It is of course possible that Brexit will turn out to be a disaster for Britain, and it could be if we don’t take suitable action. We believe that Britain will cope, in part because of our history and experience and in part because the EU is itself failing, perhaps terminally. Some doubters claim that … More Service Advantage
On Wednesday 12 July Michel Barnier, chief negotiator for the EU, gave a press briefing. We highlight in this post a few points where he wishes us to believe that the EU’s fixed position is based on law or logic in order to cover decisions that are in fact more or less arbitrary choices. As … More A Tangled Web
In two recent posts (Regime Standards and Shorties-10) we concluded that the EU’s ideology of ever closer union has done identifiable damage in at least one area – fire standards. Once the EU has regulated a standard its member states are obliged to implement that standard and not introduce anything that contradicts it, even if … More Standard Confusion
A collection of five short, independent pieces on various topics. Distributed Culpability In his blog EUReferendum.com Dr Richard North has a series of posts examining the relevance of EU standards to the cause of the disastrous fire at Grenfell Tower in London on June 15. He has been able to trace back the origin of … More Shorties-10
There is no doubt about it, after Brexit Britain will not be subject to the rulings of the European Court of Justice, the EU’s high court. The Prime Minister has been absolutely clear about this, it’s a red line for her negotiators, they must not step over it. As she told fellow Conservatives at the Party … More The Withdrawal Method
Exactly 365 days after the Referendum decision to leave the European Union the Prime Minister offered to let EU immigrants who’ve been in the UK for five years remain and enjoy all the rights of British citizens. Apparently that’s not good enough, according to Jean-Claude Junker, however, it’s infinitely better than the EU’s offer to British … More Anniversary Thoughts
The possibility has been discussed at a senior level of creating a European Union Defence Force. We question the underlying motive, asking whether defence is needed internally as well as externally. For the latter we argue that NATO is sufficient. Some important features of nation states are still missing from the EU, including defence, police … More Ever Closer Defence
On May 10 Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), addressed the Netherlands Parliament in Den Hague. He opens with some boiler-plate puff: “This year, we celebrate the 60th and 25th anniversaries of the Treaties of Rome and Maastricht. Despite the many challenges that we face as Europeans, we should never forget the significant … More A Draghi on Reform?
Guy Verhofstadt* is among the most vociferous supporters of the EU and strongly favours ever closer union towards a federal European government as the solution to its present persistent problems. Writing in the New York Times on May 16, he is enthusiastic about the implications of Emmanuel Macron’s substantial victory in the French presidential election. … More View from the parapet
There is not much news from home about Brexit because of the election next week. However, things progress on the Continent. First, it is interesting that the ECJ has decided that it is not necessary for all 34 national and regional parliaments to approve the trade agreement with Singapore, QMV will do. This has implications … More Onwards, and Upwards?
This EU Won't Work 