Democracy Impacts

Johnson: U.K. Euroskeptics Have European Allies

May 11, 2015

Following the victory of the U.K. Conservatives in national elections last week, Mayor of London Boris Johnson writes that as the British Government proceeds with negotiations over EU competences, it will find many others across Europe who are seeking greater respect for national sovereignty in Brussels.
Stanley: EU Was Focal Point in U.K. Election

May 08, 2015

Writing in The Telegraph, Tim Stanley argues that constitutional issues, including the U.K.'s membership in the EU, "dominated" the British election and calls on voters to hold reelected Prime Minister David Cameron to his promise of an EU referendum in 2017.
Evans-Pritchard: Cameron May Keep U.K. in EU

May 07, 2015

The Telegraph's Ambrose Evans-Pritchard writes that, contrary to the views of those in Brussels and elsewhere who have expressed alarm regarding U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron's call for a referendum on the EU, Cameron may be the most likely candidate to avert "Brexit."
ALDE Seeks to Become "Supranational Party"

May 05, 2015

In a recent interview with EurActiv, President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe ("ALDE") Sir Graham Watson explains his party's decision to become the first of the European party groups to offer individual membership as a recognition of the "supranational" nature of current challenges in Europe.
Commission Seeks Increased Oversight on EU Legislative Process

April 30, 2015

EurActiv reports that a document setting out the European Commission's strategy on cutting red tape in Brussels seeks the power to call for a committee composed of a member of each EU institution to review any "substantive amendment" from the EU Parliament or Council to a Commission proposal.
Juncker May Accept Minor EU Treaty Changes for U.K.

April 29, 2015

BBC News reports that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says he has not ruled out minor revisions to the EU treaties in order to keep Britain in the bloc.
MEPs Resist Attempts to Publicize Spending

April 29, 2015

A group of Members of the European Parliament ("MEPs") have introduced an amendment seeking to limit the effect of legislation that would require MEPs to publicize how they spend their EU-provided allowances.
Elliott: EU Regulation Pushes Small Businesses Toward "Brexit"

April 29, 2015

Matthew Elliott of Business for Britain writes that a broad section of small and medium enterprises in the U.K. are concerned about Britain's continuing membership in the EU because it is these businesses that suffer the most from wide-ranging Brussels regulation.
Official Investigates Secrecy in EU Lawmaking

April 24, 2015

As the EU faces complaints of a "democratic deficit" between the people and the bloc's institutions, EUobserver reports that the office of the European Ombudsman has announced investigations into nontransparent lawmaking among the EU Commission, Parliament, and Council.
NGO Takes U.K. to Court over EU Air Directive

April 17, 2015

The Evening Standard reports that the U.K. Supreme Court is hearing a case brought by the nongovernmental organization ("NGO") ClientEarth seeking a ruling to require the British Government to comply with rules under the EU Air Quality Directive by reducing air pollution.