Democracy Impacts

EU Official: UK Can Discuss Post-Brexit Trade Deals

January 30, 2017

European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans has stated that, during the negotiation process over the UK's departure from the EU, Britain can "talk to everyone" regarding post-Brexit free trade deals but is not permitted to sign such an agreement until it leaves the bloc.
Czech Minister Urges Deal with UK on Nationals' Status

January 27, 2017

The Czech Republic's interior minister Milan Chovanec has argued that, rather than waiting for an EU-UK deal to settle the issue, his government should negotiate an independent agreement with the UK on the status and rights of Czech nationals in the UK and British nationals in the Czech Republic.
Dissenting UK Justices Object to Involvement in Brexit

January 25, 2017

The Telegraph reports that the three UK Supreme Court Justices who dissented from the Court's decision this week that the British Government cannot formally notify the EU of its intent to leave without a vote from Parliament asserted that it was up to Parliament, and not the courts, to shape its role in the "political process" involved in Brexit negotiations.
UK Court: Parliament Must Trigger Brexit Process

January 25, 2017

The UK Supreme Court has held that, despite the outcome of a referendum held in June 2016 in which voters opted to leave the EU, constitutional principles do not permit the British Government to initiate negotiations on the country's exit from the EU without parliamentary approval.
Official Pushes Back on UK Immigration Variations

January 25, 2017

The BBC reports that UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd has signaled her opposition to calls from Scottish politicians to permit Scotland to maintain a separate immigration policy from the rest of the UK after the country leaves the EU, arguing that fracturing the policy would hurt the integrity of the British immigration system and reduce the flexibility of employers.
EU Institutions Retain Separation from Democratic Upheaval

January 25, 2017

An article by Tim King in Politico illustrates how the election of Italian politician Antonio Rajani as President of the European Parliament, while showing some responsiveness to euroskeptic concerns, is still a reflection of the EU institutions' continued insulation from nationalist forces seeking to wrest sovereignty back from the supranational bloc.
German Official Warns UK on Post-Brexit Tax Cuts

January 24, 2017

Warning that the country must respect agreements on tax policy made in international fora such as the G20 group of countries, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble called on UK Prime Minister Theresa May to step back from assertions that she would consider setting "competitive tax rates" to attract business to Britain upon exiting the EU.
Dutch PM Warns of Blowback from "Ever Closer Union"

January 24, 2017

In a debate with former European Parliament President Martin Schulz over the future direction of the EU, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte argued that the message from EU leaders that the bloc is moving toward becoming a "European superstate" will be "the fastest way to dismantling the European Union."
London Mayor: Businesses Must Seek Tight UK-EU Links

January 24, 2017

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has called for businesses operating in Europe to lobby their governments to ensure that the UK retains "privileged" access to the EU's "single market" during negotiations over Britain's departure from the bloc, a deal that would likely require the UK to remain within the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU.
Auditors Call for Stronger EU Measures on Food Waste

January 23, 2017

The European Court of Auditors has published a press release calling on the European Commission to strengthen measures aimed at reducing food waste in the EU, including by developing a food waste "action plan" and generating food-saving action throughout "the entire food supply chain."