Democracy Impacts

Italy Skirts EU Debt Rules by Tightening Budget

July 10, 2019

Politico reports that the Italian government has, for now, escaped sanctions from the European Commission over the country’s high debt and deficit, which breach EU budget rules, by recouping billions of euros from value-added tax payments and lowering social-program expenditures.
EU Party Group Calls for Transnational Election Lists

July 01, 2019

Politico reports that the head of Renew Europe, the EU party group that includes the national party of French President Emmanuel Macron, has called on EU institutions to allow transnational candidate lists in the next European parliamentary elections, a move that would reduce the influence of national parties in EU campaigns.
Central European Leaders Oppose EU Climate Target

June 21, 2019

Reuters reports that leaders from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary refused to back the inclusion of a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050 in a final statement from an EU summit, citing the potential harm to their economies of a clampdown on fossil fuels.
EU Official Seeks Consequences for “Foot-Dragging” on Swiss-EU Deal

June 19, 2019

Bloomberg reports that European Commissioner for the EU’s “neighborhood policy” Johannes Hahn has called for the Commission to curb EU firms’ access to Swiss stock exchanges beginning in July if negotiators fail to make progress by that time on a framework agreement on Swiss-EU relations.
EU Council Adopts Emissions Standards for Trucks

June 19, 2019

The Council of the EU has adopted the bloc’s first emissions standards for trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles in a bid to “decarbonize” the EU’s road transport system.
EU Institutions Adopt “Work-Life Balance” Directive

June 19, 2019

The EU institutions have adopted directive on “work-life balance” that will require employers across the bloc to permit paternity leave, parental leave, and “carers’ leave” for workers caring for ill relatives.
EU Body Seeks More Rapid Deployment of Renewables

June 12, 2019

The European Court of Auditors has called on the European Commission to put pressure on EU member states to support the expanded deployment of wind and solar power sources to meet its renewable energy targets for the year 2020.
German Chancellor Seeks “Comparable” Wage Floor Across EU

June 12, 2019

Politico reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on EU institutions to begin a push for member states to implement a “comparable minimum wage” across the bloc.
EU Agency Calls for Bolstered National Plastic Waste Policies

June 05, 2019

The European Environment Agency has published a report calling on EU member states to develop “clear and coherent” plastic waste prevention targets, explore bans on more plastic products, and consider deals with industry to reduce plastic pollution.
UK Lawmakers Reject PM’s New Plan on Brexit

May 30, 2019

The Guardian reports that UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s latest attempt to pass her Brexit deal, by offering a binding vote on a new EU referendum if it succeeds, has failed, as at least 20 members of her party who originally supported her deal with the EU opposed the new plan.