Brexit Contagion?

The Economist has a collection of videos here, in one of which several worthies speculate on what would happen if, to ensure a win in the coming French presidential election, and a defeat for Marine Le Pen, the candidates had to offer to hold a referendum on France’s continuing membership of the EU. One participant … More Brexit Contagion?

Evidence of Fragility (Part 3)

Migration, trade and recalcitrant member governments continue to show up the weaknesses of the EU. First, the Express on the latest spat about migration: http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/725540/Migrant-crisis-Italy-PM-Matteo-Renzi-veto-EU-budget-refugee-chaos? “FURIOUS Italian leader Matteo Renzi today [October 27] threatened to fatally cripple the entire European project unless Brussels bureaucrats do more to sort out the migrant crisis.” “In an extraordinary … More Evidence of Fragility (Part 3)

France and Germany: Leading but Where?

This post, almost without comment from us, picks out some illuminating points from a recently published book, which suggests that deep divisions on questions of economics and finance are at the root of the EU’s problems in the eurozone: The Euro and the Battle of Ideas. By Markus Brunnermeier, Harold James and Jean-Pierre Landau. Princeton University Press … More France and Germany: Leading but Where?

The European Project: Some History

The New York Times (NYT: 7/02/2014) offered a useful short summary of the origins and development of the EU. This post is a summary of that summary, with some commentary from us. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/08/opinion/what-would-jean-monnet-have-done.html On the whole the NYT favours the “European Project” so while the author points up some of the difficulties it faces he … More The European Project: Some History

A View from the Ground

Shortly before the UK referendum, from April to May, the Pew Research Centre conducted a wide survey (10,491 respondents representing 80% of the EU population) in ten EU nations to learn how citizens view the EU and the then-forthcoming UK referendum. The results are reported here: http://www.pewglobal.org/2016/06/07/euroskepticism-beyond-brexit/ We summarise some results of the polling exercise … More A View from the Ground

Trading with the EU

The Canadians have just walked out of trade talks with the EU after seven frustrating years of negotiations. Chrystia Freeland, the international trade minister, said, “It’s become evident … that the EU isn’t capable now to have an international treaty … even with a country so nice, with a lot of patience, like Canada.” Many … More Trading with the EU