If re-elected, the Prime Minister has promised that Britain will leave the EU’s Single Market (SM) and Customs Union (CU). Some call this a “Hard” Brexit, others call it a “Clean” Brexit; the former raises concerns for the future of our trade, but are these fears exaggerated? Whilst the minutiae of a post hard-Brexit look … More A Clean Brexit
If, as is generally predicted, Emmanuel Macron wins the presidency of France in the second round, on May 7th, there will be much relief in Brussels, and Strasbourg. The alternative would reduce Brexit to a side show. For at least another week, relief will be at bay as tension remains high, with the possibility of … More French Election, Part 1
WTO rules are the default in the event that the UK cannot strike a trade deal with the EU. How bad might that be? Will there be a tariff wall against UK exports that kills our trade? We should clarify that whilst the EU has handled all negotiations on behalf of its constituent states, all … More WOT, no trade deals?
Many Remainers have been demanding a second referendum because: the first was only advisory, the terms were not understood by voters (they didn’t vote to become poorer), they were lied to, or for any reason that might give them another chance to keep the UK in the EU. A General Election is not the same … More UK General Election
The recent White Paper from the European Commission put forward five possible scenarios for the development of the EU towards 2025. We reviewed the paper in Our Commentary on the White Paper and More on the White Paper. One of the posited scenarios was that the Union would progress at different speeds; the multi-speed scenario. … More Who wants the Euro?
Polityka Insight has published a research report (April 2017) claiming that the EU is applying its competition directives unfairly in support of older member states, to the detriment of more recent members. The report opens with a summary of its key points, which need no comment from us, other than that the report confirms the … More A level playing field?
Benoît Hamon is the Socialist Party’s candidate in the approaching French presidential election. Poll results do not give him much of a chance of reaching the deciding vote but he has some interesting views on the EU which we think are worth sharing, and commenting on. Hamon is also a member of the Party of … More A Socialist Alternative
The European Parliament is unlovely and unloved, except by itself. It appears to exist as an attempt to cover the absence of any real democracy in the EU. It makes a lot of noise and smoke but achieves little of note. Such influence as it does exert probably acts as a reminder to the other … More Parliament Pontificates
In 1925, at the same time that Jean Monnet was developing his ideas for a federal European state, Le Corbusier was trying to persuade first Moscow and then Paris to adopt his Plan Voisin, which involved flattening the city centres and replacing them with a Modernist grid layout of tower blocks and wide open spaces. … More Plan v. People
The Rock and a Hard Pace The comment in the Divorce Guidelines has produced the expected response from the British government and others: “After the United Kingdom leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and … More Shorties-8
This EU Won't Work 