Democracy Impacts

Lawyer Seeks ECJ Ruling on Brexit Questions

December 19, 2016

The BBC reports that a lawyer is seeking to launch a lawsuit in Irish courts aimed at obtaining a ruling from the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) on whether the UK has already triggered the two-year process of leaving the EU and whether the British Parliament can reject any Brexit deal agreed between the EU and the UK Government.
Campaigners Plan UK Suit over "Single Market" Exit

December 19, 2016

Reuters reports that a group of campaigners has announced plans to sue the British Government to deter it from leaving the European Economic Area (EEA), which contains the EU's so-called "single market," as part of its Brexit plans, arguing that the notification required to depart the EEA is separate from that required to leave the EU.
UK Secretary Predicts Tax Cut Response to Punitive Brexit

December 19, 2016

The Telegraph reports that, in a meeting with London business leaders, UK Secretary of State for Exiting the EU David Davis asserted that Britain would respond to any attempt by EU members to punish the UK over Brexit by cutting corporate taxes and deregulating the economy to make the UK more attractive to businesses operating in Europe.
UK Banks Seek Five-Year Post-Brexit Transition

December 16, 2016

Reuters reports that a set of UK banks are lobbying the country's government to strike a deal with EU negotiators providing that financial institutions would be subject to EU laws and to the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU for up to five years following Britain's exit from the bloc.
UK Parliament Vote Calls for Brexit Trigger

December 15, 2016

An article in The Telegraph explains a recent, non-binding vote taken by the British Parliament calling on Prime Minister Theresa May to formally notify the EU institutions of the country's intent to leave the bloc, triggering the beginning of Brexit negotiations with other EU members, by March 2017.
EU Secret Consultations Raise Democracy Concerns

December 14, 2016

Politico reports that the increasing use of informal "trilogues" among the EU institutions, to speed up consideration of legislation by using secret consultations among supranational officials, is raising concerns regarding democracy and openness in the EU following the decision of the UK to leave the bloc.
Norwegian Official: EU Links Require Concessions

December 12, 2016

In a recent interview, Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende warned UK authorities that there is currently no mechanism through which the country can maintain access to the EU "single market" without accepting jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU and permitting the free movement of people from other EU countries into Britain.
UK Considers Remaining EU Customs Union Member

December 09, 2016

In a recent interview, British trade official Greg Hands signaled that the UK government is considering continued membership in the EU customs union, under which a common authority establishes external tariffs and trade policy for the full bloc, on an industry-by-industry basis.
UK Officials Eye Post-Brexit EU Budget Payments

December 09, 2016

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Phillip Hammond and Secretary of State for "Brexit" David Davis have declined to rule out continued payments to the EU budget following Britain's departure from the bloc to secure the continued access of UK businesses to the EU "single market."
EU Develops Common Defense Fund

December 09, 2016

CNBC reports that the European Commission has revealed its plans for a 5 billion euro annual common defense fund to which EU member states would begin to contribute in 2020 to develop joint military assets outside the structure of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.