Press
EU's new boss, invoking 'European way of life,' sparks partisan brawl
19 September 2019
The Wall Street Journal
Given that she was appointed with the support of conservative governments in central and Eastern Europe, Mrs. von der Leyen made a conscious decision to alienate left-wing rather than right-wing politicians, said Camino Mortera-Martinez, a senior research fellow with the Centre for European Reform, a London-based think tank.“She’s much less a compromise figure than people thought,” Ms. Mortera-Martinez said.
Channel 4 News: Battle of Conservative prime ministers in Parliament suspension case
19 September 2019
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform spoke to Gary Gibbon about the ongoing Brexit discussions between Brussels and the UK 'the British need to make a serious offer'.
EU doubts over Boris Johnson's plan
18 September 2019
Financial Times
Sam Lowe of the Centre for European Reform believes there is time to get a deal agreed by the October 17 summit. “The EU has already proposed the kind of relationship that Mr Johnson is aiming for. It is the initial proposal they put forward for a Northern Ireland-only backstop. If there is to be a deal, that’s what would have to be on the table,” he says.
Europe is at war over arms exports
18 September 2019
Foreign Policy
The EU must start enforcing its export controls, or else risk making conflicts around the world even worse.
Tok FM: Sąd Najwyższy Wielkiej Brytanii sprawdza, czy Boris Johnson złamał prawo
17 September 2019
Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform spoke to Tok FM about the Supreme Court’s case concerning prorogation.
LBC: Boris Johnson stalling
16 September 2019
Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform spoke to Eamonn Holmes about Boris Johnson's meeting with Jean-Claude Juncker today.
'Watered down' Northern Ireland backstop raises deal hopes
15 September 2019
The Sunday Times
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, nevertheless believes Johnson could benefit from a change of mood in Paris and Berlin following positive visits to both cities last month. But he warns this could take time to permeate through to Barnier’s team in Brussels. “There seems to be some difference of emphasis between the national capitals, which are more optimistic and believe Boris may well be serious about getting a deal, and the officials based in Brussels, who have experienced Frost’s hard red lines and uncompromising stance and are more sceptical that a deal is feasible,” Grant said.
Wyniki wyborów parlamentarnych 2019. Zagraniczne media: kolejne cztery lata Kaczyńskiego
13 September 2019
Wiadomosci
Gazeta cytuje też Agatę Gostyńską-Jakubowską, analityczkę europejskiego think-tanku Centre for European Reform. Ekspertka przewiduje, że choć spór Polski z Brukselą nadal będzie się toczył, to partia nie będzie ryzykowała zaognienia konfliktu, głównie z uwagi na przyszłoroczne wybory prezydenckie.
DUP opens door to new Brexit deal for Boris Johnson
13 September 2019
The Times
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, said that a deal by October 31 was now “more likely than I had thought”.
UK 'Ireland-specific' Brexit plan meets Brussels skepticism
12 September 2019
Politico
Sam Lowe, a trade expert with the Centre for European Reform think tank, warned that moving customs checks was not a magic solution. "You have to police businesses that don’t play by the rules. That’s still quite disruptive and risks to undermine the peace process and disrupt the all-Ireland economy," he said.
BBC Radio 4 - PM: Deal or no deal with the EU
12 September 2019
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform spoke to PM about the chances of a Brexit deal (from 07.00 mins).
New Commission bows to the populists
12 September 2019
Politico
New power structure shows populist rhetoric has infiltrated EU executive.
ELIAMEP 15th European Seminar: Interview, Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska
12 September 2019
Interview with Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform (CER) in the margins of the 15th European Seminar of ELIAMEP (12-14 Semptember 2019).
EU caves to populists: Von Der Leyen condemned over EU roles - ‘Not a good start!’
12 September 2019
The Express
Camino Mortera-Martinez, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said fears of a eurosceptic takeover of EU institutions never materialised after last May’s elections. But she warned they had made their presence in Brussels felt by pressurising bosses to create the new EU Commission, led by center-right politician Ursula von der Leyen, through a process of elimination.
Will Boris Johnson solve Irish border issue in Brexit talks?
12 September 2019
Financial Times
Sam Lowe of the Centre for European Reform said: “If I was Boris Johnson, I’d ditch the DUP for a Northern Ireland-only backstop. I think his party could live with it.”
The economic policy at the heart of Europe is creaking
12 September 2019
The Economist
“The single market is not a project people can get behind,” says Christian Odendahl of the Centre for European Reform. “It isn’t a vote-winner.”
Brexit LIVE: EU 'impressed with Johnson' and could 'scrap backstop' - Major breakthrough
12 September 2019
The Express
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, said: “A deal between EU and UK is more likely than I had thought - my conclusion after 2 days of meetings with EU, member-state and UK officials.”He added Boris Johnson has made "quite a good impression" with Brussels chiefs.
Boris Johnson claims his team has 'rough outline' of a Brexit deal amid claims of 'growing optimism' in Brussels
12 September 2019
The Daily Mail
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank, said there was growing optimism in Brussels that a deal was possible on the backstop – the controversial measure designed to prevent the re-emergence of a hard border across Ireland. Mr Grant said officials were indicating a deal was ‘more likely than I thought’. He added: ‘Senior figures on the EU side say they can scrap the backstop as long as alternatives deliver on protecting the single market and the Good Friday Agreement.
Barnier rejects Brexit extension without 'concrete' proposals
12 September 2019
City A.M
The Centre for European Reform’s director Charles Grant has tweeted a lengthy thread suggesting that EU officials are onboard with this in theory.“France, Germany, Commission could go along with this, but only if UK produces serious proposals, which it has not yet done. It would have to accept role for ECJ,” he wrote. “The other member-states do not want to put pressure on Ireland. But if the UK gets serious about a deal and shows flexibility, there would be gentle encouragement for Dublin to accept something almost equivalent to backstop.”
The 'Boris Bridge'? PM puts price tag on 'very good' idea
12 September 2019
City A.M
A 22-mile bridge between Scotland and Northern Ireland would not be impossible – the longest bridge in the world, the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge in China, is over 102 miles long.But trade expert and senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform think tank Sam Lowe told City A.M. it was unlikely to solve any Brexit-related issues.“It remains unclear why putting a customs border in the middle of a bridge running over the Irish Sea is more palatable to the DUP than a customs border in it,” he said.