Research
Boris Johnson struggles to woo remainers with Brexit lovebomb
14 February 2018
The Guardian
John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, argued there was no evidence that British regulation was more effective than the EU’s. He pointed out that productivity was 20-25% lower in the UK than in France and Germany, and that the big technological developments were emerging from the US.
Brussels should not ‘humiliate’ Britain in the Brexit talks or the whole EU could collapse, key Macron ally warns Michel Barnier
13 February 2018
The Sun
Charles Grant, the director of the Centre for European Reform, said many EU countries were unhappy with the pair and the Commission “on the narrow scope of the deal that they appear to want to offer UK”.
BBC Radio 4 - Today programme: Free ports
13 February 2018
Free ports could potentially bring some local benefits after Brexit, but they won’t outweigh the costs of leaving the European customs union said Sam Lowe, a research fellow at the CER (from 1: 27 mins).
The great 'Made in Britain' delusion
13 February 2018
Politico
Against this backdrop, Britain’s best hope is that it can agree with its trade partners (and Brussels) a system called “cumulated rules of origins,” said Samuel Lowe, a trade expert at the Centre for European Reform. ...“To allow cumulated rules of origins with, for example, South Korea, not only Britain but also the EU would need to negotiate with Seoul,” said Lowe. Every renegotiation comes with a cost, such as counter-demands from the other side, he warned. To reopen the EU’s numerous trade deals would be lengthy and costly.
PESCO unlikely to deliver much in the short term
13 February 2018
The Progressive Post
PESCO, or permanent structured co-operation, is a political framework that aims to help EU countries develop military capabilities together and improve their ability to deploy them.
Up to twelve European countries rebel against Barnier's plot to punish UK for Brexit by offering 'narrow' trade deal
12 February 2018
The Sun
Now a top EU expert has claimed there are up to 12 member states warning Mr Barnier not to be too tough - and calling for a wide-ranging trade deal. They fear the EU will end up hurting itself by cutting off trade with Britain, Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform suggested. But he added that the rebel countries may be unable to take on Mr Barnier - because they can't agree on what they want him to do differently.
EU endgame is political unity not free trade, argues Boris Johnson
12 February 2018
The Guardian
Charles Grant, the director of the Centre for European Reform, said Johnson was right that the founding fathers of the EU wanted to create a united Europe through economic integration – but argued that the result was the world’s most open trading bloc. “That meant that the EU had to be a liberalising project, in the sense of removing barriers to the free flow of people, capital, goods and services,” he said, arguing that required mutual recognition of standards.
BBC Radio 4 - A very British battle
12 February 2018
Sophia Besch, a research fellow at the CER speaks to Caroline Wyatt about the UK’s future defence relationship with Europe after Brexit (from 12:40 mins).
The Waugh Zone Monday February 12, 2018
12 February 2018
The Huffington Post
David Davis’s speech to business about Brexit (which won’t be this week) could be the real one to watch. And he may be cheered up by Charles Grant, of the Centre for European Reform, who tweeted yesterday that up to 12 EU states “have some concerns about the ‘hard’ line taken” on Brexit by France, Germany and the European Commission, “particularly on the narrow scope of the deal that they appear to want to offer UK”.
EU member-states at odds over "hard line" Brexit stance
12 February 2018
City A.M.
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, tweeted last night that around 10-to-12 countries had "some concerns" about the approach being taken by the traditional core of the EU, "particularly on the narrow scope of the deal that they appear to want to offer UK". Grant added: "But that dozen have different priorities and no leader, so [France, Germany and the Commission] could win the argument."
EU rebellion: A dozen member states revolt against Barnier's 'hard line' Brexit stance
12 February 2018
The Express
Director of the Centre for European Reform, Charles Grant, tweeted: “About 10/12 EU states have some concerns about the ‘hard’ line taken by France, Germany and Commission, particularly on the narrow scope of the deal that they appear to want to offer the UK.” However, Mr Grant said these 12 countries “have different priorities and no leader” so France, Germany and the Commission could win the battle.
Brexit: The impossible job? A guide to the roadblocks facing the PM
10 February 2018
The Guardian
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, said: “There is a growing sense in Brussels that because the British are raising new difficulties on the transition, it will not be possible to agree it at the March summit.” Lack of clarity on what the UK wants for the long term, Grant added, creates a risk that the EU will just dictate the terms of discussions from now on. “The longer the British delay saying what they want in terms of a future relationship, the greater the danger that the EU imposes something very narrow like a Canada-style agreement.”
Polityka Insight: Brexit
08 February 2018
Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform in conversation with Marek Świerczyński, Senior Analyst for Security Affairs, Polityka Insight.
Britain to world: Please pretend we are not leaving EU
08 February 2018
Financial Times
Sam Lowe, a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said the move marked a U-turn from previous British policy to renegotiate UK-only versions of the deals.“It is not great for our credibility as a reliable negotiation partner,” he tweeted.
BBC World Service - Newshour: Germany's coalition deal
07 February 2018
Sophia Besch, a research fellow a the CER speaks to BBC Newshour about Germany's coalition deal.
Theresa May can't afford red lines on Brexit
07 February 2018
Politico
Future relationship has to be a trade-off between rules and access.
Jacob Rees-Mogg and the shadowy group of Tories shaping Brexit
07 February 2018
The Guardian
Rees-Mogg asked Steve Baker to “confirm that he heard from Charles Grant of the pro-EU Centre for European Reform that officials in the Treasury have deliberately developed a model to show that all options other than staying in the customs union are bad, and that officials intend to use the model to influence policy?” Baker agreed with Rees-Mogg, although their effort to renew their attack on Treasury officials backfired when a recording emerged to show that supposed source Grant had not said the Treasury had developed such a model, instead making the more basic claim that the Treasury was determined to stay in the customs union.
Brexit warning: Expert reveals Remainers will get their way on this KEY Brexit issue
06 February 2018
The Express
John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, warned Britain may not have a clean break from the EU. He claimed Britain could remain stuck to the customs union after Brexit, despite Downing Street insisting Britain will "categorically" leave the customs union. Speaking on Channel 4 News, Mr Springford said: “I think it is very likely that Britain will remain in the customs union for longer than the two years of transition, which everybody is talking about.”
Rise of an English gentleman threatens the hardest of Brexits
06 February 2018
Bloomberg
“No government is okay with having a border that’s just open when they’ve got no arrangement with the people on the other side,” said Sam Lowe, a trade expert at the Centre for European Reform.
Parliament Live: Exiting the European Union Committee
06 February 2018
John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform speaks at the Exiting the European Union Committee on why the Swiss model as it stands is not appropriate for the UK (from 10:42).