Democracy Impacts

UK May Delay Brexit to Maintain Security Ties

November 29, 2016

The Guardian reports that the British Government is considering striking an "interim" deal with the EU, likely taking negotiations over the country's exit from the bloc past the two-year period prescribed in EU law, in order to ensure continued security and foreign policy links with other EU member states.
EU Countries Approve Visa-Free Travel from Ukraine

November 28, 2016

Deutsche Welle reports that EU member states have approved visa-free travel for Ukrainians in the EU for trips of up to 90 days, sending the European Parliament a proposal that would allow such travel once the bloc bolsters a mechanism allowing the suspension of such waivers in case of emergencies.
Polish Official: UK Should Fund EU After Brexit

November 28, 2016

Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Konrad Szymanski has asserted that the UK should be forced to pay contributions to the EU budget after it exits the bloc until the year 2020 and has listed as a priority in Brexit negotiations maintaining freedom of movement to the UK in return for the country's access to the EU's "single market."
German Official Criticizes UK Resistance to EU Military Plans

November 28, 2016

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has called on British officials not to block proposals from multiple EU member states to set up new military structures, which the UK has asserted are unnecessarily duplicative of those of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, prior to the country's exit from the bloc.
ECJ Chief Foresees Involvement in Brexit Issues

November 22, 2016

In a recent interview, President of the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ), Koen Lenaerts, suggested that many different issues involved in the UK's negotiation of its exit from the EU could end up before his Court, including the triggering of negotiations as provided under EU treaties.
EU Advances Plan for Traveler Security Checks

November 22, 2016

The European Commission has approved a plan, which would be implemented "by early next decade," to charge visitors from countries with a visa-free travel agreement with the EU, such as the US, Canada, and Japan, €5 to complete an online security check before arriving in the bloc.
EU Council Approves Schengen Border Controls

November 16, 2016

The Council of the EU has approved a recommendation from the European Commission extending the time during which it would permit certain EU member states to maintain controls along limited stretches of their borders to the next three months and calling for these countries to limit these controls to what is "strictly necessary."
EU Calls for More Action on Migrant Resettlement

November 16, 2016

In a recent progress report on the implementation of its mandatory program to resettle migrants in EU member states, European Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos has called on countries to step up their resettlement efforts and "fully comply with their obligations" under the bloc-wide plan.
Hungarian Amendment Against EU Resettlement Fails

November 10, 2016

The Hungarian Government's proposed constitutional amendment seeking to counter the EU's migrant resettlement policies by establishing that immigration policy is a national competence has failed to secure the necessary number of votes for adoption in the country's Parliament.
German Minister Details EU Defense Plans

November 09, 2016

Amid concerns by US and British officials regarding what they perceive to be the duplicative nature of EU defense institutions, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has called for the EU to bolster its support to a "European security and defence union" that "should work in a complementary fashion" with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.