Section: Open Europe (UK)
Schäuble suggests Britain’s concerns can be addressed in talks over the Eurozone’s future
Schäuble suggests Britain’s concerns can be addressed in talks over the Eurozone’s futureDavid Cameron will fly to Riga tonight to start his push for reform of the EU. The Times reports that the UK Prime Minister wants other member states to acknowledge that the euro is not the EU’s ‘single currency’ – and to write the...
CBI urges business to speak up for EU, while Spencer warns referendum should not be rushed
CBI urges business to speak up for EU, while Spencer warns referendum should not be rushedThe Times reports that during tonight’s annual CBI dinner, CBI President Sir Mike Rake will urge business leaders to speak out in favour of EU membership. He will say, “The question is not whether the UK would survive outside the EU, but whether it...
Hammond: UK seeking renegotiation “as fast as possible”, treaty change not a political necessity
Hammond: UK seeking renegotiation “as fast as possible”, treaty change not a political necessityIn an interview with the Financial Times, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said that the Government would move “as fast as possible” to secure reform in the EU. “That is how I want this process to end up: a good package of reforms; a ‘yes’ vote;...
Osborne tipped to lead EU renegotiation as Cameron puts in first calls to EU leaders
Osborne tipped to lead EU renegotiation as Cameron puts in first calls to EU leadersThe Sunday Times reported that David Cameron is planning to dispatch George Osborne, the Chancellor, and Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, to Berlin and Brussels to lead the talks to redraw Britain’s relationship with the EU before the summer. The paper...
Labour and Tories neck and neck as Britain heads to the polls
Labour and Tories neck and neck as Britain heads to the pollsA YouGov poll for the Sun of 10,000 voters has the Conservatives and Labour both tied on 34%, with UKIP on 12% and the Liberal Democrats on 10%, while an ICM poll for the Guardian has Conservatives and Labour both tied on 35%, with UKIP on 11% and the Liberal Democrats on 9%. Voting...
Markets optimistic Greek government reshuffle will ease tension in negotiations
Markets optimistic Greek government reshuffle will ease tension in negotiationsGreek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras yesterday announced a new “political negotiationg team” to lead the discussions with Greece’s creditors – a move which is widely seen as further side-lining Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis. While Varoufakis is said to...
Greek Finance Minister increasingly side-lined as some Eurozone members begin to raise the prospect of a Plan B for Greece
Greek Finance Minister increasingly side-lined as some Eurozone members begin to raise the prospect of a Plan B for GreeceReports over the weekend confirm that Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis was entirely isolated at Friday’s meeting of Eurozone finance ministers in Riga, with many expressing anger at the lack of progress in meeting...
EU leaders to hold emergency meeting on Mediterranean migrant crisis
EU leaders to hold emergency meeting on Mediterranean migrant crisisEU leaders will hold an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the on-going migrant crisis in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile, following a joint meeting of EU foreign and interior ministers yesterday, EU member states have decided to increase funding for EU border agency Frontex...
Liberal Democrats hint at conceding EU referendum in event of second coalition
Liberal Democrats hint at conceding EU referendum in event of second coalitionSpeaking on the Today programme yesterday, Liberal Democrat manifesto author David Laws reiterated the party did not support an in/out EU referendum in 2017 but added that “I’m not going to go through the manifesto picking out the things that are or are not red...
Open Europe study: How would Brexit impact Ireland?
Open Europe study: How would Brexit impact Ireland?The front page of The Irish Times features the latest instalment of Open Europe’s Brexit study, which finds that Ireland could be worse off than the UK in a Brexit scenario. In a best-case scenario, where the UK negotiated an “ambitious” free-trade agreement with the EU, Ireland would still...
