Revealing Appointment

When you are in charge, and not subject to voters’ wrath, you can do much as you please. A senior appointment and comments from the President of the European Commission reveal the underlying attitude. On February 21 Jean-Claude Juncker called a short-notice press conference to announce that the European Commission had appointed Martin Selmayr, previously … More Revealing Appointment

On the Other Hand

Polls suggest that potential Leave and Remain votes haven’t changed much since the Referendum though some have swapped sides, either frightened or disgusted by what has since happened. The EU is proving a tough negotiator in the Brexit talks, even an inflexible one. This promises to do us harm when we leave yet many still … More On the Other Hand

Shorties-15

Financially Speaking M. Barnier: “There is no place [for financial services]. … There is not a single trade agreement that is open to financial services. It doesn’t exist.” May: “The EU has included financial services, to varying degrees, in quite a number of the trade agreements that they have already established with other countries.” The … More Shorties-15

Can EU be Reformed?

Supporters assume that weaknesses in the EU can be dealt with by reform. We examine this assumption and conclude that the hidden agenda underpinning the EU’s federalist ambitions precludes meaningful reform. “I have never understood why public opinion about European ideas should be taken into account.” Attributed to Raymond Barre, former French premier and European … More Can EU be Reformed?

A Dismal Ramble

We love economics. There are two reasons we keep banging on about it in this blog: first, because it’s the main topic in the Brexit debates, if not necessarily the only key issue; second, it’s very rational and we love a structured argument. But the ‘dismal science’, as economists themselves love to call it, is … More A Dismal Ramble

European Values

Remainers and Leavers still argue about the benefits of Brexit and the EU, arguments that have divided friends and families. Here we imagine a family argument. Stacey and Levi aren’t the most compatible of partners, they always seem to see things from different angles and never stop bickering, rather like the couple in “Who’s Afraid … More European Values

Italian Election

How are Italian political parties proposing to restore their voters wealth prospects? “I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of one pound,” signed Montagu Norman. Those old enough will remember the pound note that stored a bit of your wealth, backed with a promise from the Governor of the Bank of England … More Italian Election

Shorties-13

Punishment or Pragmatism? If Poland left the EU it would be absolutely vital for it to maintain its existing trade relations. The UK is not in the same negotiating position, not only because of the large quantities of German cars and French wine it imports but because its global reach and reputation is far greater … More Shorties-13

Basket Cases

It seems the UK Government has been doing a little thinking about Brexit after all. Apparently it wants to persuade the EU to consider three ‘baskets’ of goods and services in any deal. The first basket would consist of sectors where the UK stays close to the EU; it would include chemicals and medicines regulations … More Basket Cases