Democracy Impacts

EU Negotiator: Brexit Security Deal Will Not Ease Trade Terms

September 20, 2017

Business Insider reports that chief Brexit negotiator for the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt has warned that the EU will not permit the UK to secure a favorable trade deal after Brexit in return for Britain's pledge of continued collaboration on security issues.
Scholar: Poland Moves Toward "De-Europeanisation"

September 19, 2017

Piotr Buras of the European Council on Foreign Relations has produced an article asserting that recent developments in Poland concerning the country's courts and parliamentary procedure, along with criticism of EU institutions, signal an attempted "de-Europeanisation" by the ruling party that could harm the internal cohesion of the EU.
UK MPs: EU Owes Britain €10 Billion

September 19, 2017

Business Insider reports that over 100 UK Members of Parliament (MPs) who form the euroskeptic European Research Group have produced a report asserting that the UK has no legal obligation to pay a "divorce bill" to the EU upon leaving the bloc, and instead could claim €10 billion from the EU for the country's share in the European Investment Bank.
UK Paper Seeks Continued EU Science Ties

September 19, 2017

The UK government has published a position paper stating that British officials involved in Brexit negotiations will seek to agree "a far-reaching science and innovation agreement with the EU that establishes a framework for future collaboration" and permits the UK to continue to receive billions of pounds in research funding from the bloc.
ECJ Limits National Options in GMO Debate

September 19, 2017

The Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) has ruled that EU member states may not take emergency measures to prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified food that has been approved by the European Commission without evidence of “serious” health or environmental risk.
UK Paper Proposes Post-Brexit EU Migration Restrictions

September 18, 2017

The Guardian reports that a document leaked from the UK Home Office proposes new restrictions on migrants from EU countries following Brexit, including a prioritization of highly skilled labor in migration policy and limits on the rights of EU migrants to settle and bring family members to Britain.
Polish President Criticizes Multi-speed EU Proposal

September 18, 2017

Bloomberg reports that, at a recent economic forum, Polish President Andrzej Duda warned that Western European countries pushing for a multi-speed EU, in which some countries could transfer their sovereign powers to the supranational organization at a faster pace than others, threaten to a create a "B-Class" of EU members and risk the dissolution of the bloc.
EU Agency Explores Progress on Climate Agenda

September 18, 2017

The European Environment Agency has published an annual report pushing for a quicker transition within the EU-wide energy system from reliance on fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, in line with the global climate change agenda.
EU Official Derides "Stupid" UK Decision on Brexit

September 15, 2017

The Telegraph reports that Martin Selmayr, Chief of Staff to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, has labeled the British decision to leave the EU "stupid" and, while acknowledging that it is legally possible for the British public to reverse the choice, asserted that "Brexit will happen" in 2019.
Davis: EU Is Playing down Progress of Brexit Talks

September 14, 2017

In a recent interview, UK Brexit Secretary David Davis asserted that EU officials negotiating the terms of Britain's exit from the bloc looked "a bit silly" playing down the progress made in negotiations so far in an attempt to strengthen their hand in upcoming talks over the future relationship between the UK and EU.