Democracy Impacts

Juncker Pledges "Hefty" Brexit Bill

March 02, 2017

EurActiv reports that, in a recent speech, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker promised that the EU will issue a "very hefty" bill to the UK during negotiations over the country's departure from the bloc to cover its outstanding financial commitments.
Commission Outlines EU "Pathways to Unity"

March 01, 2017

A European Commission white paper offering five alternative "pathways to unity" for the future of the EU presents in each pathway a combination of policy options including maintaining the EU status quo or federalizing power in EU institutions, but does not include the option of a broad return of sovereignty to national governments.
UK Lords Vote for Guarantee on Rights of EU Nationals

March 01, 2017

Deutsche Welle reports that the UK's unelected House of Lords has voted to amend the Prime Minister's bill on triggering the country's exit from the EU by including a provision guaranteeing the ability of EU nationals in the UK to retain their "EU-derived rights" following Brexit.
Austria Incentivizes Domestic Hiring

March 01, 2017

EurActiv reports that the Austrian government has approved rules providing financial incentives to Austrian companies that prioritize applicants who are currently in the country over applicants located in other EU member states for open positions, in a move that may test EU rules on free movement of labor.
UK Official: Scotland Will Leave EU

March 01, 2017

The Daily Telegraph reports that, in a recent committee hearing at the Scottish Parliament, UK Scottish Secretary David Mundell stated that there would be "no circumstances" under which Scotland, whether independent from the UK or not, would remain in the EU after the UK leaves the bloc.
ECB Leader Seeks "Sustainable Globalisation"

March 01, 2017

At a recent workshop in Maastricht, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank Benoît Cœuré sets out a case for the EU to use what he deems to be its experience with "sustainable globalisation" - an "efficient, enduring and equitable" form of global governance - to promote lessons on the phenomenon within global institutions.
EU Prepares Demand for Brexit Payments

February 27, 2017

The Daily Telegraph reports that, according to sources from a meeting of the European Commission's top Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and representatives from EU member states, EU leaders are planning to call on the UK to pay approximately 60 billion euros in installments until 2023 to fill EU budget gaps created by Britain's departure from the bloc.
Solana: Put EU Ahead of National Interests

February 27, 2017

Former EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy and Secretary-General of NATO Javier Solana calls for European countries to adopt a "European Union first" policy that would "compel" national officials to consider factors outside of "narrow national interest" in making decisions affecting their people and to help "consolidate" EU institutions.
EU Official Pushes for Eurozone Finance Minister

February 27, 2017

Reuters reports that, in a recent speech in Vienna, European Commissioner for economic and financial affairs Pierre Moscovici called for the creation of new eurozone institutions, including a finance minister who would administer a common eurozone budget, in the wake of the UK's departure from the EU.
EU Aims to Retain Fishing Access After Brexit

February 24, 2017

The Guardian reports that, in a warning signal to British voters who chose to leave the EU in part to permit the UK to take back control of its fishing policies, a leaked negotiating document from the European Parliament shows that EU officials are seeking to retain the current UK-EU balance on fishing quotas in exchange for British access to the "single market."