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Brexit and the single market: Norway or No way0
- EU Governance and Politics, International Trade, Op-ed
- 24/10/2017
After recent declarations by Theresa May and David Davis, the UK’s conservative government seems to be convinced that a “hard” Brexit is the best option for the country. Discussions with the EU over the UK’s participation in the single market seem to have been halted and the Norwegian European model rejected. This is terrible news for UK trade and especially for the services sector which is the UK’s most important trading sector, with a trade surplus equating to 5% of the national income (about $138 billion).
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The ‘Berlin Promise’ – Dashed expectations must not spell defeat in the Western Balkans0
- EU Governance and Politics, Op-ed
- 20/08/2017
The countries of the Western Balkans are facing numerous socioeconomic challenges, such as a dramatic deterioration in democratic governance, slow rates of growth and high unemployment. Despite the fact that full membership for the Western Balkans countries is unquestionably a long way off, EU approximation represents hope for reforms to prevent the region from fading into oblivion and insecurity. This approximation could best be secured in the framework of the Berlin Process.
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Changing everything so that nothing changes? The future of UK seats in the EP0
- EU Governance and Politics, Op-ed
- 08/08/2017
As the 2019 elections get closer, the future allocation of 73 UK seats in the European Parliament remains an unsolved conundrum. The long-debated proposal of substituting them with a pan-European list of candidates from European Political parties is welcomed with enthusiasm by the Brussels establishment. However, little attention is often devoted to its indirect consequences if not well thought through: more power to bigger Member States, whose candidates would emerge as privileged, and institutional deadlock, as a unanimity of Member States is required to agree according to the rules on Treaty Change.
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Realpolitik still determines EU responses to Rule of Law threats. Here is why.0
- EU Governance and Politics, Op-ed
- 17/07/2017
A decisive action against Poland and Hungary for violating the Rule of Law has been vocally called by many in Brussels and beyond. However, EU Institutions have failed to take effective action against their infants terribles so far. This can be explained by Member States’ reluctance to accept EU intrusion in national constitutional matters and by the Commission’s unwillingness to create tensions with national public opinions.
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Time to scrap the cap – modernizing the EU budget0
- EU Governance and Politics, Op-ed
- 02/07/2017
The current structure of the budget of the European Union is not adequate to deal with the challenges Europe is facing today, which range from unemployment to terrorism and migration management. The expected budget shortfall after Brexit, however, can spur pressures to reform. At a time when the EU project needs to restore trust and legitimacy, I recommend that spending be focused in view of Europe’s greatest concerns, cutting back on current farm funding.
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European parliament, democratic deficit and another missed opportunity0
- EU Governance and Politics, Op-ed
- 03/02/2017
For an organization that is so often called out because of its democratic deficit, it is astonishing how the European Union missed out on yet another opportunity to get closer to its citizens. On 17th January a new president of the European Parliament was elected, and Antonio Tajani took over from Martin Schulz. What I would like to point the attention to is, how many Europeans knew the election was taking place? Or how many Europeans knew who the candidates for the new EP president were? Be honest – is your hand up?
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