Democracy Impacts

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.
Committee: ECJ Might Invalidate UK-EU Renegotiation

December 17, 2015

The British Parliament's European Scrutiny Committee has warned that, without revisions to EU treaties, the Court of Justice of the EU ("ECJ") may invalidate any pledges made by the UK and other EU member states as part of the country's renegotiation of competences with the 28-member bloc.
British MP Warns of EU Displacement of NATO

December 17, 2015

UK Member of Parliament ("MP") Bob Stewart warns that EU leaders are pushing for the establishment of an EU Army to displace the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ("NATO") in order to dilute the sovereignty of EU member states and to reduce the influence of US foreign policy in Europe.
Parks: Lack of Collective Purpose Portends EU Demise

December 15, 2015

Professor and author Tim Parks writes that the EU has lost any collective identity and purpose it once had and predicts the end of the union unless the UK renegotiation with the EU imbues the bloc with newfound purpose.
Juncker Calls for Future Shift to "Two-Speed" EU

December 02, 2015

In remarks that also included a call for "common, minimum social rights" in all EU countries, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker has predicted a shift to a "two-speed" EU, in which some countries continue moving toward "ever-closer union" while other countries "position themselves in an orbit different from the core."
Article: National Referenda Are Obstacles to EU "Progress"

December 01, 2015

An article by Stefan Lehne of Carnegie Europe expresses concern that citizens of European countries are blocking European integration through their national referendum processes and calls for greater transparency and democratic participation in EU institutions to blunt these efforts.
MEP Calls for End to "Feeble" UK-EU Negotiation

November 30, 2015

UK Member of the European Parliament ("MEP") David Campbell Bannerman, a co-chairman of euroskeptic group Conservatives for Britain, has called for the UK to end what he deems to be a limited renegotiation of powers with the EU and instead give notice of its withdrawal from the bloc.
British Businesses Seek EU Reform

November 25, 2015

At a recent conference held by the UK publication The Telegraph, British business leaders and the director general of the British Chambers of Commerce John Longworth argued that business support for remaining in the EU depends whether Prime Minister David Cameron can negotiate meaningful reforms in the bloc.