Democracy Impacts

Fletcher Dean: US Should Encourage Success of "European Project"

January 22, 2016

Admiral and Dean of Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University James Stavridis surveys the security risks facing Europe, ranging from the Islamic State to Russia, and draws the conclusion that, to contain these threats, the US must support the centralization of European power in supranational institutions.
UK Official Suggests Alternative EU Migration Reforms

January 20, 2016

Arguing in recent remarks that Britain "has passed the high-water mark of EU intervention in our national life," UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond suggested alternatives to deterring immigration from other EU countries through a restriction on in-work benefits could be an "emergency brake" on migration or redefining what constitutes a "worker" in the EU.
Grayling: Absent Fundamental Change, UK Must Leave EU

January 14, 2016

Writing in support of UK Prime Minister David Cameron's renegotiation with EU leaders over the balance of powers between the British Government and the EU, Leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling calls for fundamental EU reforms that shield the UK from continued political integration within the bloc.
EU Supporters Sense Massive 2016 Challenges

January 04, 2016

The Associated Press reports that, in light of developments including the upcoming referendum on EU membership in the UK and a nationalist resurgence in the newly elected Polish Government, supporters of EU integration, including national and supranational officials, fear the "unraveling" of the European project in 2016.
Report Finds EU Costs Outweigh Market Benefits

December 30, 2015

A report from the British "Vote Leave" campaign has found that the costs of UK contributions to the EU and EU single-market regulations outweigh the annual economic benefits the European Commission calculates that the UK receives from being part of the bloc.
Halligan: Cameron's Negotiation Strategy May Lead to "Brexit"

December 30, 2015

In an analysis of the state of the British electorate prior to the referendum on the UK's membership in the EU, Liam Halligan of The Telegraph writes that Prime Minister David Cameron may be unintentionally sabotaging the campaign to remain in the bloc by engaging in a weak renegotiation with EU leaders.
Report Reveals High Salaries of EU Officials

December 29, 2015

A report released by the UK Independence Party shows that salaries of many EU officials top that of UK Prime Minister David Cameron and that these salary costs came to £50 million for the EU taxpayer in 2014.
UK MEPs Seek EU "Red Card" for National Parliaments

December 22, 2015

UK Members of the European Parliament ("MEPs") Ashley Fox and Sajjad Karim have called for the EU to adopt a "red card" process, proposed by think tank Open Europe, through which a certain number of national parliaments could reject a proposal from the European Commission if they found that it violated the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.
EU Leaders Agree to "Emergency Brake" on Benefits

December 22, 2015

The Telegraph reports that at a recent meeting with leaders from EU institutions and member states, UK Prime Minister David Cameron secured an agreement under which the UK would be permitted to deny benefits to migrants from other EU countries if it can show the European Commission that these benefits are straining British public services.
UK and Italy: EU Countries Differ on Integration Commitments

December 17, 2015

In an opinion piece, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni write that the EU should recognize different visions its members have of their future relationship with Brussels, with some countries - like Italy - committed to continued integration, and others - like the UK - committed to a looser relationship.