Perhaps it’s time we looked more closely at the reasons so many people support the EU, notably its benefits. We haven’t been able to find a convincing argument ourselves so we offer a few ideas from well-known sources. We begin with some praise for the most obvious achievements. The EU has, by its own lights: … More Benefits of the EU Project
We follow up our recent post, To veto or not to veto, with more discussion on democracy and the EU (see also Discontented Democrats). Meanwhile here is the definition of the term ‘democratic deficit’ from the EU’s own glossary: “‘Democratic deficit’ is a term used by people who argue that the EU institutions and their … More Democratic Deficit
Today it is exactly six months since the UK Referendum, in which a majority of those who voted chose that Britain should leave the EU. We celebrate this half-anniversary with a long post on an issue – democracy – that goes to the heart of what’s wrong with the EU today. The Electoral Reform Society … More Discontented Democrats
The EU, stung by criticism of its “democratic deficit”, tried to improve control over its unelected Commission. It hasn’t worked. Two academics, one German and one American, have published a review of legislative procedures in the EU. Their article can be found on a website of the London School of Economics: http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2016/10/25/a-dearth-of-legislative-vetoes/ “Several reforms have … More To Veto or not to Veto?
A review, with quotations, of an analysis of the EU’s pet fundamental, by a legal expert. This blog: http://eulawanalysis.blogspot.my/2016/11/eu-free-movement-law-in-10-questions.html offers useful clarification on the contentious issue of freedom of movement of persons/labour (the two words are widely used indiscriminately but are obviously different. Treaties refer to ‘persons’ but in practice freedom is restricted mostly to workers … More Freedom of Movement (1)
hard, soft or just right? Diane Abbott, Labour’s shadow Home Secretary, repeated a lie this week: “… the truth is you cannot have access to the Single Market without a measure of freedom of movement” (BBC, Andrew Marr Show, 11 Dec 2016). Let’s put that more generously, she is another who needs to mind her … More How would you like your Brexit:
The EU is based on a redundant ideology from which its leaders are unable, indeed unwilling, to free themselves. And the troubles and crises that result may well be terminal (see our EU Future topic area for more detailed discussions). Brexit is simply a symptom of the troubles and crises that the EU has brought … More Back to Brexit Basics
Campaigners for and against Brexit have dropped any pretence at balanced discussion and base their arguments on unsupported opinion, half-truths, distortions, diversions and lies. We believe firmly that if the British people – and other Europeans – are to make sound decisions then they need to be offered rational arguments from which they can draw … More Press to Reject Brexit
A system of great complexity can be dramatically affected over time by small disturbances, as feedback loops plus second or higher-order effects combine to overwhelm expected behaviour. This is popularly known as the butterfly effect after the theory that a butterfly flapping its wings in the tropics can lead to storms elsewhere in the Globe. … More The Butterfly Effect
The Government is hoping to negotiate a free trade arrangement with the EU when we leave, but what if can’t get agreement from all 27 nations plus the EU Parliament (or Wallonia)? In the worst case we would be reduced to World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms, but how bad is that? For cars the WTO … More WTO rules – OK?
This EU Won't Work 