While prominent left-wing critics of the EU argue that Britain can avoid the worst excesses of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership by leaving the EU, Dr Gabriel Siles-Brügge argues that a Brexit may actually be counterproductive. Stiglitz and the left ‘Brexiters’ ‘I think that the strictures imposed by TTIP [the Transatlantic Trade and Investment […]
The EU’s Turkey Conundrum
Europe’s refugee crisis continues. The EU’s deal with Turkey may provide humanitarian assistance, respite for European leaders and a better dialogue with Turkey, argues Mustafa Cirakli. Turkey-EU membership talks formally began in 2005, but there has been little progress. In part this is because of opposition from several ‘core’ member states, notably France and Germany. […]
TTIP- Time to focus on the big stuff
On Saturday, a number of demonstrations were held across Europe to protest against TTIP and other trade agreements (notably the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement [CETA], the Trans-Pacific Partnership [TPP] and the Trade in Services Agreement [TiSA]). Next week, EU and US officials will return to the negotiating table in Miami for the 11th […]
Beyond the headlines on TTIP: Beware the fine print
Although much of the criticism in the UK of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) has focused on the NHS and ‘corporate tribunals’, Gabriel Siles-Brügge and Nicolette Butler argue that this overlooks one of its central purposes: a series of provisions that could make it more difficult for governments to regulate in the public […]
Time to make a stand over Europe
As the General Election campaign hots up and UKIP maintain their strong showing in the polls, former MEP Gary Titley says that pro-Europeans need to snatch back control of the debate, in a battle for Britain’s future. The time has come to make a stand on Europe. For far too long the anti-Europeans have had […]
Honest debate needed on TTIP – not simplistic slogans
European Commissioners calling the adoption of the TTIP trade agreement a ‘no-brainer’ is not conducive to the honest debate on the EU-US free trade agreement that is needed, argue Ferdi De Ville and Gabriel Siles-Brügge. European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and European Financial Services Commissioner Jonathan Hill have written that concluding the Transatlantic Trade and […]
Greece- The shape of things to come
In the aftermath of the Greek general election, which put SYRIZA, an anti-austerity left wing party, into power in coalition with far-right Independent Greeks, Dimitris Papadimitriou Professor of European politics at The University of Manchester, explores the situation and assess the possible impact. So, there you have it! Greek bailout politics have come full circle. […]
Tolstoy’s River – Why pro-Europeans need to be braver
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 […]
Nomination of Mr Juncker – A tentative step forward for European democracy?
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 […]
‘Lies’ : Elections, outbursts and EU-US free trade talks
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 […]