Press
Boris Johnson's one word response to Barnier's demands sends shockwaves to Brussels
28 February 2020
The Express
Sam Lowe, from the Centre for European Reform, pointed out that during the previous phase of negigoations: “The UK has compromised quite a lot, the EU has compromised very little.“We will have to see if that trend continues.”He continued: “Throughout the process, the EU has said we can give you a deal like Canada, we will just ask more of you.“It’s fine if the UK says it’s not fair. The EU don’t care if it’s fair, they have made their mind up."
Channel 4 News: Britain talks post-Brexit trade with the EU
28 February 2020
Gary Gibbon caught up with Same Lowe of the Centre for European Reform to wade through the documents and tell us what they say about the chance of a deal and the shape of a deal.
Could the deaths of 33 Turkish soldiers in Syria spark another refugee crisis in Europe?
28 February 2020
Euronews
Research fellow Luigi Scazzieri, from the Centre of European Reform (CER), told Euronews this could lead to "hundreds of thousands of refugees" arriving in the EU, and could see "a break down of its relationship with Turkey and greatly straining the EU's cohesion".
Channel 4 News: Government reveals Brexit negotiation demands
27 February 2020
"Throughout the process the EU has said we can give you a deal like Canada it's just we are going to ask more of you. It's fine if the UK says that's not fair... the EU don't care if it's fair or not" Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at...
Brexit Chaos: UK threatens to walk away from EU trade talks by June
27 February 2020
International Business Times
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said a compromise “will no doubt be difficult. What is perhaps surprising is just how aligned the EU and UK are with regard to the nature of the eventual trade agreement.”
BBC Today Programme: UK mandate for trade negotiations
27 February 2020
"The barriers for trading within the EU are four times lower than if you were to sell into the EU from outside", Sam Lowe a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform told the Today Programme (from 43 mins)
Boris Johnson tells EU he wants sovereignty - whatever the cost
27 February 2020
Sky News
"The difference between the May approach and the Johnson approach is that Theresa May always wanted to find a halfway house," said Sam Lowe, research fellow at the Centre for European Reform think-tank."She wanted a way of leaving the EU, giving the people who voted for Brexit what they wanted on the sovereignty front but mitigating the economic consequences.
CER podcast: A 'sovereign' EU needs a stable economy
26 February 2020
The EU’s economic size is its main source of global power. But what are the consequences of the eurozone’s economic instability – and its large current account surplus – for the EU’s ability to act on the global stage? John Springford and Christian Odendahl discuss.
The highest hurdle to a UK-EU trade deal
26 February 2020
Financial Times
Four of the UK’s most knowledgeable minds on trade offer their thoughts on the chances of a deal. Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform: 6.5/10. It is possible to see a way through on most of the contentious issues. Once they are resolved there is actually much agreement between the EU and UK as to the nature of the final trade deal. The issue giving me cause for concern is that the day-one disruption at the border is similar if the desired free trade agreement is concluded, to if it isn’t, which reduces the political benefit to Boris of making concessions to the EU.
UK-EU trade talks: The problems — and potential solutions
25 February 2020
Financial Times
“There will be a lot of noise and shouting but I think there will be a trade deal this year,” said Sam Lowe, trade expert at the Centre for European Reform think-tank. “I just don’t think it will be a very good trade deal when you think of the disruption it will involve.”Mr Lowe added: “Both sides are pretty aligned on what they want.”
Belarus reset
25 February 2020
Financial Times
Khrystyna Parandii at the Centre for European Reform makes the case for the EU to restart its relations with Belarus as the country looks to distance itself from the Kremlin.
Post-Brexit, Britain is going its own way. That way looks expensive
25 February 2020
The New York Times
“The real cost is lack of investment,” says Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a research institution in London. “Food, manufacturing, cars, aerospace, chemicals will all have big problems.”
BBC PM: Trade deal conditions
25 February 2020
“If I had to bet money on it I would say there will be a simple deal on trade by the end of the year... but also there is a real risk evident of no deal at all,” Charles Grant, director of the CER discussed the prospect of UK-EU deal on the BBC PM show (from 35 mins).
Poland’s judicial battle spreads confusion in EU
24 February 2020
Financial Times
“Once the rule of law is being undermined in one member state, other member-states can’t be certain the rights of their citizens and their companies will be adequately respected,” said Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, from the Centre for European Reform think-tank.
EU crippled: How bitter feuds between EU-27 could topple bloc in Brexit talks
22 February 2020
The Express
Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron's countries have come to blows over a number of issues in recent years, as highlighted by Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform. He highlights how, for example, Berlin did not consult Paris before agreeing to the Nord Stream gas pipeline opened in 2011.
Tok FM: Po rozwodzie. Jaka umowa Wielkiej Brytanii z UE?
20 February 2020
Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska talks to TOK FM on the Brexit negotiations ahead and on the new migration package unveiled yesterday.
Podcast 5 News: What are the options for post-Brexit trade with the EU? What does 'Australia-style' mean?
20 February 2020
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow a the Centre for European Reform spoke to Andy Bell of Channel 5 news about what to expect next from the Brexit negotiations.
Business needs a transition period with the EU
19 February 2020
The Telegraph
From the EU’s perspective, there is a political argument to be made that Brexit should be seen to hurt.
What if Trump wins? Europeans fear a more permanent shift against them
18 February 2020
The New York Times
European leadership remains weak and divided, noted Sophia Besch, an analyst in the Berlin office of the Centre for European Reform. “We talk a lot about US leadership but not enough about European leadership,” she said.
The EU is in trouble and Ursula Von der Leyen is the wrong person to rescue it
18 February 2020
The Spectator
Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform warns that France and Germany are increasingly operating unilaterally, each pursuing its national interest. “Germany,” he points out, “did not consult its EU partners over its support for the Nord Stream 2 Russian gas pipeline, although it will increase the EU’s dependency on Russian energy and cause tensions with the US.”