Democracy Impacts

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."
British PM Announces EU "Single Market" Exit

January 18, 2017

Politico reports that, in a speech this week, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that her government's plans to depart the EU will include exiting the bloc's "single market" and parts of its customs union, which would permit the UK to control immigration from other EU countries and withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the EU.
EU Official Signals Punitive Brexit to Prevent "Contagion"

January 18, 2017

The Irish Times reports that European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici has labeled US President-elect Donald Trump's prediction that Brexit might cause other departures from the EU "a bad fantasy" because the "considerable" costs of the UK's departure from the EU would deter other countries from leaving.
UK Groups Seek Common Ground on Brexit Aims

January 17, 2017

A group of UK think tanks and other organizations called British Future has released a manifesto pushing for UK leaders to find common ground between the opposing sides of the UK referendum on leaving the EU by negotiating a Brexit deal that returns policy control to Britain while maintaining trade and security ties with its European neighbors.
Malta PM: ECJ Must Govern Brexit Transition Deal

January 17, 2017

The Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, has stated that the UK must be subject to judgments of the Court of Justice of the EU during any post-Brexit transition deal, during which EU law would continue to apply to British businesses and citizens.
Austrian Official Seeks EU Permission on Jobs Policy

January 17, 2017

Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern has pledged that he will ask for permission from the EU institutions to allow businesses in his country to consider Austrian job candidates before they consider candidates from other EU member states.
Party Paper Shows Inflexibility on EU Membership

January 17, 2017

Reuters reports that a paper from the German Social Democratic Party would commit party leaders to a policy of not permitting the UK to negotiate membership in the EU's "single market" after Brexit unless it agrees to unrestricted migration, spotlighting the inflexibility of the bloc's politicians and leaders on market access.