Democracy Impacts

Reno: "Transnational Utopianism" Threatens Transatlantic Alliance

September 11, 2019

R. R. Reno, editor of First Things, explains how "transnational utopianism encourages the illusion that a global system is emerging that will make national sovereignty obsolete," as it "detaches elites from the life of their nations" and seeks to produce "citizens of the world rather than national leaders."
Macron Promotes “European Renaissance” Agenda in Central and Eastern Europe

August 21, 2019

Politico.eu reports that French President Emmanuel Macron is promoting his European Renaissance agenda among liberal leaders in Central and Eastern Europe, which “consists of greater EU integration, a beef-up common defense and security policy and stronger EU presence on the international stage” and embraces “young, educated, urban, socially liberal EU enthusiasts.”
German Court Upholds ECB Supervision Authority

July 30, 2019

Deutsche Welle reports that the German Federal Constitutional Court has ruled that the authorities granted to the European Central Bank (ECB) to supervise large banks and administer a fund for failing financial institutions comply with EU treaties and with the German Constitution.
EU Officials Reject Johnson’s Demands for New Brexit Deal

July 26, 2019

Bloomberg reports that EU officials, including the European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, have refused to accept demands from new UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to renegotiate the Brexit deal to take out the controversial “Irish backstop” provision.
EU Members Advance Refugee “Solidarity Mechanism”

July 23, 2019

Deutsche Welle reports that 14 EU member states have agreed in principle to a “solidarity mechanism” that would distribute refugees evenly across countries in a “quick” and “automatic” fashion.
French Official Expresses “Ambition” to Form European Army

July 18, 2019

Bloomberg reports that French Defense Minister Florence Parly stated in a recent interview that the government’s “ambition” is to create a European Army that pools national efforts related to military procurement and operations.
EU Council Rolls out Budget Plans in Case of No-Deal Brexit

July 17, 2019

The Council of the EU has adopted a contingency plan for the funding of a 2019 EU budget in case the UK leaves the bloc without a withdrawal deal, supplementing extensive planning by British and EU authorities to blunt the economic and other impacts of a “no-deal Brexit.”
ECJ Develops Standard for State Notifications to Commission

July 17, 2019

The Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) has interpreted EU treaties to require the bloc’s member states to provide “sufficiently clear and precise information” describing to European Commission authorities how they are transposing into their national law directives imposed on them by the EU institutions.
MEPs Criticize Process of Selecting New EU Leaders

July 10, 2019

Euractiv reports that Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have criticized European Commission and Council leaders for what they deemed to be a non-transparent process through which they chose the next leaders of EU institutions following the recent European parliamentary elections.
UK Party Backs Remaining in EU over Conservative Brexit Deal

July 10, 2019

The Guardian reports that the leadership of the main opposition party in the UK Parliament, the Labour Party, has signaled the party will seek to hold a second referendum to decide on the adoption of a Brexit deal struck by the Conservative Party and that it would campaign to remain in the EU in such a referendum.