Democracy Impacts

Eurogroup Chair: UK Must Heed EU Banking Standards

May 22, 2017

Jeroen Dijsselbloem, chairman of the informal conference of eurozone member states called the Eurogroup, predicted at a recent conference that, in order to strike a post-Brexit financial sector agreement with the EU, the UK would have to agree in the future to permit a body to "regularly assess" whether its banking regulation is sufficiently close to European standards.
German President Criticizes "Irresponsible" Brexit

May 15, 2017

In an address to the European Parliament, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that the "black and white" message of nationalists, including in the UK's EU referendum campaign, is "irresponsible" and asserted that EU member states are "gaining strength through" sovereignty as part of the supranational project.
EU Politician Seeks Post-Brexit Ban on UK Euro Clearing

May 12, 2017

The Guardian reports that Manfred Weber, leader of the European People's Party grouping in the European Parliament, has asserted that the EU must remove from London the business of clearing euro-denominated transactions, a sector currently "dominated" by British financial companies, following the UK's exit from the EU.
UK Faces Battle over Continued ECJ Jurisdiction

May 10, 2017

Bloomberg reports that British Government authorities are rejecting assertions from their EU counterparts that the Court of Justice of the EU (ECJ) should continue to have jurisdiction over the social and economic rights, as granted by the bloc's law, of EU nationals who have moved to the UK prior to Brexit.
EU Parliament Sets out "Red Lines" on Brexit

May 09, 2017

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution setting out "red lines" on the agreement between the EU and the UK on their relationship following Brexit, which is subject to the Parliament's approval, including a demand that the EU "four freedoms" of movement - of goods, capital, services, and people - remain indivisible.
EU Court Official Sees High Bar for Agricultural Measures

May 08, 2017

The Court of Justice of the EU's Advocate General Michal Bobek has concluded that EU member states are only permitted to adopt emergency measures to prevent the cultivation of genetically modified crops in their territory if they can demonstrate the presence of certain stringent conditions relating to health and the environment.
UK Pushes Back on Reported "Brexit Bill" Estimate

May 03, 2017

Reuters reports that UK Brexit Secretary David Davis has denied that Britain will accede to a reported EU demand of 100 billion euros to cover the country's financial "obligations" after Brexit, including farm payments and 2019 and 2020 EU administration fees.
Article: EU Must Restrain "Unruly Members"

May 03, 2017

Máté Hajba of the Free Market Foundation in Hungary and Dalibor Rohac of the American Enterprise Institute assert that plans among Western EU leaders to advance a "multi-speed" model for EU integration will conflict with what they say is the need to push back against "unruly members" like Hungary and Poland.
MEPs: Give Asylum-Seekers Quick Access to Labour Markets

April 26, 2017

Members of the European Parliament’s (MEPs) Civil Liberties Committee have amended a directive to call on member states to allow asylum-seekers to access local labor markets only two months after applying for asylum, rather than the current nine months.
Hungarian President Hardens Stance on EU Migrant Quotas

April 19, 2017

The Times reports that Hungarian President Viktor Orbán has insisted that his country would not “yield an inch” on its refusal to accept the EU’s migrant quotas despite threats that the country would face “legal action” if it did not comply.