Democracy Impacts

Lord Speaker Signals Cooperation on Brexit Law

January 17, 2017

In a recent comment article, the Speaker of the UK House of Lords, Lord Fowler, pledged that his body would not "sabotage legislation" from the elected House of Commons regarding the withdrawal of Britain from the EU, but would rather seek to "improve" any such law.
EU Proposes Scrutiny of Services Regulation

January 16, 2017

The European Commission has announced a package of initiatives aimed at completing the EU's "single market" for service providers by, in part, proposing tougher EU scrutiny of national regulations on professional services and requiring a "comprehensive and transparent proportionality test" before governments create new rules on the provision of services.
EU Faces Dilemma on Future Direction

January 16, 2017

The Guardian has published a piece in which journalists highlight the dilemma faced by top EU officials who wish to launch ambitious projects to keep the bloc relevant but who face intensifying pressure from voters driven by politicians who call on them to return power to the member states.
UK Report Predicts Windfall from EU "Single Market" Exit

January 13, 2017

A report from the nonpartisan campaign group Change Britain describes the financial benefits the UK might expect from leaving the EU "single market," including a halt to most government payments to the EU budget, deregulation of the UK economy, and the negotiation of free trade agreements with non-EU countries around the world.
Case in UK Seeks to Delay EU "Single Market" Exit

January 13, 2017

The Guardian reports that a group of anonymous litigants from the UK and foreign countries has lodged a case in the UK High Court asserting that any departure of the country from the EU's "single market" requires an act of Parliament that is separate from the legislation the litigants say is required to leave the EU.
Lord King: UK Should Leave EU "Single Market"

January 05, 2017

Former Bank of England Governor Lord King has asserted that Britain's impending departure from the EU offers "real opportunities" for economic reform and that the UK should make leaving the bloc's "single market" part of its plans for Brexit.
Polish Leader: Brexit Should Spur Return of Sovereignty

January 05, 2017

Reuters reports that Jaroslaw Kaczynski, head of the governing party in Poland, has asserted that the departure of the UK from the EU provides an opportunity for EU members to develop a new treaty returning power to national governments, making clear that the bloc is "an association of national states," and providing for "far-reaching deregulation."
Slovak PM Seeks Halt to Referendums on EU Issues

January 04, 2017

Prime Minister of Slovakia Robert Fico has called on other EU leaders "to stop with adventures" of permitting popular democratic referendums on issues relating to the EU or the euro.
German Official Supports Rethink of EU Migrant Benefits

January 04, 2017

Deutsche Welle reports that remarks from Sigmar Gabriel, a German economy minister and deputy of Chancellor Angela Merkel, in support of reducing child benefits payments to EU migrant workers whose children live in other countries have stirred debate over EU rules regulating benefits for the bloc's migrant labor market.
British PM Hints at Brexit Transition Deal with EU

January 04, 2017

AFP reports that, in testimony before a parliamentary committee, British Prime Minister Theresa May echoed sentiments from officials in her government signaling willingness to consider a transition deal that would keep UK industry in the EU, and subject to the rulings of the bloc's courts, following the negotiation of Brexit.