Democracy Impacts

UK Councillor Seeks Stronger Post-Brexit EU Institutions

July 26, 2016

Richard Lewis of the Scottish National Party writes that the UK's exit permits an opportunity for the EU to deepen integration and provide for stronger institutions, including a directly elected EU President and Members of the European Parliament who can launch their own legislation.
Scholars Seek Quick Brexit, Transition Period

July 25, 2016

Damian Chalmers of the National University of Singapore and London School of Economics and Anand Menon of Kings College London write that the UK should negotiate a quick exit from the EU in the year 2018, restoring parliamentary sovereignty and cutting off free movement, followed by a transition period in which Britain and the EU work out details of their future relationship.
UK Attorney Outlines Vision for Post-Brexit Trade

July 25, 2016

British think tank Politeia has published a pamphlet from senior attorney Martin Howe QC outlining how the UK should legally fulfill the vote of its people to depart the EU and describing how it can form new free trade agreements with the bloc and other countries around the world.
British MPs Object to EU "Emergency Brake" Deal

July 25, 2016

The Daily Mail reports that euroskeptic Members of the UK Parliament have warned that they will not support a proposed deal with the EU that would permit Britain to retain access to the bloc's single market in exchange for a restricted version of free movement with other EU countries and UK contributions to the EU budget.
V4 Seeks Greater National Control of EU Policy

July 25, 2016

EUobserver reports that, at a summit of the Visegrad Group of Central European countries that focused on driving a power shift from the European Commission to national governments in the EU Council, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo criticized the Commission for overriding the objections of governments to the EU's directive on posted workers.
EU Seeks Tough Emissions Restrictions on Members

July 22, 2016

Politico reports that the European Commission's proposed Effort Sharing Regulation, which seeks to meet its greenhouse gas emissions pledges under the recent UN climate deal, is facing blowback from governments on which the regulation imposes the toughest emissions restrictions.
UK Ministers Downplay EU Migration Targets

July 21, 2016

The Telegraph reports that British Government Ministers have declined to commit to a pledge from their party's manifesto to decrease migration to the "tens of thousands" following the UK's vote to leave the EU, instead promising to reduce migration into the country to "sustainable levels."
France Seeks Stronger EU Defense Cooperation

July 21, 2016

EurActiv reports that, in the wake of the July terror attack in Nice, French President François Hollande has been engaging with other leaders of EU member states in preparation for a September summit in Bratislava, Slovakia, on the future of the EU to advocate greater cooperation on defense capabilities and policies in the bloc.
EU Overrides National Objections to Posted Worker Legislation

July 21, 2016

The European Commission has overridden objections from 14 chambers of national parliaments in 11 EU member states asserting that an EU directive providing for equal pay between posted and local workers violates the bloc's principle of subsidiarity and will permit the legislation to proceed in the EU Council and Parliament.
EU Parliament Reports Call for "More Europe"

July 20, 2016

According to Politico, in the face of calls from EU leaders and member states to step back from EU federalism following the UK's vote to leave the bloc, Members of the European Parliament have produced a set of reports seeking more measures to solve problems at the EU level and treaty changes that bring more power to Brussels.