Democracy Impacts

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.
Report Reveals Scaled-Back U.K.-EU Renegotiation

June 03, 2015

A new report from Business for Britain describes areas where U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron may have recently scaled back his stated ambitions for a renegotiation of competences with the EU, including on social and employment policy and national government vetoes over Brussels legislation.
Officials Explore Option of "Two-speed" EU

June 03, 2015

The Independent reports that in response to the U.K.'s negotiation of a new relationship with Europe, comments from leaders in the EU institutions and member states indicate that some are open to considering a "two-speed" Europe in which not all countries must commit to continued integration.
Article Predicts Reforms Will Pull Apart EU

June 03, 2015

An article in Market Watch concludes that repatriation of powers from the EU institutions to national governments will eventually lead to the destruction of the European project.
Ombudsman Warns on Lack of EU Transparency

June 02, 2015

The Irish Times reports that the EU Ombudsman has announced that lack of transparency among the European institutions topped complaints to the body's office last year, and that it would open an investigation into the transparency of "trilogue" meetings, in which the institutions meet regarding EU legislation.
Elliott: Not All U.K. Businesses Favor EU

May 29, 2015

Matthew Elliott of Business for Britain writes that, far from presenting a unified voice in favor of staying in the EU, business leaders in the U.K. have a wide range of opinions on whether Britain should remain in the bloc and tend to back calls for EU reform.
Hannan Outlines U.K.-EU Reforms Acceptable to Euroskeptics

May 28, 2015

U.K. Member of the European Parliament Daniel Hannan writes that, prior to the country's EU referendum, Prime Minister David Cameron could satisfy British euroskeptics by asserting parliamentary sovereignty over EU authority and negotiating the ability to make trade deals with non-EU countries.