Research

Vorsprung durch Grexit?

Vorsprung durch Grexit?

Charles Grant, Christian Odendahl
17 April 2015
German officials are sanguine about the consequences of Grexit, and view it as increasingly likely. Merkel would be well-advised to prevent it from happening.
Not in front of the MPs: Why can’t Parliament have a frank discussion about the

Not in front of the MPs: Why can’t Parliament have a frank discussion about the EU?

Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska
15 April 2015
David Cameron wants to increase the role of national parliaments in the EU. His pledge will hold more weight if British parliamentary scrutiny of EU affairs was improved.
The slow dance between Minsk and Brussels thumbnail

The slow dance between Minsk and Brussels

10 April 2015
Buffeted by events in Ukraine, Belarus’s leaders are trying to balance their dependency on Moscow by enhancing ties with the EU. Brussels is responding.
Security in the age of austerity: You get what you pay for

Security in the age of austerity: You get what you pay for

08 April 2015
Europe’s neighbourhood is too dangerous for decisions on defence budgets to be left to austerity-minded finance ministers. The UK should set a good example.
The low-hanging fruit of European capital markets

The low-hanging fruit of European capital markets

Christian Odendahl
08 April 2015
The planned capital markets union in Europe faces many obstacles. Commissioner Hill was right to start with the lower-hanging fruit.
A Marxist take on the 'Brexit' general election

A Marxist take on the 'Brexit' general election

08 April 2015
The ideas of Karl Marx suggest that Britain’s general election will not define the country's relationship with the EU.
Disunited Kingdom: Why ‘Brexit’ endangers Britain’s poorer regions

Disunited Kingdom: Why ‘Brexit’ endangers Britain’s poorer regions

07 April 2015
A British exit from the EU most imperils the UK's poorest regions, and could make the country's regional inequality worse.
It’s the geopolitics, stupid: Why TTIP matters

It’s the geopolitics, stupid: Why TTIP matters

Rem Korteweg
02 April 2015
TTIP’s benefits for Europe’s foreign policy should play a larger role in Europe’s debate about the trade talks.
Frozen: The politics and economics of sanctions against Russia

Frozen: The politics and economics of sanctions against Russia

Christian Odendahl, Ian Bond, Jennifer Rankin
16 March 2015
Western sanctions are hurting Russia more than Europe. They will remain an essential tool to prevent a strong and aggressive Russia dominating its neighbours.
German rebalancing: Waiting for Godot?

German rebalancing: Waiting for Godot?

Simon Tilford
09 March 2015
Far from rebalancing, Germany’s trade surplus continues to grow. This is in nobody’s interests. The German government could and should take steps to reduce it.
EU membership

David Cameron, Janan Ganesh and renegotiating EU membership

04 March 2015
In any renegotiation with the EU, Britain should not ask for opt-outs from social policy or financial regulation. But it should seek safeguards for the single market.
SCT insight thumbnail

The Commission’s energy union ‘strategy’: A rebranded work programme

Stephen Tindale
27 February 2015
President Juncker promised that his Commission would be more political. But its 'energy union' strategy is too timid and bureaucratic, and lacks focus.
Reduced to rouble?

Reduced to rouble? An update on the Russian economy

Christian Odendahl
24 February 2015
The Russian economy is heading for a long recession. Economic collapse, which could still occur, is not in the West's interests.
State aid for energy: Climate action is more important than the single market

State aid for energy: Climate action is more important than the single market

Stephen Tindale
23 February 2015
The Commission has handled the issue of state aid for nuclear energy well, but should use its powers to end coal subsidies.
No, we can't: Why Podemos is not Syriza

No, we can't: Why Podemos is not Syriza

Camino Mortera-Martinez
20 February 2015
It is unlikely that Podemos will win Spain’s general elections. Podemos advocates for a reformed EU but will not be confrontational with the European institutions.
Russia's war

Russia's war in Ukraine: Is Minsk the end, or just the start?

13 February 2015
Putin was the winner in Minsk. Fighting in Ukraine is paused, not finished. Ukraine must reform faster, while the West adapts to confrontation with Russia.
Juncker’s three steps to improve the Commission’s standing in the EU

Juncker's three steps to improve the Commission's standing in the EU

Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska
11 February 2015
Juncker has taken three steps to strengthen the Commission’s hand in European politics but he must still prove he can avoid repeating Barroso’s mistakes.
Letter from America: Europe is needed as never before

Letter from America: Europe is needed as never before

David Miliband
02 February 2015
The EU needs projects that bring together all 28 of its members. And it needs distinctive centre-left and centre-right agendas.
Hubris, realism and the European project

Hubris, realism and the European project

Adair Turner
02 February 2015
Unless EU leaders are willing to establish a more complete economic union, a controlled breakup of the eurozone might be the least bad option.