Democracy Impacts

EU Issues Proposals for Post-Brexit Euro Clearing Rules

July 19, 2017

The New York Times reports that, in the lead-up to the UK general election in June, the European Commission published a set of proposals indicating that, following Brexit, EU institutions would still seek to regulate firms located in the UK that perform euro clearing transactions and that "play a key systemic role for EU financial markets."
EU Calls for Future Phaseout of Border Controls

July 19, 2017

In a recent recommendation, the European Commission called on Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway to phase out their temporary border controls over the next six months, finding that the EU has made sufficient progress in securing the bloc's external borders from large waves of migration to justify opening borders within the Schengen area.
UK Negotiator Maintains Hard Line on ECJ

July 19, 2017

According to The Daily Express, UK Brexit Secretary David Davis has indicated that the UK will not accept any proposal by the EU that provides for the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Britain after the UK leaves the bloc.
EU May “Stall” Brexit Negotiations over Exit Bill

July 19, 2017

Politico reports that Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator in Brexit negotiations, is prepared to “stall” negotiations if the UK government fails to present a proposal for calculating the country’s financial exit bill in what he considers to be a timely manner.
EU Files Financial Reporting Complaint Against Ireland

July 18, 2017

The European Commission recently announced that it is taking Ireland to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to transpose provisions of the EU's Accounting Directive, creating EU-wide standards on information businesses must disclose in their annual financial statements, into the country's national law.
EU Demands Austria Reform Minimum Wage Laws

July 18, 2017

Highlighting the difficulties faced by EU member states in applying social legislation to foreign companies and workers operating in their territories under "internal market" rules, the European Commission has opened legal proceedings against Austria for applying its minimum wage rules to international road transport services.
EU Takes Romania to Court over Waste Management

July 18, 2017

The European Commission has announced that it is filing a complaint against Romania with the Court of Justice of the EU for the country's failure to adopt a "national waste management plan and waste prevention programme" in line with the bloc's "circular economy" and environmental agenda.
Lawyer: Post-Brexit Transition Deal Could Curtail UK Opportunities

July 18, 2017

Shanker A. Singham of the Legatum Institute Special Trade Commission writes that, rather than enter a transitional post-Brexit trade deal in which the EU retains authority over UK trade policy, Britain should leave the EU without any deal in order to maximize its global trade and investment opportunities.
Merkel Expresses Support for EU Budget, Finance Minister

July 18, 2017

After meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel indicated that she is open to President Macron’s proposal to establish an EU budget and finance minister that would significantly centralize financial policy-making in the eurozone.
UK Announces Plans to Pay Brexit "Settlement" to EU

July 18, 2017

The UK Secretary for Brexit David Davis has announced that the British Government intends to pay some “financial settlement” to the EU upon leaving the bloc based on the country's "rights and obligations as a departing member state."