Democracy Impacts

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.
Danish Minister Warns U.K. on "Opt-Out" Regime

May 28, 2015

The Foreign Minister of Denmark Martin Lidegaard has stated recently that he would warn the British Government, prior to negotiations over taking back powers from the EU, that Denmark's regime of EU "opt-outs" on issues like justice and defense have produced problems for the country.
New U.K. Migrant Rules Require EU Reform

May 27, 2015

Pawel Swidlicki of Open Europe writes that in order to achieve his goal of reducing migration from the EU, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron must convince EU and other national leaders that the bloc’s free movement principle must take into account an array of benefits systems.
Redwood: EU Negotiation Should Return U.K. Sovereignty

May 21, 2015

Arguing that the U.K. veto over intrusive Brussels regulations has encountered "remorseless erosion," John Redwood MP writes that the British renegotiation of powers with the EU should focus on a complete return of sovereignty to U.K. voters.
Lynn: Businesses Should Seek EU Reform

May 21, 2015

Matthew Lynn writes that instead of repeating "scare stories" predicting catastrophic consequences of the U.K. leaving the EU, businesses should call for common-sense reforms to the EU-U.K. relationship that would foster growth, such as returning financial regulatory power to Britain.
Business Group: "Brexit" Could Cause Irish EU Exit

May 20, 2015

The Irish Times reports that the head of the Irish business organization Ibec argues that if Britain exits the EU in its planned referendum, it would attract outside investment in the U.K. economy and should spur Ireland to consider leaving the EU as well.
Former Italian PM: Build a "Two-Speed" EU

May 15, 2015

Arguing that the exit of the U.K. from the EU would signal the "death throes" of the project, former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta writes that the EU should allow the U.K. and other non-eurozone countries to form an EU "slow track" that is not committed to political integration.
Britain Faces Complications in Negotiating EU Reform

May 13, 2015

An article in The New York Times details the complications British Prime Minister David Cameron will likely face in renegotiating the U.K.'s relationship with the EU, including the difficulty of winning reform in the bloc in the time frame prior to the country's pledged referendum.
U.K. Seeks Broad Immigration Changes from EU

May 13, 2015

The Daily Mail reports that British Prime Minister David Cameron is pursuing extensive reforms of his country's ties with the EU, seeking limits to benefits for new EU migrants, a right of deportation of migrants who do not find work, and an opt-out from the EU treaty provision on "ever closer union."
Proposal Increases EU Member Authority on Legislation

May 13, 2015

EurActiv reports that a leaked European Commission document proposes increased consultation over initiating legislation by the EU Parliament and Council - and thus by national governments - in return for all institutions backing the Commission's push against EU "red tape."