In the Press - Coronavirus tests Europe’s cohesion, alliances and even democracy
12 March 2020
The New York Times
“And that just feeds Salvini,’’ said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, referring to Matteo Salvini, the Italian far-right populist who is a sharp critic of immigration, globalization and the European Union itself.
Matters will get worse with the economic impact of the crisis, Mr. Grant said. “The euro crisis could return, because there are too many bad debts in banks,’’ especially in Italy, “and there is still no proper bank resolution regime and no eurozone deposit insurance.’’
The populists, he said, “will make hay with that.’’
Matters will get worse with the economic impact of the crisis, Mr. Grant said. “The euro crisis could return, because there are too many bad debts in banks,’’ especially in Italy, “and there is still no proper bank resolution regime and no eurozone deposit insurance.’’
The populists, he said, “will make hay with that.’’
In the Press - What Trump's Europe coronavirus travel ban means
12 March 2020
Atlantic Council
“The ban in its current shape appears to be intensely political. Two things have struck people here in Berlin in particular: the fact that it seems to not have been coordinated or prepared with European leaders, and the fact that it appears to target Schengen and President Trump’s dislike of a ‘borderless Europe’ in particular.
In the Press - What is the European Green Deal and will it really cost €1tn?
09 March 2020
The Guardian
The EU will face a backlash from its citizens, fuelled by populist politicians, for persisting with green policies, predicts Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank.He points to the gilets jaunes protests in France, which took off after rises in fuel taxes intended to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and the rise of the AFD in Germany. “The AFD is fuelled partly by climate scepticism. Populists are keen to promote anti-greenery, as they listen to voters,” he says.
In the Press - Italy to call for suspension of the EU Stability Pact as coronavirus stretches eurozone defences
06 March 2020
The Telegraph
“It would be very hard for the Northern Europeans to say no and be too ‘Hanseatic’ about this given the difficulties that Italy is in, and the fragility of the Italian government,” said Charles Grant from the Centre for European Reform. “The EU thinks that this is the least bad government that is possible today in Italy and they don’t want it to collapse,” he said.
In the Press - Ignore EU bluffing! Trade deal possible SOON - trade sources speak out
05 March 2020
The Express
Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said Britain accepts leaving the single market and customs union will give it more autonomy but also put up more barriers to trade. But he said there is no longer the “have your cake and eat it” attitude of Theresa May’s government which means both sides should be more willing to budge one certain issues.
In the Press - Whisper it … an EU-UK deal is there to be done
04 March 2020
Politico
As Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, has pointed out, the UK accepts that leaving the EU’s single market and customs union means more autonomy but also more barriers to trade. There is none of the cognitive dissonance of the early May era, when the UK wanted to “have its cake and eat it.” “Beyond the headline issues the two parties aren’t so far apart,” Lowe said.
In the Press - Putin CER
04 March 2020
Financial Times
Ian Bond of the Centre for European Reform offers six pointers to western leaders on how to deal with Vladimir “master of gaslighting” Putin: “Western leaders should not forget history, ancient or recent, or ignore the reality of Putin’s Russia, but nor should they be its prisoners. The disappointed hopes of their predecessors may be buried all round the Kremlin; but the West’s relations with Russia do not always have to be as bad as they are now.”
In the Press - We’ll ditch all EU rules, vows UK’s trade talks army
03 March 2020
The Express
Sam Lowe of the Centre for European Reform said: “A deal by the end of the year is still possible but it will require both parties to drift away from their opening positions. “In practice, it requires the UK to move a lot and the EU to move a little.”
In the Press - Britain's Brexit negotiator goes to work on an egg as first round of talks takes place in Brussels
02 March 2020
The Telegraph
"As we're going to have to budge with the US, I can't see it holding with the EU either," said Sam Lowe, trade expert at the Centre for European Reform.
In the Press - UK eyes speedy banking deal with US in parallel trade talks
02 March 2020
Bloomberg
“The negotiating objectives show the UK is going to take a pretty firm stance,” said Sam Lowe, trade expert at the Centre for European Reform. “This will make getting a comprehensive trade deal done in the immediate future pretty difficult.”