Democracy Impacts

EU Parliament Approves UN Climate Deal Ratification

October 05, 2016

The European Parliament has voted to approve the ratification, on behalf of all EU member states, of the UN climate deal agreed in Paris last year, as EU leaders trumpet a set of supranational measures implementing the agreement's provisions on limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
EU Committee Calls for "Comprehensive" Nuclear Power Plan

October 05, 2016

The European Economic and Social Committee has criticized an energy proposal from the European Commission for failing to provide a "clear and comprehensive approach" to nuclear power in the EU that addresses issues like global warming and "public acceptability."
Italy Promotes Ambitious EU Army Plans

September 28, 2016

EUobserver reports that, in an initiative that goes beyond current German and French proposals to strengthen EU defense cooperation, a paper from the Italian government calls for the creation of a "joint permanent European Multinational Force" for use in overseas missions.
Hungary Mulls Push for EU Treaty Change on Migration

September 23, 2016

As the Hungarian government faces pressure to take back asylum seekers who passed through the country on their way to other EU destinations, Hungarian daily Nepszabadsag reports that the government is considering pushing for treaty changes to exempt national migration rules from common EU policies after the country's referendum on EU migration rules in October.
Switzerland Advances Compromise Law on EU Migration

September 22, 2016

Reuters reports that the Swiss Parliament has advanced legislation that would seek to pacify Swiss citizens who voted in a 2014 referendum to impose quotas on migrants from EU countries by requiring companies to first consider locals for job openings before looking outside the country.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Moves Toward EU Membership

September 21, 2016

Reuters reports that the Council of the EU has accepted the application of Bosnia and Herzegovina for EU membership and has called on the European Commission to assess the readiness of the country to join the bloc.
Official: Hungary Vote Targets "Stealth" EU Policies

September 21, 2016

According to an article by Donna Rachel Edmunds, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács has asserted that Hungary's upcoming referendum on whether to permit the EU to resettle migrants in Hungary is targeted at rolling back the EU's "stealth mode of decision-making, law-making and regulation."
Visegrad Officials Threaten Brexit Veto over Free Movement

September 20, 2016

Bloomberg reports that officials from the Visegrad group of countries - Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary - have warned that they will veto any post-Brexit deal between the EU and Britain if it grants the UK access to the EU's "single market" without permitting unfettered free movement between Britain and the bloc.
UK Politicians Back Group Pushing for "Hard" Brexit

September 20, 2016

The Telegraph reports that a group of former British government ministers and other Members of Parliament are backing a new pressure group, called "Leave Means Leave," that will push for UK Prime Minister Theresa May to favor fully cutting ties with the EU rather than accepting new rules from Brussels and permitting freedom of movement from EU countries.
UK Issues Veto Threat over EU Military Plans

September 20, 2016

Warning against "unnecessarily duplicating what we already have" in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, British Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has pledged to continue to halt plans for an EU "common military force" while his country remains a member of the bloc.