Duff, A. and Verhofstadt, G., (2013), “Europe: an end to fallacy”, European Politics and Policy Blog, 08 October. The Eurozone crisis has generated a number of structural reforms at the European level. In light of the democratic implications of some of these reforms, Andrew Duff and Guy Verhofstadt propose a new ‘fundamental law’ to replace the EU’s existing treaty framework. This incorporates a federal union in which the European Commission …Read More
Tilford, S., (2013), “Eurozone recovery: The world is not enough”, Centre for European Reform Blog, 03 October. The end of the eurozone’s long recession has been met with relief by its policy-makers, with some jumping on the news to justify their management of the eurozone crisis. They argue that the eurozone economy is on the mend, and the recovery will gain momentum over the coming quarter. If they are right, …Read More
Letta, E., (2013), “Europe’s Responsible Solidarity”, Project Syndicate, 03 October. Next year will be crucial for the European Union. EU citizens will elect a new European Parliament, which will vote for a new president of the EU Commission. There will be a new president of the European Council and a new high representative for foreign and security policy as well. This change of top EU personnel represents an ideal opportunity …Read More
De Bromhead, A., Eichengreen, B. and O’Rourke, K., (2012), “Right Wing Political Extremism in the Great Depression”, Discussion Paper no. 95, University of Oxford, February. The enduring global crisis is giving rise to fears that economic hard times will feed political extremism, as it did in the 1930s. This column suggests that the danger of political polarisation and extremism is greatest in countries with relatively recent histories of democracy, with …Read More
Fieschi, C., Morris, M. and Caballero, L., (2012), Recapturing the Reluctant Radical: how to win back Europe’s populist vote, London: Counterpoint. Support for right-wing populism in Europe has steadily gained attention from media and policymakers over the past decade. Most of this attention, however, has been focused on the core supporters of right-wing populist parties (RPPs) – the members and the street activists – at the expense of the topic …Read More
Delors, J., Vitorino, A. and Bertoncini, Y., (2013), “Germany and the EU: a new cycle?”, EurActiv, 30 September. A new coalition in Germany may revamp its EU policy towards more commitment. The country’s partners will have to get a better grasp of its concerns, but the new constellation can foster further progress in Europe, write Jacques Delors, Antonio Vitorino and Yves Bertoncini. Jacques Delors is founding president, Antonio Vitorino is …Read More
Glendinning, S., (2013), “The work of J.S. Mill shows the danger in eliminating the differences between European nations”, European Politics and Policy Blog, 30 September. Simon Glendinning writes on the English philosopher John Stuart Mill’s views on Europe. He notes that Mill saw Britain as being very much a part of Europe, but that he also recognised important differences between European nations. Far from seeing these differences as a weakness, …Read More
Exadaktylos, T., (2013), “Until Angela Merkel forms a governing coalition, Greece will continue to be in limbo”, European Politics and Policy Blog, 27 September. Following last weekend’s German elections, Theofanis Exadaktylos writes on the Greek reaction to Angela Merkel’s victory. He notes that the elections received extensive coverage in the Greek media due to their implications for the country’s economic crisis. Nevertheless, the general perception is that Germany is unlikely …Read More
Merler, S., (2013), “Is there a path to political union?”, Bruegel, 23 September. Over the last few months and ahead of much anticipated European elections in May 2014, there has been a growing debate about the scope for further integration and leaps towards a form of “political union”. Advocates point to the hard constraints that an incomplete political integration has imposed on the management and the resolution of the euro …Read More
Drevet, J-F., (2013), “What borders for the EU: a variable geometry neighbourhood?”, Notre Europe Jacques Delors Institute, Policy Paper 97, September In this Policy Paper, Jean-François Drevet wonders about the limits of the EU and its integration and neighborhood policy. He shows that the Europe of “concentric circles” evoked by Jacques Delorshas become an undisputable fact. The author first gives an account of the integration and enlargments logics, and hence, …Read More
