Press
Continued eruptions from Icelandic volcano would mean higher prices, devastated tourism
20 April 2010
Washington Examiner
Simon Tilford, chief economist of the Centre for European Reform, put such breakdowns in the category of "inconveniences" rather than "an existential threat," even under the worst-case scenario. "There's no doubt it would be very disruptive if it went on for that long. But I don't believe, unless it was a complete blanket on civilian air travel, that the impact on the economy will be that grave." he said. "Europe is not a particularly trade-dependent economy," said Tilford.
Europe looking into fallout from volcanic eruption
19 April 2010
Voice of America
Chief economist Simon Tilford, of the London-based Centre for European Reform, says insurance and air freight companies, along with delivery companies like United Parcel Service are also taking a hit. "Some of the most vulnerable people are actually some of the poorest. So, if we look at the exporters of produce, much of which is flown from East Africa to Europe and the US - they are going to be hit very, very hard," Tilford said.
Erdogan must raise his game on Cyprus
19 April 2010
The Guardian
Democratisation and reform are badly needed but Erdogan is going about it the wrong way, said Katinka Barysch of the Centre for European Reform. "A changing Turkey needs a new system of checks and balances … Nevertheless, the system that now seems to be emerging is flawed," she wrote. Erdogan's reforms "smack of political manoeuvring and could discredit the process of constitutional renewal" while the established opposition parties "lack a vision for a modern, dynamic Turkey".
Turkey and Europe: A shifting access
14 April 2010
Open democracy
The EU accession process could yet be the strongest bond that Turkey has to the west. But Ankara's other links in that direction seem to be slackening.
Trichet's voice is drowned out in rescue effort
13 April 2010
The Wall Street Journal
"The problem now is he's in charge of an institution which is supposed to be the guardian of the euro, but a lot of the decisions that are going to affect the future of the single currency are out of his hands," says Philip Whyte, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, a pro-European think tank based in London.
Euro zone aid for Greece is only short-term solution
12 April 2010
Reuters
"This is not a defining moment for the euro zone. What is concerning is that at every stage in recent weeks the EU has been resisting the inevitable and has been forced into action by financial markets," said Simon Tilford, an economic analyst at the London based Centre for European Reform think tank. "The immediate danger is averted but very little has been done to address longer-term problems. This is not a blueprint for additional crises. It might work for another small country like Portugal but not a big country like Italy or Spain."
Euro zone aid package shores up Greece, for now
12 April 2010
Radio Free Europe
Simon Tilford, chief economist at the London based Centre for European Reform, says the effect of the package may be limited to merely delaying Greek insolvency. "It doesn't address the fundamental concerns, it doesn't address the causes of the underlying problems within the euro zone, but it certainly addresses the immediate threat of insolvency in Greece," he says.
More beef: How Europe can regain clout in Washington
11 April 2010
Deutsche Welle
"The Obama government has set out to form a closer political and economic relationship with China, raising fears in Europe that such a G-2 could further reduce Europe's influence in the world," the Centre for European Reform said in a recent study.
Poland mourns president's death in crash
11 April 2010
CNN
"A shared tragedy of this sort could give a boost to further improvement in Polish-Russian relations, which ... were on the mend," said Tomas Valasek of the Centre for European Reform. "This tragedy might accelerate that trend."
Analysis: Ramifications of crash on Polish politics
11 April 2010
CNN
"The entire top military brass, including the chief of defense and all the services, were on the plane," said Tomas Valasek, of the Centre for European Reform. "If that is true, then you're looking at a situation, in effect, of the decapitation of the military services."
Cutbacks take their toll on European armies
09 April 2010
NRC Handelsblad
"It is clear that the financial crisis and the cutbacks have forced countries to ask themselves some difficult questions," said Clara O'Donnell, a defence specialist with the Centre for European Reform. "Should they specialise themselves? Should they cooperate?" ... "Until recently, the UK was able to maintain armed forces that were prepared for all tasks imaginable," O'Donnell said. "Now the financial problem has become so pressing that people have to face up to the fact some tasks may have to be abandoned altogether.
Greece still in hot water despite European rescue plan, painful austerity
07 April 2010
Canadian Business.com
Philip Whyte at the Centre for European Reform think tank, said the pressure is on European leaders to produce "a proper rescue package" similar to backing for European banks that ended a 2008 market panic... "Frankly the agreement that they came up with a couple of weeks ago was smoke and mirrors ... it wasn't a real agreement," Whyte said. "If yields remain at 7 per cent plus, given the amount of debt that Greece needs to roll over this year, we could well see a default within the eurozone," Whyte said.
Under the microscope
07 April 2010
Progress online
As Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform has told Left Foot Forward: ‘The European parliament has been one of the clear winners from the Lisbon treaty and is stronger now than it's ever been before. This is particularly true in relation to justice and home affairs issues, international security and environmental action. It is absolutely critical that whoever wins the British election is able to exert influence in the European parliament in Britain's best interests.'
Turkish constitutional reform under fire from opposition and business
30 March 2010
EurActiv.com
It woud be "misguided" for the AKP to hastily adopt a new constitution now in an attempt to ensure its own political survival, writes analyst Katinka Barysch in an insight article for the Centre for European Reform. "Such a strategy may work, in the sense that it would prevent a 'judicial coup' against the government. But it would hardly assuage the concerns of those who suspect the AKP of using democracy as a means to pursue a hidden agenda of Islamisation," Barysch writes.
Greece rescue is just a sticking plaster
30 March 2010
The Guardian
For several years it has been evident that any momentum the European Union had for further integration has been dwindling. For instance, despite the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty, the EU shows few signs of developing more united and effective foreign policies.
Germany cools to EU unity, turning inward
28 March 2010
The Wall Street Journal
Berlin's line on Greece "is yet another example of German economic unilateralism," says Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a London think-tank. ..."German politicians and voters think more European integration means other countries grabbing German money," says Mr. Grant.
Europeans woo US, promising relevance
28 March 2010
New York Times
But Europe is not ready for a serious discussion with Washington, said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a research group based in London. "You can't build a good transatlantic relationship unless you have a Europe that knows what it wants," he said. On the issues that Washington cares most about, Mr. Grant said, the Europeans are divided or their common position weak. And the euro crisis, he said, "means we're introspective."
Greece bailout: What's the future of the euro?
28 March 2010
The Christian Science Monitor
"Spain is going to pose a big problem. It is in all sorts of trouble about how it will increase growth. It lost a great deal of competitiveness, and costs have gone up," says Simon Tilford, an economist at the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank in London. "Any economy regarded as having poor growth prospects is going to struggle to borrow at affordable levels."
Greek debt crisis dominates EU talks
25 March 2010
Voice of America
The chief economist at the Centre for European Reform in London, Simon Tilford, believes EU leaders will come up with some kind of minimum deal in Brussels. But he thinks it will fail to give Greece the support it needs nor will it offer long term solutions for other struggling European economies. "I think Greece faces a very, very tough time," he said. "They are going to struggle to retain the confidence of the financial markets.
Europe's choice: growth or safety net
25 March 2010
The Wall Street Journal
"The euro was supposed to achieve higher productivity and growth by bringing about a deeper integration between economies," says Simon Tilford, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, a London think-tank. "Instead, integration is slowing. The lack of flexibility in labour and product markets raises serious questions about the likelihood of the euro delivering on its potential."