Press
Germans, the euro and the painful truth
12 June 2012
International Herald Tribune
Will the Germans save the euro? Many people within the European Union and further afield are urging Berlin to take bold steps to secure the currency’s future. They have become frustrated by the Germans' apparent inaction.
But the view of German policy makers — conveyed to me on a recent visit...
But the view of German policy makers — conveyed to me on a recent visit...
Let Russia show the way on Syria
11 June 2012
The New York Times
Like him or loathe him over his stance on Syria, Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, is a better diplomat than most. Experience counts, and Lavrov has spent almost three decades at the United Nations. As a former senior Soviet diplomat and Russia’s permanent representative to the Security Council in the...
Batı Türkiye’ye çok yumuşak
11 June 2012
Cumhuriyet
Interview with Charles Grant in Turkish on 'Turkey should focus on working more closely with the EU in specific areas, rather than the accession process.' Please see attachment.
City safeguards set Britain at odds with EU
07 June 2012
Financial Times
"In demanding safeguards that are impossible or unrealistic, Britain would force their partners down the route of the [intergovernmental] fiscal pact," said Charles Grant of the CER think-tank.
Necessity, not inclination, nudges Europeans closer fiscally and politically
07 June 2012
The International Herald Tribune
Still, Ms Merkel and her team are worried about Mr Hollande’s commitment to reducing the French budget deficit and to carrying out domestic structural reform, said Charles Grant, director of the CER, who was just in Berlin.
Ousting Greece will not bring catharsis
06 June 2012
The International Herald Tribune
How the eurozone handles Greece will determine whether the single currency survives - and hence the future of the European Union as a whole.
Britain and the EU
01 June 2012
The Economist
The end result is a long (very long) 20,000 word paper for the Centre for European Reform think tank, who have kindly published the results this week (though I am, in general, a bit more sceptical about the project than the CER). The paper draws on meetings and interviews, on and off the record, with ministers, MPs, MEPs, politicians, national officials, EU officials and think-tankers, reflecting all shades of Euro-opinion, in London, Brussels, Paris and Berlin. It also offers a sort of potted history as to how we got here: why Britain is a uniquely grumpy member of the club.
Europe's top banker urges new union
31 May 2012
The Wall Street Journal
Mr Draghi's calls for more European integration are "spot on," said Philip Whyte of the London-based think-tank the CER "It's a totally dysfunctional currency union. You need reforms to make a more fiscally centralised union," he said
European voices go silent on Syria
31 May 2012
The Washington Post
"The atmosphere in Europe has changed fundamentally. Yes, we were in an economic crisis in 2011, when Libya happened, but there was still a sense it was a manageable crisis. Europe had confidence that it doesn’t have today," said Tomas Valasek of the CER in London.
Irish vote to wield big say over euro growth debate
30 May 2012
Agence France Presse
"If Ireland votes 'yes,' that will mean a big morale boost for (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel after a series of political setbacks," said Hugo Brady of the London-based CER.
Irish referendum: Taking a punt
30 May 2012
The Guardian
It comes down, as the CER said, to a choice between fear and anger, both negatives. Of course the car could change course and stop for a service on the way. That is the least likely option at the moment, because it would mean German taxpayers, who already believe they have gone through their years of pain, going through a few years more.
The state of Europe's economy
30 May 2012
BBC Radio - The World Tonight
As borrowing costs in Spain have risen close to 7 per cent, Simon Tilford of the CER speaks to The World Tonight on the state of Europe's economy.
From 16.50 min
From 16.50 min
Is EU short on options to end violence in Syria?
30 May 2012
Middle East Online
The bloc's fledgling foreign service, under the leadership of Catherine Ashton, can do very little as "EU diplomacy is still the lowest common denominator," said Edward Burke of the CER.
Greece and the eurozone: Managing the crisis
29 May 2012
Open democracy
How the eurozone handles Greece will determine whether or not the single currency survives - and hence the future of the European Union as a whole.
Lagarde worries little for Greeks
28 May 2012
The Sydney Morning Herald
An Irish ''no'' would not by itself derail the fiscal treaty - only 12 eurozone countries are required to ratify it. But Hugo Brady, of the CER, said: ''The sense of a backlash against austerity would be much enforced.''
Hague, Lavrov smooth over Syria
28 May 2012
The Moscow Times
Edward Burke of the CER, said Britain was concerned about worsening ties after Putin's return to the Kremlin. "Hague is a pragmatist. … He does not like microphone diplomacy."
All pain, no gain: The Irish backlash that could mean a 'No' to Europe's austerity plans
27 May 2012
The Telegraph
"A No vote in the only popular poll on current efforts to save the euro would be hugely damaging to the treaty, in that it would signal to investors that if it was put to a vote in many countries, it would not get past," said Hugo Brady, of the CER.
An ever-deeper democratic deficit
26 May 2012
The Economist
The Lisbon treaty gives national parliaments only a limited role. Charles Grant of the CER, suggests enlarging this. He would give more prominence to COSAC, the group that brings together national parliaments' European affairs committees, perhaps putting a delegation of national MPs in Brussels to work more closely with the European Parliament.
Cameron tells eurozone how to solve crisis
24 May 2012
Financial Times
"Intellectually, I think Cameron is right with his analysis," says Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform. "But the way he has said it has increased concern in the markets and that has damaged Britain's soft power."
Europe's odd couple sets off on right foot
24 May 2012
Agence France Presse
But can he [Hollande] make a meaningful difference? "Only if he handles Merkel with great diplomatic dexterity," said Charles Grant of the CER. "Until recently, many German leaders seemed disconcertingly certain that their policies for dealing with the eurozone crisis were absolutely right."