EU treaties & institutions
Is the Spitzenkandidat process a waste of time?
03 June 2024
The Spitzenkandidat (lead candidate) process has not fulfilled its promise of engaging the average voter. Still, it has helped ‘europeanise’ the European Parliament elections and is worth persisting with.
Can the European Political Community be a bridge between the UK and the EU?
28 April 2023
The European Political Community (EPC) could promote closer EU-UK co-operation. But the EPC's ability to do so will depend on its future evolution, which only partly hinges on UK-EU relations.
The EU's future or everything von der Leyen did not say
24 September 2021
To gauge what the EU's next big political fights will be, look at what Ursula Von der Leyen did not say in her annual speech to the European Parliament.
Bulletin Issue 125 - April/May 2019
22 March 2019
- The European Parliament elections: Different this time?, Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, Leonard Schuette
- Dreaming of life after Brexit, Sam Lowe
- Appalled by strategic autonomy? Applaud it instead, Sophia Besch
The member-states and the EU: Taking back control?
22 March 2018
The irony of Brexit is that the EU is becoming more British just as the UK is leaving the EU.
Bulletin Issue 119 - April/May 2018
22 March 2018
- The member-states and the EU: Taking back control?, Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska
- British foreign policy after Brexit: Hand in hand?, Ian Bond
- Europe's cyber problem, Camino Mortera-Martinez
Poland’s prime minister: New face, same old tune?
22 January 2018
The new prime minister’s style will be more emollient than his predecessor’s, but he is unlikely to back down on judicial reforms.
Brexit maze: The role of EU institutions in the negotiations
05 July 2017
Theresa May will be reluctant to openly discuss the difficult choices ahead of the UK. Citizens and business should look to the EU institutions for information about their future post-Brexit.
A flexible EU: A new beginning or the beginning of the end?
18 May 2017
The EU needs to become more flexible if it is to tackle current and future challenges effectively. But it should do so transparently, and remain inclusive.
Parliamentarians in Brexit talks: Bulls in a china shop?
01 February 2017
David Davis promised that Westminster will have the same scrutiny powers in the Brexit talks as the European Parliament would. But what does that really mean?
What does the Supreme Court's ruling mean for British parliamentary sovereignty?
25 January 2017
The Supreme Court ruled that Theresa May needs to ask Parliament for its consent to notify of the UK's intention to leave the EU.
Will the new president of the European Parliament make any difference to the Brexit talks?
18 January 2017
The European Parliament (EP) yesterday elected Antonio Tajani, an Italian MEP from the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), as its new president.
Spain's groundhog day: Why Madrid needs a government
12 September 2016
Whether or not there is a third election, Spain needs a government. Madrid must be a credible partner as the EU confronts multiple crises, from migration to Brexit.
The role of national parliaments in the EU: Building or stumbling blocks?
06 June 2016
If Britain remains in the EU it should lead the discussion about a more constructive role for national parliaments in reducing democratic deficit in the EU.
The seven blunders: Why Brexit would be harder than Brexiters think
28 April 2016
If Britain decides to leave the EU it will have to invoke article 50 TEU that puts the departing member-state at a disadvantage in the withdrawal negotiations.
Power to the parliaments! But will Cameron's EU partners join his crusade?
16 October 2015
David Cameron wants parliaments to have a greater say in the EU. But member-states have little appetite to give national chambers powers to block Commission proposals.
A ten-point plan to strengthen Westminster's oversight of EU policy
27 May 2015
Reforms at EU level could help to narrow the EU’s democratic deficit. But there are many things Westminster could do to improve its own scrutiny of EU policy.
Vorsprung durch Grexit?
17 April 2015
German officials are sanguine about the consequences of Grexit, and view it as increasingly likely. Merkel would be well-advised to prevent it from happening.
Not in front of the MPs: Why can’t Parliament have a frank discussion about the EU?
15 April 2015
David Cameron wants to increase the role of national parliaments in the EU. His pledge will hold more weight if British parliamentary scrutiny of EU affairs was improved.
Juncker's three steps to improve the Commission's standing in the EU
11 February 2015
Juncker has taken three steps to strengthen the Commission’s hand in European politics but he must still prove he can avoid repeating Barroso’s mistakes.