Democracy Impacts

EU Body Plans Post-Brexit Referendum Budget Proposal

May 13, 2016

Politico reports that, in line with a number of other discussions the body has delayed in order to avoid fueling arguments of the "Leave" campaign in the British referendum on EU membership, the European Commission has delayed the publication of its budget proposal until after the Brexit vote in June.
Parliaments Force Review of EU Worker Legislation

May 11, 2016

EurActiv reports that at least ten national parliaments in Central and Eastern Europe have filed an objection to the European Commission's proposed revision of the EU Posted Workers Directive that would seek to equalize pay for workers doing the same job in different countries, forcing the Commission to review the proposal.
Support for EU Referendum Rises Outside UK

May 09, 2016

A new poll of voters from large EU member states other than the UK shows broad support for national referendums on whether to depart from the EU.
FRA Seeks EU Monitoring Mechanism on Fundamental Values

May 04, 2016

At a meeting in Brussels with representatives from EU institutions, the Court of Justice of the EU, and the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights ("FRA") advised participants on developing a mechanism to monitor compliance by the EU and its members with the rule of law, democracy, and fundamental rights.
Economists Predict Positive Post-Brexit Picture

April 29, 2016

A new campaign group called Economists for Brexit has contradicted negative outlooks from the UK Treasury and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ("OECD") by forecasting positive British growth produced by slashing red tape and increasing free trade if the UK votes to withdraw from the EU.
Secretary: UK Should Withdraw from the ECHR

April 26, 2016

Reasoning that the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR") "can bind the hands of Parliament" and prevents the UK from deporting dangerous nationals of foreign countries, UK Home Secretary Theresa May has called for Britain to remain in the EU but to withdraw from the ECHR.
Foster: EU May Need Brexit to Reform

April 26, 2016

Editor at The Telegraph Peter Foster writes that the minimal EU reforms UK Prime Minister David Cameron achieved during his renegotiation drive demonstrate that EU leaders may need the pressure created by a British exit from the bloc to push for real changes that secure the EU's future and increase its flexibility in dealing with challenges.
Raab: UK Cannot Secure Borders Without Brexit

April 25, 2016

UK Undersecretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab asserts that, due to EU rules severely restricting the ability of British authorities to deny entry to people with passports or other documentation from EU member states despite suspected links to crimes or terrorism, the only way to effectively secure the British border is for the country to leave the EU.
EU Official Proposes Visa-Free Travel for Ukrainians

April 25, 2016

Following a Dutch referendum in which voters rejected an association agreement between Ukraine and the EU, European Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos has called for the adoption of visa-free travel for Ukrainian nationals throughout the passport-free Schengen area.
Auditors: EU Must Strictly Enforce Deficit Targets

April 22, 2016

The European Court of Auditors has published a report asserting that the European Commission is "not strict enough" in enforcing the bloc's Excessive Deficit Procedure, which provides for a procedure through which the Commission oversees the lowering of national deficit levels that, according to EU law, have become too high.