Press
NATO, the Queen, Putin and some golf – Trump has a busy week coming up
10 July 2018
CNBC
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, told CNBC’s “Street Signs” on Monday that the “special relationship” between the UK and US is “quite fraught at the moment.” “President Trump isn’t particularly popular in the UK. Last week, there was a bit of a kerfuffle over the fact that someone is going to fly an air balloon with an effigy of Trump in a nappy and that’s been allowed in London. I don’t think he takes very well to personal insults, so he will notice it,” Lowe said. “So there’s problems there on the transatlantic side.”
Nato summit: Europe's fight to overcome its reliance on US for defence
09 July 2018
The Times
Sophia Besch, a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, fears that the EU’s defence fund plan could turn into European protectionism if Britain is excluded. “EU strategic autonomy is not achievable without the UK,” she said.
Trump will be May's 'GUEST FROM HELL' during UK visit, former diplomat warns
09 July 2018
The Express
US President Donald Trump will be Theresa May's "guest from hell" when he arrives in the UK on Friday, with the British Prime Minister locked in a desperate battle to stay in her job after the sensational resignations of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit secretary David Davis, former diplomat Ian Bond has said.
What the Chequers agreement means for farmers
09 July 2018
Farmers Weekly
Speaking to the House of Lords EU External Affairs sub-committee last week, Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, highlighted the risks for the UK of breaking away. He said every product of animal origin shipped to the EU from third countries has to enter via a special veterinary border inspection post. Upon leaving the EU, the number of avenues for British goods into Europe would be slashed, as not every entry point has such a facility.
CNBC: Hard to see who would replace UK Prime Minister Theresa May
09 July 2018
The European Union is waiting for someone concrete to negotiate with, says Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform.
Cream tea and compromise as May secures another reprieve
07 July 2018
The Guardian
Writing for the Observer, Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, who is in close touch with senior figures in Brussels, says: “The EU will reject Theresa May’s proposals. It views her complex customs proposals as unworkable and believes that the four freedoms of the single market are indivisible – movement of goods must go with labour, services and capital. If the UK could ‘cherrypick’ the single market, others might seek a similar status, thereby undermining the EU’s strength and cohesion.”
Theresa May restores cabinet collective responsibility
07 July 2018
Financial Times
Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform said Brussels regarded Mrs May’s customs plan as “unworkable” and her EU-UK free trade area still looked like cherry-picking of aspects of the single market.
May tames divided Tories as business cheers soft Brexit plan
07 July 2018
Bloomberg
“The EU will not go along with this, but I’m interested to see if they string it out so as to get the withdrawal agreement over the line,” Sam Lowe of the Centre for European Reform, said.
After May's deal, many people will ask, does Brexit have any point?
07 July 2018
The Observer
Three experts, Vernon Bogdanor, Charles Grant and Claire Fox give their verdict on the compromise agreed by the prime minister and her cabinet.
Brexit dividend will be cashed in euros
06 July 2018
Reuters
John Springford of the Centre for European Reform estimates the UK economy is 2.1 per cent smaller today than it would have been without the adverse shock caused by the Brexit referendum.
Theresa May's government has finally agreed a plan for Brexit — but the EU may still reject it
06 July 2018
Business Insider
Experts have already cast doubt on whether the EU will accept this proposal. The Times got its hands on an early draft of the plan and asked Centre for European Reform research fellow Sam Lowe to analyse it.
The first coherent Brexit plan that Britain has produced... the EU will never agree to it
06 July 2018
The Times
On Thursday The Times obtained a draft of Theresa May’s plan for Brexit. Sam Lowe, of the Centre for European Reform, analyses the prime minister’s preferred way forward.
UK outlines new trade plan for Brexit ahead of cabinet meeting
05 July 2018
Bloomberg
“I’m more optimistic on the UK side,” said Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform think tank. If May “does get her act together and imposes a version of soft Brexit on her party it’s going to be harder for the EU to say ’no, no, no,’ and easier for them to say ’no, but...’”
Theresa May's 'body bag summit'
05 July 2018
Politico
But Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank, argues that Cabinet resignations might actually strengthen May’s hand in Brussels.“It’s hard to exaggerate the degree to which the antics of several ministers, including Boris Johnson, have drained away goodwill towards the UK,” he said. “If May was to lose some of her ministers … she would be perceived as someone who was finally cutting to the chase, finally taking tough decisions.”
'EU is LOSING PATIENCE!' Warning as no-deal Brexit growing ever more LIKELY by the day
05 July 2018
The Express
The EU is losing patience with the UK as skirmishes within Theresa May’s government continue to destabilise Brexit talks, Brussels decision-making process expert Agata Gostynska-Jakubowska has warned. The Centre for European Reform senior researcher warned the risks of a no deal Brexit "are rising" as the British Government remains divided over its plans for the future.
Parliament Live: EU External Affairs Sub-Committee
05 July 2018
Sam Lowe (from 10.05 mins), a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform along with Susan Morley and Joseph Owen gave evidence on post-Brexit customs proposals.
CNBC: EU already losing patience with the UK over Brexit
05 July 2018
"The chances of a no-deal scenario are rising," says Agata Gostynska-Jakubowska, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform.
CER podcast: Plugging in the British to EU justice and home affairs
04 July 2018
Sophia Besch asks Camino Mortera-Martinez whether the UK will stay plugged into EU justice and home affairs structures after Brexit.
Padol ďalší pilier. Poľskí konzervatívci ovládli Najvyšší súd
03 July 2018
SME Svet
„Komisia chcela zvýšiť tlak na Poľsko a tiež nie je úplne spokojná s tým, ako na doterajšie výhrady Poľsko reagovalo, väčšinou to boli len kozmetické ústupky,“ hovorí pre SME analytička Centra pre európsku reformu Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska.
BBC Radio 4 - Today programme: British trade post-Brexit
03 July 2018
Sam Lowe a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform spoke to the Today programme (from 56.15 mins) about the unknown costs British companies face after Brexit. If the government gave firms Brexit advice it could be seen as acknowledgement of costs from leaving EU “but that’s not a reason not to...it’s due diligence. A responsible government would be taking this a lot more seriously” .