Britain & EU member-states
Will EU enlargement create new models for the EU-UK relationship?
15 April 2025
Enlargement is pushing the EU to think creatively about how to work more closely with candidate countries before accession. The consequences for EU-UK relations could be significant.
UK-EU relations: Time to raise the level of ambition
21 March 2025
Geopolitical turbulence has put UK-EU differences in perspective. Britain and the EU need much closer ties.
The new EU-Swiss deal: What it means and the lessons it holds for the UK-EU 'reset'
17 March 2025
The recent political agreement between the European Commission and the Swiss government promises to stabilise their long-troubled economic relationship. The British government should pay close attention.
How the UK and the EU can deepen defence co-operation
07 March 2025
The UK and the EU face daunting common security challenges. Linking Britain more closely to EU defence tools would strengthen Europe's security.
Can Keir Starmer reset relations with the EU?: Annual report 2024
17 February 2025
The CER's annual report starts with an essay on whether Keir Starmer can reset relations with the EU.
The UK can ride Trump out on trade
12 December 2024
The UK will probably face less trade disruption under Donald Trump than some fear – but will have fewer opportunities to improve ties with the US than some hope.
The gap between the 'Brexit reset' rhetoric and the reality
10 December 2024
Rough-and-ready calculations based on the stated demands of the UK and EU suggest the reset might raise Britain’s GDP by 0.3-0.7 per cent.
French lessons for Britain's economy
01 December 2024
Since 2008, the UK has had weak productivity growth compared to the US and France. But France's high-investment model offers more lessons for a smaller, more open economy like Britain.
Can Europe navigate Trump 2?
08 November 2024
Donald Trump will be the next US president. Europe’s leaders need to accept this reality and protect European interests.
Towards a UK-EU Security Pact
06 August 2024
The UK wants to forge a ‘security pact’ with the EU. But too much ambition now risks failure. A gradual approach will be more successful.
In the UK's plans for AI, Brussels still looms large
25 July 2024
The new British government plans to regulate powerful AI models. But it should also influence how European authorities implement their law on AI and help shape global norms on AI regulation.
The murky world of French politics
19 July 2024
Two weeks after the second round of France’s parliamentary elections, it is still far from clear who or what can form a new French government.
Where might UK-EU relations be under a Labour government?
18 July 2024
The Labour government offers a chance for a new start for UK-EU relations. But the UK will have to both address the causes of Brexit and present a compelling offer.
An open letter to Keir Starmer: Ten suggestions on how to foster better relations with Europe
08 July 2024
In an open letter to Keir Starmer, Charles Grant offers ten suggestions on how the Labour government can improve the UK-EU relationship.
Should the UK pursue dynamic alignment with the EU?
04 July 2024
The EU’s neighbours follow various models of dynamic alignment with its rules. Which model, if any, could suit the UK?
EU-UK relations: Towards a post-election agenda
01 July 2024
Britain’s next government needs a coherent strategy towards the EU, ranging from trade and regulation to energy, foreign policy and defence.
Delivering the goods: An EU trade agenda for the next UK government
28 May 2024
The Labour Party’s red lines will restrict its ambitions for changing the EU-UK relationship, but if it forms a government it should push Brussels for concessions, particularly on trade in goods.
Europe must choose: Multiculturalism or stagnation?
09 May 2024
An increasingly multi-ethnic society would safeguard Europe’s prosperity – or it can opt for nativism, labour shortages and higher taxes.
Living next door to an elephant: Lessons for the UK from EFTA
29 April 2024
After Brexit, the UK finds itself next door to a regional trade hegemon. Britain can draw useful lessons from the experience of the EFTA countries.
A new equilibrium in Northern Ireland: Can it last?
01 March 2024
The agreement between the British government and the Democratic Unionist Party addresses immediate challenges but falls short of resolving Northern Ireland’s Brexit conundrum.