Democracy Impacts

Flemish PM Proposes New Union for Post-Brexit UK

August 30, 2016

Prime Minister of Flanders Geert Bourgeois has called for the development of a North Sea Union to maintain robust ties and promote economic cooperation between Britain and other Northern European countries following the UK's exit from the EU.
EU Intervenes in Greek Debt Statistics Case

August 29, 2016

The European Commission has sent a letter to Greek authorities criticizing the decision by the country's Supreme Court to reopen a case on whether the Greek statistics agency manipulated data on public debt to favor foreign creditors, asserting that the claims are "unfounded."
Warner: EU Leaders Misinterpret Brexit

August 29, 2016

Commentator Jeremy Warner writes in The Telegraph that EU leaders, including European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, are misunderstanding the reasons that British voters chose to leave the EU, arguing that at the heart of the decision was the failure of the euro currency.
Czech PM Supports Talks on EU Army

August 29, 2016

Bloomberg reports that Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has called for talks on the creation of an EU army "in the long term" to deal with terrorism threats and Russian aggression as the UK leaves the bloc.
Swedish PM Warns Britain on Tax Rates

August 29, 2016

The Independent reports that Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Loefven has criticized plans by the UK Government to reduce its corporate tax rates during negotiations over its exit from the EU, arguing that a tax reduction would create a "tax war" with other countries in the bloc.
EU Chief Criticizes Borders, "Nationalism"

August 26, 2016

The Daily Mail reports that European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has stirred controversy with recent remarks identifying borders as the "worst invention ever made by politicians" and calling for a fight against "nationalism" in the EU.
Northern Ireland Legislators Sue to Void Brexit Vote

August 26, 2016

CNN reports that, as part of a slew of legal complaints seeking to void the British vote to leave the EU or require a parliamentary vote to accomplish Brexit, members of the Northern Ireland Assembly have launched a lawsuit claiming that Brexit would violate the terms of the 1998 agreement to secure peace in Northern Ireland.
UK Politician Seeks Quick Brexit

August 26, 2016

UK Member of Parliament and former Conservative Party Leader Iain Duncan Smith has called on Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger formal talks to leave the EU in early 2017 in order to avoid empowering "Remain" supports to delay or weaken the Brexit process.
Swiss Party's Petition Challenges Foreign Courts

August 25, 2016

Reuters reports that the Swiss People's Party has published a petition, which will launch a popular referendum if it receives a threshold number of signatures, seeking a halt to what the party deems to be the erosion of the Swiss system of direct democracy at the hands of foreign courts, such as the European Court of Human Rights.
Report Explores Best Path for Brexit

August 24, 2016

A report published by the Competitive Enterprise Institute outlines how the UK can best promote economic prosperity as it negotiates its departure from the EU, including by establishing a unique trading relationship with the bloc and forming a commission to jettison EU regulations that threaten economic freedom.