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
Has the UK’s High Court caught the “Activist” bug from the ECJ, whereby it takes political decisions masquerading as legal judgements? The decision to refer Article 50 to parliament looks toxic since this enables MPs and (especially) peers to delay the process. We hope the Supreme Court disagrees. If not we think the Prime Minister … More UK High Court Judgement on Triggering Article 50
Jeremiah, 5:21 – “They have eyes, but they see not, ears, but they hear not, like the idols which they made and worshipped.” There are non-economic reasons why we voted to leave. Peace, brotherhood and justice are not well-served by the EU as it is. In our view the idealism inspired by a continent in … More There’s None So Blind
We continue our look at evidence of fragility in other EU member states. Germany In Germany Frauke Petry is leading the ‘Alternative for Germany’ (AfD) deep into euroscepticism. She says, “The Great Britain decision to leave the EU is a signal to the Brussels Politburo and its bureaucratic attachments. If the EU does not finally … More Evidence of Fragility (Part 2)
Headmistress ‘Headmistress’ Theresa May, criticised EU leaders’ lack of maturity after they warned her they intend to make Brexit negotiations ‘hard’, even suggesting they might be carried out in French (which hasn’t been the practice since the number of member countries tripled). She asked that they adopt a constructive spirit, to deliver a ‘smooth’ departure, … More Shorties-2
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
The question, “Why Brexit?” has not gone away since the UK referendum. Indeed, many voters, who had to give a quick answer to a yes-or-no question, remain in doubt about the reasons for leaving or remaining. We respond with, “An answer to our question will answer yours.” Our question is, “What’s wrong with the EU?” … More What’s Wrong with EU? – New Summary
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
Freedom of movement for goods, services, capital and people is enshrined in the Treaty of Rome. It’s a founding principle yet most of these freedoms are “more honour’d in the breach than the observance” (to misrepresent Hamlet’s meaning). The exception is free movement of (EU) people. Why and how has this occurred? Freedom Movement of … More The Single Market and the Four Freedoms
It seems that there is less and less that national leaders can agree on among themselves or with Brussels. It is little wonder that the joint Declaration after September’s meeting in Bratislava had to be so bland and that Juncker is so grumpy about the lack of enthusiasm for the EU project. This post examines … More Evidence of Fragility (Part 1)
This EU Won't Work 