Democracy Impacts

UKIP Sets out Demands for Brexit

April 03, 2017

The BBC reports that the UK Independence Party (UKIP), which has no Members of the UK Parliament but could influence negotiations through its 20 Members of the European Parliament, has published six tests for whether it will support the British Government's final Brexit deal with the EU, including demands for full border control and "maritime sovereignty."
Party Official: UK-EU Deal Must Maintain "Same Benefits"

March 31, 2017

The UK Labour Party's Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer's six-part test for evaluating whether the party can support the UK government's final post-Brexit deal with the EU includes whether the deal maintains the "exact same benefits" Britain currently has as a member of the EU "single market" and customs union.
Newspaper: Britain Must Trash EU "Red Tape"

March 31, 2017

The British newspaper The Telegraph has launched a campaign to pressure the UK government to use the occasion of leaving the EU to rid the country of "needless EU regulations," including the bloc's working time directive and some environmental standards, that restrain economic freedom in the country.
Countries Weigh Participation in EU Financial Tax

March 31, 2017

Bloomberg reports that the proposal for an EU financial transactions tax, which requires the agreement of nine countries to be implemented under the bloc's "enhanced cooperation" procedure, is facing its potential demise as Belgium, Slovenia, and Slovakia consult their parliaments on continued participation in the legislation.
EU Committee Seeks Common Health Policy

March 30, 2017

EurActiv reports that the EU Committee of the Regions has called on EU institutions to address a "disparity" in the quality of national health systems by working toward the harmonization, and centralization, of European health policy in Brussels.
Poland Threatens Action over EU "Multi-Speed" Policy

March 30, 2017

Bloomberg reports that, prior to the recent EU summit celebrating the 60th anniversary of the bloc in Rome, Prime Minister of Poland Beata Szydlo pledged not to sign any multilateral document committing the EU to a "multi-speed" model permitting part of the bloc to federalize at a faster rate than others.
Juncker Confirms Budget Demand for Brexit Talks

March 30, 2017

In a recent interview, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker confirmed that EU negotiators will demand in talks over Brexit that the UK pay approximately $62 billion toward what EU leaders say are its budget obligations to the bloc and indicated that a priority in the negotiations will be to incentivize other EU members not to leave.
UK Committee: Maintain Post-Brexit EU Legal Ties

March 30, 2017

The UK House of Commons Justice Committee has published a report calling on the country's negotiators to prioritize in Brexit talks maintaining a close civil and criminal legal relationship with the EU, including by retaining access to the European Arrest Warrant and preserving cross-border practice rights for lawyers.
Essay Favors “Grand Bargain” over “Multi-Speed” EU

March 30, 2017

Transatlantic Academy Fellow Hans Kundnani has warned in a recent essay of the dangers to the EU of pursuing a “multi-speed” approach to the federalization of the bloc, arguing that the idea of a united Europe has always necessitated a “grand bargain” where both rewards and risks are pooled.
UK Triggers Article 50 to Begin EU Exit

March 29, 2017

The UK initiated the process of leaving the EU through a letter delivered by British Permanent Representative to the EU Sir Tim Barrow notifying President of the European Council Donald Tusk of the country’s intention to leave the bloc within two years and to restore the country's "national self-determination."