Section: Open Europe (UK)
The Dutch referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement: what’s at stake?
The Dutch referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement: what’s at stake?Ahead of the Dutch referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe summarises the key arguments on both sides and explains what is at stake.The post The Dutch referendum on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement: what’s at...
European officials and Tata Steel hit out at UK government’s approach to the steel industry
European officials and Tata Steel hit out at UK government’s approach to the steel industryThe Financial Times reports that, according to French and Italian officials, the UK played a key role in blocking higher tariffs on Chinese steel. Axel Eggert, head of the European Steel Association, said, “The UK is the ringleader in a blocking...
New poll finds strong support for Boris Johnson to take over as Tory party leader
New poll finds strong support for Boris Johnson to take over as Tory party leaderA new ORB poll for The Independent has found that 38% of respondents would like to see London Mayor Boris Johnson taking over as Conservative party leader from Prime Minister David Cameron, with 23% backing Home Secretary Theresa May and 9% backing Chancellor George...
EU leaders agree to submit watered-down offer to Turkey
EU leaders agree to submit watered-down offer to TurkeyEU leaders have agreed on the terms of the draft migrant deal that will be presented to Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu in Brussels today. The latest draft reportedly includes clearer assurances that asylum claims lodged on the Greek islands will be assessed individually – a move aimed...
New report warns that hospitality, manufacturing and construction sectors could be hit hardest by Brexit
New report warns that hospitality, manufacturing and construction sectors could be hit hardest by BrexitA new report by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford has found that, if the UK were to impose restrictions on migration in the wake of Brexit, it could “profoundly affect” areas of the economy that have come to rely heavily on...
Hollande and Schäuble warn UK’s single market access could be imperilled by Brexit
Hollande and Schäuble warn UK’s single market access could be imperilled by BrexitSpeaking after the conclusion of yesterday’s Anglo-French summit in Amiens, French President Francois Hollande claimed that “There will be consequences if the United Kingdom is to leave the EU… in many areas: on the single market, on financial trade, on...
Hungary announces referendum on EU migrant quotas
Hungary announces referendum on EU migrant quotasHungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced yesterday that Hungary will hold a referendum on the EU’s plan to redistribute asylum seekers across the bloc under a system of mandatory quotas. In an interview with Bild, he argued that “we cannot reach decisions over the heads of people that...
Leaked memo highlights fears of ‘reform contagion’ from UK-EU deal
Leaked memo highlights fears of ‘reform contagion’ from UK-EU dealThe Daily Telegraph reports that a leaked diplomatic text reveals how Belgium, France, Hungary and Spain will seek amendments to the UK-EU deal in a bid to prevent a ‘contagion’ of reform across Europe. Spain fears that Britain is seeking to cut the European Central...
UK reform package to be tabled in Brussels today
UK reform package to be tabled in Brussels todayThe BBC reports that national parliaments will be given new powers to block unwanted EU laws as part of the UK’s negotiation. To trigger the so-called ‘red card’, at least 55% of the EU’s national parliaments would have to join forces within twelve weeks of a new law being proposed...
Cameron not in a hurry to secure deal with EU but calls on business to back him when he does
Cameron not in a hurry to secure deal with EU but calls on business to back him when he doesSpeaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Prime Minister David Cameron issued a call for businesses to come out and support his push to stay in a reformed EU – telling them “don’t hold back”. The Times reports that, at a CBI breakfast in Davos,...
