Democracy Impacts

CDU Chief Outlines Vision of Balance Between EU, Nation States

March 11, 2019

Politico reports that the new leader of the governing German CDU Party Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has responded to French President Emmanuel Macron’s vision for a “European renaissance” with an op-ed opposing “European centralism” but calling for focused EU policies on immigration, defense, and climate change.
UK Official Raises ECHR as Obstacle to Brexit “Backstop”

March 08, 2019

The Guardian reports that, in recent talks with EU negotiators, UK Attorney General Geoffrey Cox argued that the Irish border “backstop” contingency measure in the UK-EU withdrawal deal could violate the rights, under the European Convention on Human Rights, of the Northern Irish people to democratic representation in EU institutions.
UK Euroskeptics Offer Tests for a Successful Brexit Deal

March 07, 2019

Reuters reports that euroskeptics in the UK Conservative Party have offered three tests for a Brexit deal they can support, pushing for legally binding, clear language offering Britain an exit route from the Irish border “backstop” provision that would tie the UK to the EU customs union under the current withdrawal deal.
Macron's "European Renaissance" Focuses on EU Authority

March 06, 2019

In a letter published in newspapers across Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron calls for a “European renaissance” focused on the centralization of authority in EU institutions, such as a European Agency for the Protection of Democracies and a European Climate Bank, to advance a broad social and environmental agenda.
EU Ecosystem Mapping Lays Basis for Biodiversity Strategy

March 06, 2019

The European Environment Agency has issued a report highlighting its progress in mapping ecosystem types across Europe to lay the foundation for the EU’s 2020 biodiversity strategy.
Former London Official Explains Challenges Backstop Poses for Brexit

March 04, 2019

Former Deputy Chairman of Transport for London and adviser to the Mayor of London Daniel Moylan explains the significance of the “Irish backstop” provisions in the UK-EU withdrawal deal in terms of the future lack of independence from EU structures they would mean for Britain.
UK Opposition Party Calls for Second Brexit Referendum

March 01, 2019

The head of the UK Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn has announced his party’s support for a new British referendum on leaving the EU that would include an option on the ballot whether to overturn the result of the 2016 referendum that triggered the Brexit process.
EU Leaders Support Brexit Delay

March 01, 2019

The Independent reports that President of the EU Council Donald Tusk and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar have supported a delayed Brexit, with the EU Council chief referring to a delay as a “rational” response to the failure of the EU and UK Prime Minister Theresa May to reach a withdrawal deal that is acceptable to the British Parliament.
May Offers UK Parliament Vote to Delay Brexit

February 27, 2019

NPR reports that UK Prime Minister Theresa May has offered the House of Commons an opportunity to vote to delay Brexit for up to three months if they reject, in a series of votes in March, both the withdrawal deal she is negotiating with the EU and departure of Britain from the EU on WTO terms.
Spain Hinders Brexit Visa Rules with Gibraltar “Colony” Reference

February 22, 2019

The Guardian reports that the Spanish government has stymied legislation that would permit visa-free travel by UK visitors to the EU in case of a no-deal Brexit by including in the relevant legislation a reference to Gibraltar as a British “colony,” causing the European Parliament to reject the rules.