Democracy Impacts

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.
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.