Democracy Impacts

EU Leaders Mull Common Military Proposals

September 19, 2016

The New York Times reports that, as leaders of France, Germany, and EU institutions face eroding confidence in trade negotiations and economic centralization, they are turning to the potential creation of a common EU military force as a strategy to regain citizens' trust following the UK's vote to exit the bloc.
German Lawmaker Proposes Multi-tiered EU

September 19, 2016

Reuters reports that German lawmaker Norbert Roettgen, who chairs the national parliament's foreign affairs committee, has called for the development of a new EU model in which countries would join different circles of integration and would not be required to accept free movement of people in exchange for access to the bloc's "single market."
Juncker Calls for EU Military Force

September 19, 2016

In his annual State of the Union address, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called for the EU to develop a "common military force" that would complement the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Official Identifies Security, Globalization as EU Challenges

September 19, 2016

In a letter marking the lead-up to a September summit of EU member states in Bratislava, Slovakia, President of the EU Council Donald Tusk has called for cooperation on solving the bloc's migration crisis, combating international terrorism, and confronting challenges related to trade deals and globalization to hold the bloc together following the vote for Brexit.
EU Official Seeks "Redistributive" Focus in Integration

September 19, 2016

In recent remarks regarding the souring of opinion across the EU against the project of European integration, President of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi called for more attention to the "redistributive aspects of integration," or compensating people "left behind" by centralizing Europe, in order to ease dissatisfaction with EU institutions.
Governments Propose Centralized EU Defense Structure

September 16, 2016

EUobserver reports that officials from the French and German governments have released a paper for discussion at an EU summit in Bratislava, Slovakia, on expanding military defense cooperation across the bloc by, among other things, centralizing command of EU military missions in a joint EU headquarters.
UK Waters Down Brexit-Focused Tax Cut Plans

September 15, 2016

Following warnings from European colleagues that large corporate tax cuts would hinder Brexit negotiations, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has downgraded plans to reduce businesses taxes to boost economic activity with an eye to post-Brexit economic uncertainty.
UK Labour Candidate Campaigns on Pro-EU Platform

September 15, 2016

The BBC reports that candidate for the leadership of the UK Labour Party Owen Smith has asserted that, if he becomes Prime Minister after Britain has left the EU, he would consider reapplying for membership in the bloc.
UK Politicians Call for Quick Brexit Trigger

September 15, 2016

Voice of America reports that leading proponents of the UK leaving the EU have called on British Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger negotiations over Brexit before the end of the year, arguing that waiting longer could lead to negotiators disavowing the will of voters who wished to see a hard break with the bloc.
Brexit Vote Grants Impetus to EU Defense Integration

September 14, 2016

Jonathan Marcus writes that EU leaders are using the UK vote to leave the bloc as an opportunity to work toward long-held plans, often stifled by Britain, to create common European defense structures supplementing their involvement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.