Democracy Impacts

US President Pushes UK to Remain in EU

July 24, 2015

US President Barack Obama has repeated his calls for the UK to remain within the EU, arguing that Britain is a more valuable partner to the US within the bloc.
EU Official Laments Voluntary Migrant Resettlement Plan

July 21, 2015

EUobserver reports that the European Commissioner for migration issues Dimitris Avramopoulos has expressed his disappointment with a voluntary resettlement scheme for tens of thousands of migrants from Africa and the Middle East, which this week failed to meet the Commission's 40,000-migrant target for resettlement due to objections from EU member countries.
French President Proposes Eurozone Government

July 21, 2015

Arguing that the lack of strong supranational institutions is a threat to Europe, French President François Hollande has called for the 19 countries in the eurozone to be bound by a central government, including a common budget and parliament.
Erlanger: Euro May "Shatter" EU Project

July 17, 2015

Steven Erlanger of The New York Times writes that the Greek financial crisis has highlighted how the introduction of the euro, rather than hastening "ever closer union," could potentially pull the EU apart.
Techau: EU Must Have Political Union to Survive

July 15, 2015

Director of Carnegie Europe Jan Techau writes that EU political integration is the necessary cost of economic union, and that leaders, like German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who pursue EU economic competitiveness without surrendering sovereignty are pushing for a "fundamental contradiction."
Elliott: Greece Deal May Reduce UK Influence in EU

July 15, 2015

Matthew Elliott of the organization Business for Britain has written an article warning that the recent deal struck on Greek debt could result in greater eurozone integration, which would hamper the UK's ability to protect its financial services and other industries from EU measures if the UK votes to remain in the bloc.
Britain to Seek Opt-out from EU Employment Measures

July 14, 2015

The Telegraph reports that UK Prime Minister David Cameron has indicated one of his goals in his country's renegotiation of competences with the EU will be to opt out of EU employment measures, including a directive that limits the amount of time employees are permitted to work.
British Euroskeptics See Greece as Case for EU Exit

July 10, 2015

Reuters reports that supporters of a UK exit from the EU believe Greece's financial crisis and conflict with its EU creditors provide a substantial case for their goal of unbinding themselves from the bloc.
Farage: Greek Referendum Signals Broad Rejection of EU

July 09, 2015

UK Member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage writes that the outcome of the recent referendum in Greece, rejecting the demands of the country's creditors despite pressure from EU leaders, demonstrates the disillusionment of young people with a "united" Europe and their support for national democracy.
EU Commissioner: Farage Is "Right Too Often"

July 09, 2015

While he views the euroskeptic leader's solutions to the transfer of national sovereignty to Brussels as "morally completely unacceptable," EU Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans has conceded that UK Independence Party's Nigel Farage is "right too often" regarding the problems the EU faces.