Press
CER podcast: Western leaders should talk to Putin, but not be taken in by him
18 March 2020
Western leaders must know their facts before they talk to Putin, and take a firm line on unacceptable actions.
Tok FM: Zamknięcie granic państw członkowskich UE ogranicza swobodne funkcjonowanie rynku
18 March 2020
Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform talked to TOK FM about the EU’s response to covid-19 and yesterday’s leaders’ video-conference.
Bold policies needed to counter the coronavirus recession
18 March 2020
VoxEU
The 2008 financial crisis was a global economic catastrophe. Millions of people lost their jobs, their homes, their savings or their businesses as banks collapsed and creditdried up.
Building 'European champions': An effective way to fend off Chinese competition?
17 March 2020
EUBulletin
In February, Germany, France, Italy and Poland proposed a review of EU competition policy, demanding that the European Commission “introduce more justified and reasonable flexibility” to its decisions about mergers between European companies, to “take better account of third countries’ state intervention”.
A word of advice to Western leaders: Talk to Putin but don’t let him gaslight you
17 March 2020
Euronews
Six years after Russia illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine and fell under Western sanctions, some Western leaders are getting restless.
European Commission set to approve 30-day EU travel ban to fight coronavirus
16 March 2020
The Telegraph
Charles Grant, the director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank described the proposals as "window-dressing ... to cover up the embarrassment of member states closing their borders to each other".
Europe mulls shutting external borders in fight against coronavirus
16 March 2020
Reuters
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank, agreed. He described the proposals as “window-dressing ... to cover up the embarrassment of member-states closing their borders to each other.”“I don’t see the potential benefits,” he said.
EU leaders divided on how to protect economies after coronavirus
14 March 2020
The Guardian
The coronavirus fallout is likely to be uneven. “The producers of toilet paper don’t have a recession at all, and the restaurants and hotels have a very deep one,” said Christian Odendahl, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, based in Berlin. Manufacturers, he said, have more hope of a “V-shaped” recovery – that is, an economic bounce-back as rapid as the descent – because they will benefit from pent-up demand.
Boris Johnson pressed to move Brexit deadline amid Coronavirus threat
14 March 2020
The New York Times
“In a rational world, the UK would ask for an extension in June even if coronavirus wasn’t happening,” said John Springford, the deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, a London-based think-tank.“The pandemic makes it even more pressing,” Mr Springford said, “because the British state will not have the personnel needed to enact the sweeping changes necessary to leave the single market.”
Coronavirus is Boris Johnson's worst nightmare
14 March 2020
CNN
"Now that future relationship talks are being interrupted, it is inevitable that both sides will have to start considering possible extensions," says Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska at the Centre for European Reform, based in Brussels.However, she adds: "The request should come from the British government and, obviously, an extension wouldn't come without costs for the UK. Questions, including the financial contributions, will have to be taken. There is no such thing as a free lunch."
500 Euro, um das Nötigste abzufedern
13 March 2020
Die Zeit
Eltern, Selbständige, Minijobber: Die Eindämmung des Virus wird zu finanziellen Engpässen führen. Die Lösung wäre ein vorläufiges Corona-Geld für jeden Bundesbürger.
The future of the EU: New perspectives - Italy
12 March 2020
The UK in a Changing Europe
The current trajectory of Italian politics is likely to impact considerably on the EU’s future. Ten years ago, Italy was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of European integration.
Judy Asks: Is Europe betraying refugees?
12 March 2020
Carnegie Europe
Europe has been betraying refugees since Syria’s civil war began, but the situation is worsening.
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.’’
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.
CER podcast: How to contain the coronavirus fall-out
11 March 2020
The new coronavirus has been spreading rapidly in Europe, and Italy has imposed strict constraints on movement to contain the outbreak there.
Wie sich die Coronavirus-Rezession eindämmen lässt
10 March 2020
Makronom
Die Covid-19-Krise ist ernst und wird kurzfristig schwerwiegende wirtschaftliche Folgen haben. Aber wenn die Fiskal- und Geldpolitik mutig und entschlossen gegenhält, lassen sich die langfristigen Schäden begrenzen.
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.
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.
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.