Research
A European strategy for Labour
27 September 2023
Keir Starmer will find it hard to improve the Tory Brexit deal – which most EU leaders like. But if he is willing to offer something in return, they may give him a better deal.
State of the Union: From Putin's war to a trade war?
26 September 2023
If she wants the EU to be greener, fairer, and more resilient, Ursula von der Leyen, or whoever comes next, should stay away from trade spats and support a more ambitious industrial policy instead.
How Europe can make the most of AI
14 September 2023
AI may raise productivity – potentially substantially. European policy-makers should do more to ensure businesses use it, by regulating to clarify liability and ensuring vigorous competition between AI companies.
What approach should Labour take to the 2026 TCA review?
06 September 2023
A Labour government will want to reshape relations with the EU. The 2026 review of the trade deal offers only limited scope for change – but that should not constrain Labour’s ambitions.
Can Meloni's balancing act continue?
21 August 2023
Giorgia Meloni has blended Atlanticism and pragmatism towards the EU with right-wing populism on immigration, cultural issues and green policy.
To be influential in the EU, Spain must rebuild its political centre
31 July 2023
Spain’s inconclusive electoral results will diminish Madrid’s influence in Europe. As holder of the EU’s rotating presidency, Spain will be diligent but distracted.
On digital competition, Britain could learn from its regulatory mistakes
20 July 2023
The traditional British model of economic regulation has not always supported investment and innovation. The UK’s digital competition bill could learn from these mistakes.
On digital competition, Britain could learn from its regulatory mistakes
20 July 2023
The traditional British model of economic regulation has not always supported investment and innovation. The UK’s digital competition bill could learn from these mistakes.
Building UK-EU bridges: Convergent China policies?
10 July 2023
The EU and the UK have almost identical objectives vis-à-vis China, and are pursuing very similar policies. After Brexit, can they still work together closely?
Articles
Welcome to Doppelgänger Britain – a world without Brexit
16 September 2023
The New Statesman
The economist John Springford on how he modelled what the UK would look like had it voted Remain.
The EU still needs to build its de-risking toolkit
14 September 2023
Encompass
‘De-risking’ the EU’s economic ties with China took centre stage in this week’s state of the union speech by European Commission President von der Leyen.
Georgia's foreign policy and its alignment with the EU CSFP
07 September 2023
The Georgian Institute of Politics
The risks of strengthening ties with Russia in the midst of its war of aggression against Ukraine should be obvious.
Meloni's balancing act
25 August 2023
EurActiv
Her first year in office has confounded expectations, as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni blended Atlanticism and pragmatism towards the EU with right-wing populism on immigration, cultural issues and green policy.
The CMA's hardball approach to the Microsoft deal paid off - but EU gamers will be left out
24 August 2023
City AM
A deal with the UK competition watchdog could mean British gamers have more choice than their European counterparts.
Para ser relevante en la UE, España debe reconstruir su centro político
08 August 2023
El Pais
Las elecciones generales del pasado 23 de julio han metido en un aprieto a la España que ya se veía en el chiringuito.
Press
Booking.com shows the true scope of the EU’s big tech crackdown
25 September 2023
Wired
Every jurisdiction is getting tougher on tech mergers,” says Zach Meyers, a senior research fellow at the Center of European Reform, a think tank, adding that regulators are all trying to respond to the concentration of market power in the hands of a few players in the tech industry. Across the EU, UK, and US, regulators are trying to respond to the same problem but in slightly different ways, he says. “So you are going to see, in this period, greater divergence.”
El model econòmic d’Alemanya flaqueja
24 September 2023
La Vanguardia
“En l’espai de tres anys una tempesta perfecta creada per una pandèmia mundial, la guerra de Rússia contra Ucraïna amb la consegüent crisi energètica i les tensions creixents entre la Xina i els Estats Units ha deixat al descobert els riscos que aquest tipus de dependència es converteixi en una arma”, diagnostiquen els economistes Sander Tordoir i Xahin Vallée, analistes del laboratori d’idees Centre for European Reform (CER), amb seus a Berlín, Brussel·les i Londres.
We won’t undo Brexit, Labour insists after Starmer remarks
22 September 2023
The Times
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, told Sky News that the comments went further than what Starmer had said previously, and that Brexiteers might question the point of leaving the EU if the UK does not significantly deregulate.“He’s trying to soften up the other world leaders, so they know what to expect when he becomes prime minister, if he does,” he said.
