Democracy Impacts

MPs: UK Must Deny EU Fishing Demands

May 07, 2018

A group of UK Members of Parliament (MPs) has published a letter to British Prime Minister Theresa May calling EU demands for maintaining existing access to UK waters for the purposes of fishing "completely unacceptable" and pushing May to take advantage of Brexit by establishing "a truly independent UK fishing policy."
UK Lawmakers: Limited Brexit Transition Could Endanger Security

May 07, 2018

The BBC reports that a group of UK Members of Parliament has warned that the British government should be prepared to extend a proposed post-Brexit "transition" period, during which the UK would continue to implement EU rules, to prevent a sudden break in UK-EU security cooperation and intelligence sharing.
Fishing Association Criticizes Brexit Transition Deal

April 26, 2018

The BBC reports that the Scottish Fishermen's Federation has objected to a proposed agreement between the EU and UK for European fishing boats to retain the same access to fishing rights in British waters during a post-Brexit "transition" deal.
UK Legislators Seek Consideration of Brexit Delay

April 25, 2018

A majority of the UK House of Commons Select Committee on Brexit recently adopted a report, disavowed by euroskeptic members of the Committee, asserting that the British Government should delay its departure from the EU if the UK and EU have not decided "substantial aspects" of the withdrawal agreement by this October.
EU Watchdog Criticizes EC for Lack of Scrutiny on Barroso

April 24, 2018

The Daily Mail reports that the European Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly recently criticized European Commission (EC) officials for failing to scrutinize former EC President José Manuel Barroso's acceptance of a job at Goldman Sachs in 2016 that may involve lobbying EU officials, labeling the alleged oversight "maladministration."
EP Document Pairs Market Access with ECJ Authority

April 24, 2018

The European Parliament (EP) recently adopted a resolution asserting that any "deep and comprehensive" future trade deal between the EU and the UK must include "a binding interpretation role" for the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) and proposing an "association agreement" with the UK that could provide broad market access between the jurisdictions.
EU Softens Stance on Post-Brexit Fishing, Security Measures

April 24, 2018

The Sun reports that EU officials, in draft negotiating guidelines, recently softened their stance on access of EU fishing vessels to UK waters after Brexit and the ability of Britain to participate in European security measures during the post-Brexit transition period.
UK Body Forecasts Long-term Brexit Bill Payment

April 23, 2018

Politico reports that the UK Office for Budget Responsibility has determined that Britain's tentatively agreed budget payments to the EU following its departure from the bloc would take the form of £37.1 billion in payments over the next 45 years - with most payments coming due before the year 2028.
Salvini Predicts Triumph of Euroskeptics in EU Parliament

April 23, 2018

Politico reports that the head of Italy's Northern League Party Matteo Salvini, who may be a part of a coalition government following the recent Italian elections, has called for a roll-back in European federalism and predicted a crumbling of the current governing axis of center-right and socialist parties in the European Parliament in favor of a euroskeptic majority.
France to Launch Non-EU Military Crisis Force

April 20, 2018

In June, France will launch a deployable European military crisis force, outside of existing EU efforts for military integration, to bring together European countries with a military capacity and political desire to collaborate during emerging crises.