Press
Johnson calls for tempers to cool after MPs slam his 'inflammatory' Brexit language
26 September 2019
ITV News
Former Tory Prime Minister John Major has accused Mr Johnson of “wilfully” destroying the prospects of cross-agreement on Brexit after the language row, and turning the Tory party into a “Brexit party tribute band”.“Most Conservatives are not a Brexit Party tribute band, nor have we abandoned our core values to find compromise, seek allies, and strive for unity, rather than division and disarray,” he said in a speech for the Centre for European Reform.
Exclusive: Government plan to invoke EU law's supremacy to ensure Brexit on Halloween
26 September 2019
City A.M
Former Prime Minister and Remain campaigner Sir John Major gave a speech saying he believed the plan was to “bypass Statute Law, by passing an Order of Council to suspend the Act until after 31 October.” He told attendees at a Centre for European Reform event, held at the Spanish Embassy: “It is important to note that an Order of Council can be passed by Privy Councillors – that is Government Ministers – without involving HM The Queen.”
Dominic Cummings: MPs who refuse to accept Leave vote should not be 'surprised' about anger building against them
26 September 2019
The Telegraph
Sir John Major, the former Conservative prime minister, said a general election would be “pointless” in the current climate and “would be likely to become the most unsavoury election of modern times”. Speaking at the Centre For European Reform in London, he said: “All parties profess to believe an election is necessary to clear the air. I disagree. “Until Brexit is resolved, a general election would solve nothing. It would merely fuel the current feeling of disillusionment and disunity. Far from healing the nation, it would scratch away at open wounds.
Sir John Major warns Boris Johnson could use 'political chicanery' to force through no-deal Brexit
26 September 2019
Politics Home
Boris Johnson could resort to "political chicanery" to bypass a law designed to stop a no-deal Brexit, Sir John Major has claimed. He said the Prime Minister could use a so-called "Order of Council" to avoid implementing the legislation until after 31 October.Sir John said Mr Johnson could carry out the move through the Privy Council, meaning Parliament would not be able to block it.That way, the PM could meet his "do or die" pledge to have the UK out of the EU by Hallowe'en.
Where Boris Johnson went wrong
25 September 2019
Politico
After his chastening defeat in the Supreme Court, Johnson may think twice about trying to defy the law a second time by simply refusing to abide by the Benn Act, said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform think tank.
Who should hold Europe's arms?
25 September 2019
Project Syndicate
Although the EU has one of the world's strongest arms-export frameworks, the rules are not enforced. If Europe is to have any chance of deepening defense co-operation, let alone creating a defense union, that must change.
Bloomberg: CER's Springford: Court judgementmakes deal harder for Johnson
25 September 2019
Boris Johnson’s authority has been badly damaged by the Supreme Court verdict, according to John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, and that makes EU leaders less likely to make concessions in the negotiations. He tells Daybreak Europe’s Nejra Cehic and Roger Hearing an extension beyond October 31 to get a deal from Brussels is now a bit more likely.
Taxing times
25 September 2019
Financial Times
Taxing times It’s complicated, potentially illegal, and politically sensitive but Sam Lowe of the Centre for European Reform has some ideas on how the EU can design a well-functioning carbon border tax.
Everything you need to know about the UK Supreme Court ruling
25 September 2019
Politico
“[The court ruling] doesn’t make a big impact on the outcome of Brexit in the long run," Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform think tank, said. "What matters most is whether Boris can get a deal with the EU27."
Brexit: la suspension du Parlement britannique jugée illégale
24 September 2019
Le Point
Pour Charles Grant, directeur du think tank Centre for European Reform, personne ne connaît les intentions réelles du Premier ministre. Reste que ses interventions musclées et les commentaires de son entourage indiquent que sa voie préférée reste une sortie au 31 octobre « quoi qu'il arrive ».
En cas de « no deal » sur le Brexit, l’apocalypse n’aura pas lieu
24 September 2019
Le Monde
Même les experts pro-européens le reconnaissent. C’est le cas de Sam Lowe, un spécialiste des relations commerciales au Centre for European Reform, un groupe de réflexion. « En cas de “no deal”, les opposants au Brexit vont subir un contrecoup. Ce ne sera pas l’apocalypse. On trouvera à manger. »
Boosting the role of national parliaments in EU democracy
24 September 2019
Carnegie Europe
Getting national legislators more involved in EU affairs could help the European Parliament boost its legitimacy in the eyes of voters.
CER podcast: Meet the new European Commission
24 September 2019
Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska talks to Sophia Besch about the new European Commission. Who are Ursula von der Leyen's new commissioners – and what happens next?
Planet Europe
24 September 2019
Financial Times
Noah Gordon at the Centre for European Reform writes persuasively on why EU leaders should ramp up their 2030 carbon emissions target from a 40 per cent reduction on the 1990 level to closer to 60 per cent.
Johnson seeks to woo US business with low-tax vision
23 September 2019
Financial Times
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank, has warned the threat of future regulatory divergence between Britain and the EU could complicate the immediate task of brokering a Brexit deal, including arrangements to avoid the return to hard Irish border.“Johnson says he wants a minimal, Canada-style free trade agreement, with pronounced regulatory divergence from the 27 [other EU member states],” Mr Grant wrote.“That would increase the regulatory gap between Ireland and the UK, thus making the EU even keener to maintain some sort of . . . way of avoiding the need for controls on or near the Irish border.”
Japan trade accord becomes post-Brexit priority for UK
20 September 2019
Financial Times
Sam Lowe, a trade expert at the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank, said the UK’s new commitment to try and get a fully-fledged FTA with Japan made sense. “Until now the UK has been talking up the need to secure FTAs with Australia and New Zealand but Japan is a much bigger economy and matters a lot more,” he said.“Politically, it’s also important for the UK to show Japan that it’s a top priority in trade relations. The Japanese are furious over Brexit and see it as a betrayal of trust after decades of Japanese investment in the UK economy.”
Nicht zu beneiden
20 September 2019
Internationale Politik und Gesellschaft
Christine Lagarde steht als neue Chefin der EZB vor gewaltigen Herausforderungen. Ohne Hilfe aus Berlin wird es nicht gehen.
Channel 4 podcast: Politics: Where Next? - How likely is a Brexit deal?
20 September 2019
Deal or No Deal? Boris Johnson's search for a Brexit deal has intensified.
Berlin unveils climate package as hundreds of thousands take to the streets
20 September 2019
The Wall Street Journal
“This is economic madness and at the same time, expected. The balanced budget has such a high political significance that no one dares to go against it. Not even for the climate, at a time of negative interest rates,” said Christian Odendahl, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, a think tank.
German 'black zero' budget faces €40bn green challenge
19 September 2019
Financial Times
“The problem with the debt brake is it incentivises politicians to find clever ways around it,” said Christian Odendahl, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform.