Press
Ashton picks EU ambassador to the US
16 January 2014
European Voice
Charles Grant, director of the CER, said that O'Sullivan's appointment, if confirmed, would show that the negotiations on a transatlantic trade and investment partnership were the main priority in EU-US relations. "The case for O'Sullivan is that he's an expert who understands the nitty-gritty of trade negotiations," he said.
Another influential Tory joins the No Fear of Brexit brigade
13 January 2014
The New Statesman
For a sober pro-EU account of how little Cameron can reasonably expect to achieve it is worth reading this piece by Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, from last December.
Wanted: Crusaders for 'More Europe'
05 January 2014
The Wall Street Journal
The EU has historically tended to regulate too much, placing unnecessarily heavy burdens on business. But the Commission is now committed to reducing red tape and has repealed almost 5,590 legal acts since 2005, according to the Centre for European Reform.
Can Greece repair its reputation?
02 January 2014
The Telegraph
"With the elections in mind, and with a primary budget surplus, I would also expect the Greek government to be a little more bolshy during the presidency,"says Charles Grant of the CER. "I think other countries will just have to accept that, which could lead to de facto forgiveness for Greek debts."
Britain is in desperate need of immigration from the EU
02 January 2014
The Telegraph
As a recent survey of the academic studies of migration's impact by the Centre for European Reform highlights, the arrival of low-skilled European migrants since 2004 has had no impact on native unemployment or wages.
As Latvia adopts euro, future growth is slowing
01 January 2014
The New York Times
"In order for the euro to flourish in the long term, it must assume a much more federal character, constructing some kind of a federal budget with transfers, which involves a greater pooling of sovereignty," said Simon Tilford, deputy director of the CER.
L'influence du parlement européen inquiète les Britanniques
22 December 2013
La Croix
"Il n’est pas bon que la Commission européenne soit si impopulaire" Charles Grant, directeur du Centre for European Reform à Londres.
Deal on banking union will test goal of united Europe
19 December 2013
International New York Times
"It is no wonder the EU finds it so hard to take decisions," said Charles Grant of the CER. "You have a sick patient on the bed and doctors gathered around who cannot decide on the nature of the illness or the medicine required to cure the patient."
Europe's banking deal leaves doubts
19 December 2013
The Wall Street Journal
"[The agreement on banking union is] not going to do anything to head off the credit crunch we're seeing in the South," says Simon Tilford of the CER.
UK jobs model hard to copy
19 December 2013
The Wall Street Journal
"It's a bit of a puzzle," said Simon Tilford of the CER. ...Mr Tilford thinks the behavior of unemployment in the face of such a weak economy may reflect problems in measuring gross domestic product.
Foreign investors wary as Ukraine plumps for Russia
18 December 2013
Financial Times
"Instead of diversifying Ukraine's gas supplies and increasing its energy efficiency, this agreement is likely to ensure that Ukraine continues to be tied to Russia, subject to the threat of gas supplies being turned off for political or economic reasons," says Ian Bond of the CER.
UK to stall Brussels' ambition on defence
18 December 2013
Financial Times
Clara Marina O'Donnell, at the CER, notes the "startling level of panic" unleashed across nations this summer when the European Commission revealed it wanted to extend its influence over European military co-ordination and procurement. ..."For them to continue to bolt despite all the defence cuts and the talk of the need for further co-operation shows just how difficult it is," she said.
Cameron's European gamble is a losing proposition
17 December 2013
Financial Times
David Cameron has embarked on a bold, possibly reckless, strategy to sort out Britain’s troubled relationship with the EU. He promises that, if re-elected, he will renegotiate membership terms, then hold an in-or-out referendum in 2017.
Angela Merkel's SPD coalition partners will be bad news for David Cameron's hopes of reform
17 December 2013
The Daily Telegraph
"Merkel might decide that fighting Britain's corner is not worth undermining relations with the SPD, who are very much opposed to making anything that could smack of a concession to Britain," said Simon Tilford of the CER.
Europejska obrona bez strategii
16 December 2013
Rzeczpospolita
Najpierw projektuje się dom, a potem kupuje zmywarkę – argumentuje Ian Bond, ekspert CER w Londynie. To aluzja do Unii Europejskiej, która jego zdaniem powinna najpierw uzgodnić strategię obronną, a potem decydować o szczegółach, jak wzmocnienie zdolności bojowych, konsolidowanie przemysłu obronnego itp.
Hardships linger for a mending Ireland
11 December 2013
The New York Times
"Ireland is the closest thing to a success story that European leaders have," said Simon Tilford of the CER in London. "But it doesn't really stand up to scrutiny because there’s been a huge fall in the domestic economy and living standards."
American official tells Ukraine's protest leaders to find peaceful end to crisis
05 December 2013
The New York Times
"The EU shouldn't feel too responsible for what’s going on in Ukraine," said Charles Grant, the director of the CER. Mr Yanukovich was bluntly telling European and American diplomats that he needed $20 billion to seal the deal in the face of Russian opposition.
EU says onus on governments to prevent 'benefit tourism'
05 December 2013
The Wall Street Journal
Actual welfare abuse is "tiny, but potentially very combustible politically," said Hugo Brady of the London-based think-tank CER.
Door betogers belaagde Oekraïense president belooft Europese Unie beterschap
03 December 2013
Het Financieele Dagblad
Volgens Ian Bond, directeur buitenlands beleid bij de Londense denktank CER, is het in ieder geval van groot belang dat een omwenteling zich binnen de bestaande grondwet voltrekt. ‘Onconstitutionele verandering kan dit land niet gebruiken, onderdrukking trouwens evenmin.’
Deflating German excuses
02 December 2013
New York Times
Germany has become accustomed to being top of the class in Europe, the economic musterkind, or model pupil, of the Continent. But it was recently reprimanded by the United States Treasury for running a large trade surplus and imposing a "deflationary bias" on the eurozone.