Press
What Brexit means for extradition to the UK
07 September 2018
Financial Times
“It’s certainly an extremely useful instrument,” says Camino Mortera, an expert on justice and home affairs at the Centre for European Reform. “Once an EAW is issued, there can be no review of the case by local judges in another EU state if it falls within a list of 32 offences. There is a 48-day time limit for arrest, and extradition is automatic.”However, Ms Mortera says Britain will definitely have to leave the EAW after Brexit. “Many EU states have a constitutional ban on extraditing their own nationals outside the EU. So to accommodate the British, they would have to change their constitutions and, in some cases, hold a referendum. That isn’t going to happen.”
Canada plus Brexit? We can do so much better than that
07 September 2018
The Telegraph
Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, argues that the supposed big prize of the Canada option is an illusion: "The regulatory gravity exerted by the behemoth on our doorstep would see the UK, at the behest of its businesses, remain broadly aligned with the EU’s standards and regulations in many areas so as to avoid duplication and minimise business costs associated with servicing divergent markets.|
BBC Radio Wiltshire: Salisbury poisoning - Russian nationals suspects
06 September 2018
Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform speaks to Ben Prater on BBC Radio Wilsthsire about the Salisbury Novichok poisoning and the news that Russian nationals have been named as suspects (from 1:05 mins).
BBC 5 Live: Russian suspects in Skripal novichok attack
06 September 2018
Looking ahead to the United Nations Security Council meeting after the UK named two Russian suspects in the Skripal novichok attack, Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the CER tells BBC Radio 5 live (from 11.15) “The Russians will be throwing up smoke – and this is pretty characteristic of the way they respond when they’re caught out …It will be interesting to see what the Russians have to say. In the past these have been quite scratchy exchanges in the Security Council as the Russians essentially try to muddy the picture for those trying to understand what happened.”
BBC World: Novichok investigation
05 September 2018
Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform spoke to BBC World about the Salisbury Novichok investigation.
Why May needs Brexit to go down to the wire
05 September 2018
Prospect
Michel Barnier has repeatedly warned the British that the clock is ticking in the Brexit negotiations, and there is wide consensus that Britain needs to get its skates on.
Theresa May stakes all on Chequers 2.0
03 September 2018
Financial Times
Several news stories and analyses (notably this story by Alex Barker, Laura Hughes and George Parker and this op-ed in the FT by Charles Grant) have looked at what the PM’s new approach entails. ...Mr Grant says some governments in northern Europe could probably live with the main thrust of what the UK wants, which is to be in the single market for goods, but not services or labour.
Think Tank Awards: Results 2018
02 September 2018
Prospect
And the winner this year stood out as uniquely timely in this hour for its determination to keep the Brexit debate grounded in analysis and fact rather than emotion and bluster. That think tank was the Centre for European Reform.
If Britain supports free trade it needs to oil the wheels in Africa
31 August 2018
The Times
Sam Lowe, a trade expert at the Centre for European Reform, points out that it is crucial to Ford’s supply chain; its engines are made in Dagenham, transported to South Africa, built into a vehicle and sold back into the EU tariff-free.
EU backs Serbia-Kosovo land swap idea
31 August 2018
The National
Ian Bond, director of foreign policy at the Centre for European Reform, equated the idea of border changes to “sticking a hand into a hornet’s nest”. “The question is whether you can contain territory swaps between Serbia and Kosovo and say this doesn’t set a precedent for anyone else,” Mr Bond told The National.
Brexit 'domino' fears resurface, just when UK needs it least
30 August 2018
Bloomberg
“The fact that the EU is itself facing increasing challenges makes its position toward the UK even less flexible,” said Agata Gostynska-Jakubowska, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform think tank in London. “The situation in Poland, Hungary, also the possible result in Sweden, is only reinforcing this narrative.”
LBC: UK's post-Brexit trade with South Africa
29 August 2018
Sam Lowe a senior research fellow at the CER spoke to James O'Brien about the UK's post-Brexit trade with South Africa, and how to maintain the supply chain to function as it does currently (from 1:50 mins).
'Once in a lifetime opportunity': Calls grow for government to deliver on Green Brexit promises
29 August 2018
BusinessGreen
Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, told BusinessGreen the idea the UK can use Brexit to become a "world leader" on future environmental standards was "slightly naïve". "As a relatively smaller economy we'll struggle to pull away from the regulatory gravity of our nearest neighbour," he warned. "Of course we can innovate and push forward with new technologies, but it is yet to be determined whether we can be more effective outside of the EU than in."
UK eyes alternative to Galileo satellite system as Brexit row widens
29 August 2018
Defence News
The row between London and Brussels could have wider implications for Britain’s security relations with the EU, according to analyst Sophia Besch with the Centre for European Reform. As the disagreement over Galileo gathered momentum earlier this year, the think-tank tweeted: “Galileo could set a dangerous precedent for Brexit defence negotiations in the future — or it could serve as a wake-up call for EU and UK negotiators."
BBC News at 10: UK trade with Africa
28 August 2018
Sam Lowe a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform spoke to BBC News on British trade with Africa after Brexit.
RTS: Grande-Bretagne: Les anti-Brexit demandent un nouveau référendum
24 August 2018
Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform spoke to the RTS about the call for a second referendum (from 1:25 mins).
A No-Deal Brexit could mean higher prices, more red tape and less sperm
24 August 2018
Bloomberg
Sam Lowe, trade expert at the Centre for European Reform, said that the documents probably contained few surprises for large businesses. “Bigger companies can deal with this, and are probably starting to think about dealing with it,” he said. “For the smaller guys, all this will be news to them.”
Greece warns 'no-deal' Brexit would plunge country into 'financial and political instability'
17 August 2018
The Telegraph
“The EU-27 believe that the costs of conceding to the UK and giving it a sweetheart deal would be of greater danger to the single market and to the European project than the gap in the EU budget itself,” said Agata Gostynska-Jakubowska, a senior fellow at the Centre for European Reform.
EU rejects claim Genoa bridge collapse linked to its spending rules
16 August 2018
The Guardian
Luigi Scazzieri, a specialist in EU-Italy relations at the Centre for European Reform, said Salvini’s remarks were clearly “trying to deflect all kinds of responsibility”, but may strike a chord with Italian voters weary of austerity. “The commission is approaching this as a technicality. Salvini is making a broader political point, which will resonate much more with Italians,” Scazzieri said.
How can we stop the M20 from turning into a lorry park?
15 August 2018
Prospect
To avoid disruption to just-in-time production, and safeguard British manufacturing’s position, Theresa May wants the UK to remain within the EU’s regulatory union for goods, alongside a customs union.