Momentum for EU Reform

July 06, 2015

An editorial in The Telegraph argues that recent events, including the formation of a center-right, euroskeptic coalition government in Denmark, demonstrate that UK Prime Minister David Cameron can tap into a growing call for reform in Europe as he negotiates a new relationship between his country and the EU.
Will: Greek EU Exit Would Have Positive Effects

July 01, 2015

George Will writes that Greece's exit from the EU would serve both as a message regarding the effects of socialism on the well-being of a country's citizens, as well as encouragement to other EU member states to reclaim sovereignty from the bloc.
Schulz: UK-EU Renegotiation Based on Lies

June 26, 2015

The Telegraph reports that, while calling for Britain to remain in the EU, arguing that "the UK belongs to the EU," President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said the campaign in the UK to renegotiate the terms of its EU membership is pushed forward by "outright lies" and irrational fear of migrants.
Hammond: UK Seeks "Democratic" EU in Negotiations

June 10, 2015

Acknowledging the transfer of national sovereignty to the EU from its member states, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond writes in The Irish Times that the UK's negotiated EU reforms must work toward a more democratic bloc with decisions taken closer to the citizens and more powers at the national level.
Open Europe: UK Needs "Watertight" EU Changes

June 09, 2015

The think tank Open Europe has called on UK Prime Minister David Cameron to secure "watertight" legal changes in Britain's relationship with the EU, potentially including changes to the EU treaties, to cement a substantial return of national sovereignty prior to the country's referendum on the bloc.
Elliott: U.K. Should Not Rush EU Referendum

June 04, 2015

Matthew Elliott of Business for Britain writes that U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron should ignore calls to rush a British referendum on EU membership after securing mere "cosmetic" changes, and instead should seek to deliver an extensive renegotiation of authority.
MEP: Britain Should Lose Veto for Treaty Opt-out

June 03, 2015

The Guardian reports that German Member of the European Parliament ("MEP") and Chair of the European People's Party Manfred Weber has suggested that in exchange for an opt-out from the EU treaties' provision of "ever-closer union," the U.K. should lose its veto over EU legislation.
Danish Party Supports EU Renegotiation

June 03, 2015

The Telegraph reports that a leader of the Danish People's Party, which could gain influence in the country's government in upcoming elections, says he will support the U.K.'s renegotiation of powers with the EU and will seek to bring back competences from EU institutions.