Democracy Impacts

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.
EU Criticizes EFTA Members for Not Implementing Directives

April 17, 2015

The EU agency monitoring the compliance of countries in the European Free Trade Association ("EFTA") with EU legislation has criticized these countries for their failure to quickly implement EU directives through national legislation.
Elliott Criticizes EU Refusal to Consider Treaty Change

April 16, 2015

Matthew Elliott of Business for Britain writes that the refusal by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and others to consider amendments to the EU treaties in the short term is a mistake that will make it more difficult to keep the U.K. inside the bloc.
EU Diplomat: New Swiss Immigration Referendum Is "Inevitable"

April 10, 2015

EUobserver reports that Deputy Secretary General of the EU diplomatic service Maciej Popowski has predicted that a new Swiss referendum, stepping back from restrictions on immigration from the EU, is "inevitable" and says Switzerland must "change logic" regarding these restrictions.
British MPs Criticize BBC Coverage of EU

March 25, 2015

Members of Parliament ("MPs") on the U.K. European Scrutiny Committee have published a report criticizing the British Broadcasting Corporation ("BBC") for allegedly biased coverage on issues relating to the EU.