Democracy Impacts

EC Accepts Compromise on Italian Budget Deficit

January 04, 2019

Bloomberg reports that, in December, the European Commission (EC) accepted a compromise with the Italian government in a conflict over the country’s plans to raise spending in violation of EU “excessive budget” rules, with the EC allowing Italy to carry a budget deficit just above the bloc’s limits.
EU Body Warns of Harms Caused by Cutting Migration

January 03, 2019

In December, the European Economic and Social Committee adopted an opinion finding that, due to an ageing European population and other factors, restricting migration into the EU and failing to integrate migrants into host societies have a negative impact on the bloc’s labor force and cause rises in racism and xenophobia.
EC Announces Measures Toward Workable No-Deal Brexit

January 03, 2019

The European Commission (EC) has announced a set of unilateral measures it will put through EU institutions that ease the impacts of a no-deal Brexit, including respecting UK citizens’ rights in the EU and permitting air travel from the UK, as long as the UK reciprocates with similar measures.
EU Leaders Agree to Create Common Eurozone Budget

January 03, 2019

The Associated Press reports that national EU leaders have agreed to set aside EU funds to establish a common eurozone budget to support eurozone members in the event of financial crises.
Manifesto Seeks New Assembly to Solve Europe’s Crises

December 18, 2018

A group of European economists, historians, and former politicians led by economist Thomas Piketty has published a “manifesto for the democratisation of Europe” calling for the establishment of a new “European assembly” that would direct funds drawn from higher taxes on companies and the wealthy toward progressive causes.
Author Points to Flaws in Call for EU Army

December 17, 2018

Author Richard Reinsch writes that French President Emmanuel Macron’s call for the establishment of a European army ignores that the basis of an effective military lies in the ability of a citizenry “to muster courage and resilience” on the foundation “of a shared membership of a national people,” which the supranational EU lacks.
France, Germany Propose EU “Buyout” Option from Migration Rules

December 17, 2018

EurActiv reports that the governments of France and Germany have proposed that the EU force member states to make a financial contribution to the EU budget or to aid programs in Africa if they refuse to permit the entry of migrants from outside the supranational bloc into their territory.
German Official Calls for EU Seat on UN Security Council

December 13, 2018

France 24 reports that German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz recently called on France to relinquish its permanent seat on the UN Security Council in favor of a seat controlled by the EU, eliciting a reply from French Ambassador to the US Gérard Araud that such a deal “would run counter to the Charter of the United Nations.”
Barrister: EU Backstop Would Make Britain a “Rule Taker”

December 13, 2018

In a recent blog post, UK barrister Martin Howe QC explains how the “backstop” arrangement regarding the Irish border, agreed as part of the UK-EU withdrawal deal, would work in practice and warns that, by permitting this feature of the agreement to come into force, the UK would “destroy” its ability to pursue an independent trade policy.
US Ambassador Points to Democratic Deficit in EU

December 12, 2018

In a recent interview with Politico, US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland characterized the EU as “out of touch” with the practical concerns of citizens and businesses in the bloc and warned of US retaliation against EU “protectionist” policy that hinders trade between America and the bloc’s member states.