Expert insight, analysis and comment on key public policy issues
By Michael Welsh Filed Under: All posts, Europe Posted:
As the anti -EU movement grows, ex Conservative MEP for Lancashire Central Michael Welsh, argues those in the pro-EU camp need to be braver when arguing their case, if Britain is to continue to play its part in the world. In the concluding chapters of War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy compares the course of history […]
By Robert Watt Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted:
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is like a tea-pot – but a troublesome one, argues Robbie Watt. Known as ‘tee-tip’ for short, the proposed major international trade deal between the European Union and the United States is one that might determine the future shape of the global economy for decades. Backed up with commentary from academics, […]
By Gabriel Siles-Brügge Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted:
Trade negotiations are increasingly impinging on the way economies are regulated domestically, making it harder to ‘sell’ free trade, argues Dr Gabriel Siles-Brügge. ‘The European economy stands or falls on our ability to keep markets open, to open new markets, and to develop new areas where Europe’s inventors, investors, and entrepreneurs can trade’, said the […]
By Ewan Munro Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted:
Costas Simitis, a former Greek Prime Minister, has urged Europe’s political leaders to demonstrate solidarity and have a vision for Europe’s future, reports Ewan Munro. Given the traumatic nature of recent Greek political and economic history, and the extent of the demands placed on the Athens government by the Troika, it might have been expected […]
By Marius Guderjan and Robert Grimm Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted:
Despite the growth of the Eurosceptic AfD, most young East Germans support European solidarity, explain Dr Marius Guderjan and Dr Robert Grimm. Eurosceptic parties, including UKIP, made major gains across the EU in the 2014 European Parliament elections. In Germany, a traditionally Europhile nation, the Eurosceptic Alternative for Germany (AfD) made substantial gains and received […]
By Patricia Garcia-Duran Huet Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted:
Far from creating an expanded free trade area in which anything goes, as critics claim, the TTIP is more likely to raise international standards through a regulatory ‘race to the top’, argues Patricia Garcia-Duran Huet. As part of Manchester Policy Week, policy@manchester will host a debate on the pros and cons of TTIP in Manchester […]
By Georgios Papanagnou Filed Under: All posts, Europe, Featured Posted:
David Cameron failed to block Jean Claude Juncker from being nominated by the European Council for the post of European Commission President. Dr. Georgios Papanagnou takes a look at some of the weaknesses in the campaigns by Cameron and the British media. In the end “this time was not so much different” – Jean Claude […]
By George Kyris Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted:
The country that suffered the most in the Eurozone crisis is seeking EU reform, not withdrawal, explains Dr George Kyris. The European Parliament elections that have just taken place were arguably the most important in the history of the European Union. The European Parliament has more power than ever before, demands have grown for greater […]
By Nicolette Butler Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted:
The proposal of a mechanism for investors to sue foreign governments is one of the more contentious aspects of the on-going EU-US trade talks. But as Dr Nicolette Butler argues, the benefits of neutrality and de-politicisation in dispute resolution should not be hastily discounted. As the latest round of EU-US trade talks rumble into their final day, […]
By Gabriel Siles-Brügge and Ferdi De Ville Filed Under: Europe, Featured Posted:
The European elections have coincided with the latest round of talks on the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Dr Gabriel Siles-Brügge and Dr Ferdi De Ville argue that election campaigns have continued to put advocates of the deal on the defensive, but it has not prompted any fundamental shift in their position. ‘We observe […]