Democracy Impacts

EU Council Chief Talks down Future Migrant Quotas

November 27, 2017

According to EUobserver, the President of the Council of the EU Donald Tusk recently stated that he didn't "see any special future" for minimum quotas of migrants for each EU member state after pushback from the Central European Visegrad countries - Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland - to the European Commission's most recent migrant quota scheme.
Eastern EU Members Miss out on Agencies

November 22, 2017

A Politico article highlights how the selection of Amsterdam and Paris as the post-Brexit homes of the European Medicines Agency and the European Banking Authority, respectively, has signaled the growing divisions between Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe regarding the future aims of the EU project.
Germany, Denmark Seek EU Extension on Border Controls

November 21, 2017

EUobserver reports that, due to "a considerable amount of illegal migration" and terrorism concerns, Germany and Denmark have notified the European Commission that they intend to extend border controls along their normally passport-free Schengen borders by six months.
UK Risks Support of Brexit Voters over ECJ Arrangements

November 20, 2017

British political commentator Mark Wallace explains his concerns about UK Prime Minister Theresa May's plans for a post-Brexit transition period during which Britain remains within the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ), warning that pro-Brexit voters will bridle at a seeming "sleight of hand" keeping the UK under the rule of EU institutions.
EU Parliament Plans Pro-Europe Election Campaign

November 15, 2017

Politico has obtained a draft strategy note from leaders in the European Parliament calling for the body to use taxpayer funds to persuade voters who support the federalization of the EU to participate in European parliamentary elections, in an effort to drain support from euroskeptic parties.
EC Proposes Consolidated Economic Powers

November 01, 2017

EUobserver reports that the European Commission (EC) has outlined dozens of proposals to move toward a "more democratic Europe" that include eliminating the veto power EU member states currently have on certain legislation, including tax issues, and establishing a common eurozone budget and finance minister.
MEPs Warn Against UK Registration Requirements

October 25, 2017

The Guardian reports that, as part of their objection to any Brexit "transition" period in which the UK would no longer be subject to all EU laws, a cross-party group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has warned Britain against any requirement that EU citizens register with the British Government after Brexit.
EU Supports Spanish Position on Catalan Referendum

October 20, 2017

Following the violent intervention of Spanish authorities against citizens attempting to vote in the recent Catalan independence referendum, the EU issued a brief statement calling the vote illegal and the response to the vote "an internal matter for Spain," while venturing that, beyond the legal issues involves, this is not the time for "divisiveness and fragmentation."
Johnson Highlights Brexit "Red Lines"

October 20, 2017

In a recent interview with The Sun, UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson set out what he considers to be "red lines" in the UK's Brexit negotiations with the EU - a transition period lasting no more than two years and refusal to recognize EU court rulings, pay for market access, and "shadow" EU rules after the transition period.
Former ECJ Judge Critiques EU Approach to Brexit

October 19, 2017

Former Belgian Judge at the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) Franklin Dehousse writes that the EU's decision to sequence Brexit negotiations with the UK so questions of financial obligations and citizens' rights come first is not legally required and warns that it "makes the negotiations more difficult by disconnecting connected topics."