Democracy Impacts

UK Publishes Principles to Guide Brexit

February 16, 2017

The British Government recently released a publication setting out 12 broad principles it will follow in negotiating its exit from the EU, including by withdrawing completely from the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU, negotiating new free trade agreements, and regaining control of migration from the bloc.
UK Lords Prepare Amendments to Brexit Bill

February 15, 2017

The Belfast Telegraph reports that the UK House of Lords has prepared a series of eight amendments to the Government's "Brexit" bill, passed recently by a large majority in the House of Commons, to add conditions to the authority of the Government to notify the EU of its plans to exit the bloc.
Official Seeks "Next Level" of EU Integration

February 14, 2017

In a letter to leaders of EU institutions and member states in advance of a recent Rome summit on the future of the bloc, President of the European Council Donald Tusk called for the leaders to "raise European integration to the next level" to counter external, geopolitical threats and internal EU dissension regarding the need for strong national sovereignty.
UK Signals Job Requirement for Future EU Migrants

February 14, 2017

The Telegraph reports that UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd has indicated her government's post-Brexit immigration policy will likely focus on restricting the entry into Britain of EU migrants who do not yet have employment in the country.
UK Clears Major Hurdle on Brexit Bill

February 08, 2017

Politico reports that the UK House of Commons has passed a bill permitting British Prime Minister Theresa May to notify the EU of the government's intent to leave the bloc and granting officials broad discretion in negotiating the terms of a post-Brexit deal with EU members.
EU Resolution Seeks Better Rabbit Treatment

February 03, 2017

As the EU faces crises ranging from uncontrolled migration to security to the exit of the UK from the bloc, the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee has adopted a resolution calling for EU member states to pass legislation containing "minimum standards on the protection of rabbits" in their agricultural systems.
EU Shields Lawmaking from Public Scrutiny

February 01, 2017

EUobserver reports that critics are raising objections to the growing trend of EU institutions bypassing a portion of the legislative process opening up proposed laws to public consumption and debate, arguing that the alternative "trilogue" procedure, in which the institutions work out legislative differences behind closed doors, obstructs democratic accountability.
Romanian President Decries "Europhobia" at CoE

February 01, 2017

In a speech before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (CoE), Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis linked the threats of "populism, radicalism, xenophobia and Europhobia" to both the EU and CoE and called for governments to "fight them with all our force, using all the instruments and mechanisms available."
UK Party Amendments Push Back on Brexit

January 31, 2017

The Herald reports that the Scottish National Party plans to include in a set of at least 50 proposals for amendments to the British Government's bill on triggering negotiations to exit the EU a "reset clause" that would force the UK to remain in the EU if it fails to reach an agreement on its post-Brexit relationship with the bloc.
Scottish Party Seeks to Stymie Brexit Bill

January 30, 2017

The New York Times reports that, in an attempt to slow down the Brexit process, the Scottish National Party (SNP) has promised to submit at least 50 amendments to the British Government's brief bill granting Prime Minister Theresa May the authority to trigger the country's departure from the EU.