Democracy Impacts

President Sees ECJ as "Engine of European Integration"

October 27, 2015

In a recent interview, the newly elected President of the Court of Justice of the EU ("ECJ") Koen Lenaerts stated that the ECJ has been "the engine of European integration" for the last half century, since the Court established rules of "primacy" of EU law over national law.
Telegraph Reports Four-Pronged UK-EU Renegotiation

October 27, 2015

The Telegraph reports that the British Government will focus in its renegotiation of competences with the EU on exempting the UK from "ever closer union" and joining the euro, creating vetoes for groups of countries over EU legislation, and structural protections of the interests of non-eurozone countries.
UK Parliament Committee Examines EU Debate

October 27, 2015

The UK Parliament's Treasury Select Committee has announced that it will produce a report examining the financial and economic consequences of Britain's membership in the EU and the potential implications of the UK's leaving the bloc.
UK Euroskeptics Launch "Vote Leave" Campaign

October 15, 2015

A wide-ranging group of euroskeptics in the UK, including business leaders and politicians, has launched a "Vote Leave" campaign that is prepared to campaign for Britons to vote to leave the EU if the campaign views Prime Minister David Cameron's negotiated reforms with the bloc as insufficient.
Hollande Acknowledges "Logical" Case for British EU Exit

October 14, 2015

The Telegraph reports that in recent remarks on the creation of powerful new EU institutions and common policies, French President François Hollande argued that if Britain does not wish "to participate in a common state," then it must leave the EU.
EU Official Discounts Political Debate on Migration

September 29, 2015

Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European Commissioner on migration issues, has highlighted the lack of political accountability of the EU institutions by stating in a recent interview that the Commission "does not care about the political cost" of requiring EU member states to take in large waves of migrants from abroad.
Paper: UK Backs Down from EU Employment Opt-out

September 02, 2015

The Daily Mail reports that the UK Prime Minister David Cameron will step back from demanding that Britain be exempt from most EU employment laws as part of the country's renegotiation of competences with the bloc, instead focusing on opting out of the EU directive that limits the number of hours people can work.
Elliott Highlights Differences Between "Europe" and "EU"

August 26, 2015

Matthew Elliott of the group Business for Britain has called for those debating the referendum on the UK's membership in the EU to respect the difference between "Europe" and the institutions of the European Union, arguing that a Britain departing the EU would still remain part of Europe even as it found new trading partners in a "globalised world."
Eyal Sees Pause in "Ever-Closer Union"

August 26, 2015

Dr. Jonathan Eyal writes that due to popular backlash against EU economic policies and political integration, the EU's long phase of "ever-closer union" has ended.
Oxley: UK Can Avoid "Erosion" of EU Renegotiation Agenda

August 26, 2015

Robert Oxley of the organization Business for Britain writes that UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who Oxley says has recently been downplaying the terms of his renegotiation of EU competences, can still save this renegotiation by sticking to his original terms for the deal and by being prepared to campaign for an EU exit if the negotiation is not successful.