Press
Covid has been an easy scapegoat for economic disruption, but Brexit is biting
31 January 2022
The Guardian
Well before the date of departure, work by John Springford at the Centre for European Reform showed that UK GDP was lagging behind its expected level. By September 2021, he had concluded that UK goods trade was 11.2%, or £8.5bn, lower than it would have been had the UK stayed in the EU’s single market and customs union.
Germany's Russia problem: Ukraine crisis tests new government
31 January 2022
Financial Times
“Germany has persuaded itself, with Russian encouragement, that it has a special relationship with Moscow and a special responsibility for preserving peace in Europe,” says Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank. “And [it] sees Ukraine’s freely-expressed interest in getting closer to the west as a secondary issue.”
In standoff With Putin, Biden makes sure European allies are with him
28 January 2022
The New York Times
“He senses weakness in Biden and a certain amount of political churn in Europe,” said Ian Bond, a former British diplomat who is now head of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform, a London research group. “Germany has a new government finding its feet, French elections, UK not in great shape, Europe emerging from pandemic. I think he does see Biden as a quite weak transitional figure.”
Zero tariffs for green
28 January 2022
Financial Times
Multilateral negotiations over free trade in environmental goods (such as batteries, electric motors, and heat pumps) collapsed in 2014. The EU should try again and reduce tariffs unilaterally if talks fail, writes the Centre for European Reform.
Ask CER - Episode 3: Strategic autonomy, the EU's taxonomy and the French election
26 January 2022
You asked, we answered: the third episode of our ‘Ask CER’ podcast series.
US prepares ‘massive sanctions’ against Russia
26 January 2022
Independent (Ireland)
Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre For European Reform (CER), told a webinar that he was “pessimistic” about the prospects for invasion, and that he believed there was a very real risk that an invasion could lead to a new Cold War between Russia and western powers.
The EU's 'unforgivable failure' over Ukraine
25 January 2022
The Telegraph
Charles Grant from the Centre for European Reform says Germany will fall into line and back draconian sanctions if Mr Putin actually attacks. “Deep in their bones, the German political class are Atlanticist,” he said.
Here are the 10 guilty parties responsible for Brexit
24 January 2022
The Independent
Every editor, MP and diplomat, and the heads of all think tanks (with the exception of Charles Grant of the Centre of European Reform) patted me on the head and said it [Brexit] wouldn’t happen.
Microsoft heads for second big EU showdown — this time over gaming
24 January 2022
Politico
“Its [Microsoft] past bruising antitrust experiences mean that it’s now more constructive than other big tech firms when dealing with regulators,” said Zach Meyers, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform.
The Draghi dilemma: Italian presidential election risks turbulence
24 January 2022
Financial Times
“Italy can be seen as a potentially ticking time bomb because of its debt,” says Luigi Scazzieri, a senior fellow at the Centre for European Reform think-tank. “If questions were to re-emerge about the sustainability of that debt, the euro’s foundation would once again be questioned.
Brexit’s Falstaff can’t bluff his way through this any longer
23 January 2022
The Guardian
And according to the Centre for European Reform, UK goods trade is almost 16% lower than it would have been without the “sovereignty” of Brexit.
Putin will never have another chance like this to overthrow the European strategic order
23 January 2022
The Telegraph
“I don’t see anything on the economic front that would seriously frighten Putin,” said Ian Bond, a former ambassador and British security planner now at the Centre for European Reform.
Economistas alemães antecipam mudança e investimento num país que gosta pouco de arriscar
22 January 2022
Expresso
“Depois de 16 anos de governos em ‘status quo’, é notório que a Alemanha precisa de mudanças e investimentos, principalmente para lidar com as transformações climáticas”, afirma Christian Odendahl, economista-chefe do Centre for European Reform.
This is a moment when the maximum amount of consolidation of society is very important for the survival of both Georgia and Ukraine
21 January 2022
Europe Time
ET: What are your expectations from the dialogue between the US and its allies and Russia? My expectations are very low because the two sides are talking about completely different subjects.
Draghi move
21 January 2022
Financial Times
The Centre for European Reform has this explainer on the upcoming Italian presidential election and what Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s possible job change could mean for the country’s reforms and the implementation of EU recovery funds.
UCL European Institute: Exploring European policy careers with Charles Grant
20 January 2022
In a new video series, Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform reflects on his career trajectory to date and shares advice for students exploring careers in policy or a related field.
How sweeping EU rules would curb tech companies
20 January 2022
The Washington Post
Getting the Digital Services Act through the EU Parliament is “a huge step in tackling the social problems caused by online platforms,” said Zach Meyers, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform think-tank.
Brexit in numbers
20 January 2022
Financial Times
There are many factors driving inflation, but Brexit’s hidden hand — helping to tighten the labour market and raise import costs — makes the BoE’s decision-making harder, because the supply capacity of the economy will be smaller and less flexible, says John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform.
Voice assistants under fire in IoT competition report
20 January 2022
EurActiv
Zach Meyers, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, told EURACTIV that the Commission was right to focus on data collection and interoperability and that the concerns raised in these areas were similar those driving the Digital Markets Act (DMA).However, the extent to which the DMA helps to solve these issues, Meyers said, will depend on its final shape once trialogue negotiations conclude, as well as how the Commission enforces it.
Don’t believe those who say a pan-European public sphere is impossible
16 January 2022
Financial Times
“There’s more and more of a trans-European debate,” observes Christian Odendahl, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, a London-headquartered think-tank with offshoots in Brussels and Berlin. “There are still national bubbles but a sense that we’re all in this debate together.”