Press
Boris Johnson is clearly in no rush to do a big US trade deal, as proven by his tough red lines
02 March 2020
The Telegraph
For those of us who assumed the UK would rush head first into trade talks with the United States, myself included, the last few months have come as somewhat of a surprise.
Polskie Radio: Opublikowano mandaty negocjacyjne w sprawie umowy handlowej między Unią Europejską a Wielką Brytanią
29 February 2020
Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform spoke to Polskie Radio about the EU and UK negotiating mandates.
No-deal Brexit is back - and it looks more likely than ever
29 February 2020
CNN
"While there are clearly disagreements when it comes to the EU's preconditions for negotiating a trade deal - particularly over fish, the role of the European Court of Justice, and the exact nature of the level playing field requirements - when it comes to what the future economic partnership actually looks like, the EU and UK really aren't that far apart," says the Centre for European Reform's Samuel Lowe.
Boris Johnson's one word response to Barnier's demands sends shockwaves to Brussels
28 February 2020
The Express
Sam Lowe, from the Centre for European Reform, pointed out that during the previous phase of negigoations: “The UK has compromised quite a lot, the EU has compromised very little.“We will have to see if that trend continues.”He continued: “Throughout the process, the EU has said we can give you a deal like Canada, we will just ask more of you.“It’s fine if the UK says it’s not fair. The EU don’t care if it’s fair, they have made their mind up."
Could the deaths of 33 Turkish soldiers in Syria spark another refugee crisis in Europe?
28 February 2020
Euronews
Research fellow Luigi Scazzieri, from the Centre of European Reform (CER), told Euronews this could lead to "hundreds of thousands of refugees" arriving in the EU, and could see "a break down of its relationship with Turkey and greatly straining the EU's cohesion".
EUidea podcast: Differentiated integration among the post-Brexit scenarios
28 February 2020
“Even if we have some agreement on free trade or perhaps security [by the end of 2020] we will probably be discussing Brexit for years to come” said Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform.
Channel 4 News: Britain talks post-Brexit trade with the EU
28 February 2020
Gary Gibbon caught up with Same Lowe of the Centre for European Reform to wade through the documents and tell us what they say about the chance of a deal and the shape of a deal.
Brexit Chaos: UK threatens to walk away from EU trade talks by June
27 February 2020
International Business Times
Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said a compromise “will no doubt be difficult. What is perhaps surprising is just how aligned the EU and UK are with regard to the nature of the eventual trade agreement.”
Boris Johnson tells EU he wants sovereignty - whatever the cost
27 February 2020
Sky News
"The difference between the May approach and the Johnson approach is that Theresa May always wanted to find a halfway house," said Sam Lowe, research fellow at the Centre for European Reform think-tank."She wanted a way of leaving the EU, giving the people who voted for Brexit what they wanted on the sovereignty front but mitigating the economic consequences.
Channel 4 News: Government reveals Brexit negotiation demands
27 February 2020
"Throughout the process the EU has said we can give you a deal like Canada it's just we are going to ask more of you. It's fine if the UK says that's not fair... the EU don't care if it's fair or not" Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at...
BBC Today Programme: UK mandate for trade negotiations
27 February 2020
"The barriers for trading within the EU are four times lower than if you were to sell into the EU from outside", Sam Lowe a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform told the Today Programme (from 43 mins)
The highest hurdle to a UK-EU trade deal
26 February 2020
Financial Times
Four of the UK’s most knowledgeable minds on trade offer their thoughts on the chances of a deal. Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform: 6.5/10. It is possible to see a way through on most of the contentious issues. Once they are resolved there is actually much agreement between the EU and UK as to the nature of the final trade deal. The issue giving me cause for concern is that the day-one disruption at the border is similar if the desired free trade agreement is concluded, to if it isn’t, which reduces the political benefit to Boris of making concessions to the EU.
CER podcast: A 'sovereign' EU needs a stable economy
26 February 2020
The EU’s economic size is its main source of global power. But what are the consequences of the eurozone’s economic instability – and its large current account surplus – for the EU’s ability to act on the global stage? John Springford and Christian Odendahl discuss.
BBC PM: Trade deal conditions
25 February 2020
“If I had to bet money on it I would say there will be a simple deal on trade by the end of the year... but also there is a real risk evident of no deal at all,” Charles Grant, director of the CER discussed the prospect of UK-EU deal on the BBC PM show (from 35 mins).
UK-EU trade talks: The problems — and potential solutions
25 February 2020
Financial Times
“There will be a lot of noise and shouting but I think there will be a trade deal this year,” said Sam Lowe, trade expert at the Centre for European Reform think-tank. “I just don’t think it will be a very good trade deal when you think of the disruption it will involve.”Mr Lowe added: “Both sides are pretty aligned on what they want.”
Belarus reset
25 February 2020
Financial Times
Khrystyna Parandii at the Centre for European Reform makes the case for the EU to restart its relations with Belarus as the country looks to distance itself from the Kremlin.
Post-Brexit, Britain is going its own way. That way looks expensive
25 February 2020
The New York Times
“The real cost is lack of investment,” says Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a research institution in London. “Food, manufacturing, cars, aerospace, chemicals will all have big problems.”
Poland’s judicial battle spreads confusion in EU
24 February 2020
Financial Times
“Once the rule of law is being undermined in one member state, other member-states can’t be certain the rights of their citizens and their companies will be adequately respected,” said Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, from the Centre for European Reform think-tank.
EU crippled: How bitter feuds between EU-27 could topple bloc in Brexit talks
22 February 2020
The Express
Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron's countries have come to blows over a number of issues in recent years, as highlighted by Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform. He highlights how, for example, Berlin did not consult Paris before agreeing to the Nord Stream gas pipeline opened in 2011.
Tok FM: Po rozwodzie. Jaka umowa Wielkiej Brytanii z UE?
20 February 2020
Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska talks to TOK FM on the Brexit negotiations ahead and on the new migration package unveiled yesterday.