Press
Greta Thunberg accuses rich countries of "creative carbon accounting"
16 October 2019
The Economist
Trade deals could be used to encourage exporting countries to cut emissions, says Sam Lowe of the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank in London. The EU is considering a “carbon border adjustment”— higher tariffs on goods from countries that do not meet the EU’s environmental standards.
Getting Brexit done? It’s already cost UK economy almost £70bn, new report says
15 October 2019
The Independent
Brexit has already cost the UK economy almost £70bn – the equivalent of £440m a week or £840 for every household in the country each year – according to a new report from the Centre for European Reform.
BBC News: Brexit deal deadline
15 October 2019
"It looks like both sides are willing to strike a Brexit agreement and that in itself is good news – but talk of the town in Brussels is that it's likely there will need to be yet another Council summit on Brexit", Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, a senior research fellow a the Centre for European Reform tells BBC News.
Prayer is Brexit strategy as services brace for red tape storm
14 October 2019
Bloomberg
“A lot of British companies selling into Europe or across Europe are going to be breaking the law without realizing it,” said Samuel Lowe, a researcher at the Centre for European Reform.
Election results give hope to opposition in Poland and Hungary
14 October 2019
The Guardian
“It looks like this may be a small step in the right direction – but it’s clear the opposition still has an awful lot of work to do,” said Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform.
Backstop compromise is still on, but trade issue could yet derail Brexit agreement
14 October 2019
The Telegraph
But Sam Lowe, a trade policy expert with the Centre for European Reform, said that the risk posed to the EU by such a scheme, when applied to Northern Ireland, would be “much smaller” when applied to Northern Ireland than UK-wide.“In practice, with a few exceptions, the day-to-day life for people living under a dual-tariff regime would for most just look and feel as if Northern Ireland were in a customs union with the EU,” he added.
Law and Justice party set for victory in Polish election
14 October 2019
Financial Times
Agata Gostynska-Jakubowska, from the Centre for European Reform, said that such policies could lead to further clashes between Warsaw and Brussels. However, she said she did not expect a big confrontation before Poland holds presidential elections next spring. “I think there could be clashes here and there . . . but I don’t think that Law and Justice will want to have a fundamental row with the EU, at least in the first year in power, as immediately after the parliamentary elections, they will start gearing up for presidential elections, where they will want to appeal to moderate voters,” she said.
EU showdown: Poland's ruling party election victory could reignite judicial row with EU
13 October 2019
The Express
The party also wants to continue with its judicial overhaul, which sparked concern with Agata Gostynska-Jakubowska from the Centre for European Reform. She said that this could lead to further clashes between Warsaw and Brussels. But she added she did not expect a big clash before Poland holds presidential elections next spring.She said: “I think there could be clashes here and there . . . but I don’t think that Law and Justice will want to have a fundamental row with the EU, at least in the first year in power, as immediately after the parliamentary elections, they will start gearing up for presidential elections, where they will want to appeal to moderate voters.”
Britain and EU step up last-ditch Brexit talks
11 October 2019
The New York Times
“The EU want a deal,” said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a research institute based in London. “They have a lot on their plate: a new commission; the possible resurfacing of a eurozone crisis; the migration crisis, which threatens to rear its ugly head again; the trade wars with Trump’s America.”
Newsnight: Ongoing Brexit negotiations
11 October 2019
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform spoke to BBC Newsnight about the thawing in Brexit negotiations over the past few days.
Commission takes Poland to court on eve of election
11 October 2019
EU Observer
"If PiS wins a parliamentary majority in both houses of parliament, it would probably attempt to further undermine democratic checks and balances. For example, PiS wants to make it easier for the government to lift the immunity of judges," Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, wrote in a recent analysis.
Boris Johnson's love-hate relationship with Brussels over half a century as Prime Minister prepares for crunch EU summit
11 October 2019
iNews
Charles Grant, a fellow member of the Brussels press pack who now runs the Centre for European Reform, tells i that Mr Johnson was considered more a figure of fun than a threat to the European establishment. “He was cheerful and he was funny,” Mr Grant says. “People thought he was pretending to be eurosceptic because of his career. Nobody thought he was going to become prime minister! His prime purpose was to entertain - and to get on the front page of the Telegraph.”
No escaping an arms export policy
10 October 2019
Berlin Policy Journal
Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen is “enthusiastically working toward a defense union.” Without a co-ordinated stance on European arms exports, this could prove difficult.
European Parliament, flexing muscle, rejects France's Commission nominee
10 October 2019
The New York Times
Camino Mortera-Martinez, a researcher at the London-based Centre for European Reform, said, “The Parliament never misses an opportunity to flex its muscle, but it was a misstep by Macron to put forward a candidate that he didn’t think was OK to be in his own government.”
La ofensiva mediática de Londres suscita dudas sobre sus intenciones ante el Brexit
10 October 2019
France 24
En opinión de Charles Grant, director del instituto de reflexión Centre for European Reform, el uso de este tono beligerante es un error."Hacer este tipo de amenazas vacías no es realmente una forma de conseguir lo que se quiere en la UE", afirma.
CER podcast: Von der Leyen's carbon border tax
09 October 2019
Sam Lowe talks to Beth Oppenheim about the incoming Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposal for a carbon border tax. How could it work and what are the risks?
BBC News: World update - Brexit deal, highly unlikely
09 October 2019
Charles Grant, director of the CER spoke to BBC World update this morning about the current Brexit negotiations (from 35.00 mins).
Parliament Live: Home Office preparations for Brexit
08 October 2019
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, along with Dr Anna Jerzewska, Customs and Trade Consultant gave their thoughts on the Home Office preparations for Brexit.
PARLIAMENT LIVE: Scrutiny of Brexit negotiations
08 October 2019
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform along with Victoria Hewson, Head of Regulatory Affairs and Research Associate, Institute of Economic Affairs discussed the Government’s proposal for an amended Ireland/Northern Ireland protocol.
No-deal tariffs shake-up as ministers gear up for 'do or die' Brexit
08 October 2019
The Telegraph
Sam Lowe, a trade expert at the Centre for European Reform, described the no-deal tariff plans as a “quite an extensive unilateral liberalisation” in order to keep prices low. It would make post-Brexit Britain one of the most open countries in the world.