CMA loses credibility as it surrenders to US behemoth
23 September 2023
The Times
Zach Meyers, from the Centre for European Reform, said the CMA had “made a lot of mistakes and seemed to be fumbling their way through” the case. However, he said the concession extracted by the CMA has helped “send a message” to the tech sector.
Why the EU will not remain the world’s digital über-regulator
21 September 2023
The Economist
Since Europe is unlikely to become an ai superpower soon, the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank, argued in a recent report, it should also focus on getting businesses to adopt the technology.
Britain's pitch to investors: We're boring now—and that's good
20 September 2023
The Wall Street Journal
“The UK had a bit of bad luck after Brexit in a series of crises,” said John Springford, director of the Centre for European Reform in London. The country’s economy has suffered permanent damage from Brexit, which increased trade friction with the nation’s biggest trade partner, and the ensuing turmoil, but renewed business investment in recent quarters also shows the UK is often underestimated, he said.
Can Keir Starmer reset Britain’s Brexit deal?
19 September 2023
Financial Times
Charles Grant, the director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank, warned that the EU side had “many other priorities” and any initiative from a Labour government would require careful framing and a clear “offer”. “Before he takes office Starmer needs to work out what he wants to change in the Brexit settlement, and then forewarn EU leaders of what they should expect from Labour,” he added.
The newfound influence of the UK’s competition watchdog
19 September 2023
Financial Times
Zach Meyers, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, says there is “global uncertainty” now in the merger space. “I’m not sure the CMA is really more unpredictable than others, but [due to the appeals system] it has bigger teeth,” he says. “It throws up the question as to whether the current system is viable, given the geopolitical blocs that are forming,” says a seasoned Brussels lobbyist, referring to the outsized influence of US, EU, UK and Chinese regulators.
Italy toughens asylum laws amid surge in migrant arrivals
18 September 2023
Voice of America
The plan is unlikely to have a big effect, said Camino Mortera-Martinez of the Centre for European Reform. “When it comes to substantive points and content of things that the Commission can do — or the European Union even can do — about this problem, there is absolutely nothing new. We see von der Leyen’s 10-point plan that she offered Italy, and we see the same things that we've been seeing for the past 10 years,” Mortera-Martinez told VOA.
Keir Starmer warned of tough choice over revisiting Brexit
18 September 2023
The Evening Standard
John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank, added: “‘Some bolt-ons to the EU-UK trade deal would help some sectors, like agriculture. “But they wouldn’t change the problem: a free trade agreement is much less effective than a single market and customs union. Starmer says he wants a closer EU relationship to improve growth, but his red lines on the EU make it very hard to achieve that.”
Podcasts
CER Podcast: A European strategy for Labour
27 September 2023
Charles Grant and Neil Kinnock discuss a European strategy for Labour.
CER Podcast: Ukraine's road to EU membership
13 September 2023
Ian Bond and Hennadiy Maksak discuss Ukraine's road to EU membership.
CER Podcast: Will political turmoil in Spain and the Netherlands leave the EU in a tough spot?
09 August 2023
Camino Mortera-Martinez and Sander Tordoir discuss Dutch and Spanish politics in the context of the EU.
CER podcast: Is the EU ready for enlargement?
26 July 2023
Camino Mortera-Martinez, Charles Grant and Heather Grabbe discuss EU enlargement.
CER podcast: NATO in Vilnius: What's next for Ukraine?
11 July 2023
Ian Bond and Luigi Scazzieri discuss the NATO summit in Vilnius.
Events
Liberal Democrat party conference fringe event on 'The future of the EU-UK relationship: How close can or should they become?'
26 September 2023
Bayview Suite 2, Bournemouth International Center
With Richard Foord, Layla Moran, Pedro Serrano and Julie Smith
CER/Kreab breakfast on 'How to strengthen the transatlantic relationship'
20 September 2023
Hybrid Brussels/Zoom
With Mark Gitenstein, Ambassador of the US to the EU
Roundtable on 'The Labour Party's approach to the EU'
18 September 2023
London
With Catherine Barnard, Stephen Doughty, Peter Foster and Charles Grant
Breakfast on 'Australia and the EU in an era of geopolitical rivalry'
13 September 2023
Brussels
With Caroline Millar, Ambassador of Australia to the EU, NATO, Belgium and Luxembourg
Breakfast on 'The future of British trade policy'
06 September 2023
London
With Nick Thomas-Symonds, Shadow Minister Without Portfolio (Cabinet Office) and Welsh Labour MP for Torfaen