Press quotes

  • Caution fights to be heard in German upswing
    New York Times, 18 October 2010

    What basically explains the German recovery is contained in an observation in the contrarian manner by Philip Whyte, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, remarking that "Germany resembles a bungee jumper in the spring-back phase." The German economy fell more deeply than any other industrial nation in 2009 and has naturally rebounded faster than its peers, Mr Whyte wrote last month.

  • Germany eases stance on near-automatic penalties for overspenders after pressure from France
    Fox, 18 October 2010

    "The eurozone is likely to be the loser in this," said Simon Tilford, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform in London. He says big Asian economies like China and South Korea will race to keep their own currencies stable against the dollar.

  • Eurozone and currency wars
    The Wall Street Journal, 15 October 2010

    Separately, Simon Tilford at the Centre for European Reform published a piece today: "What currency wars mean for the eurozone." He points out that the eurozone's trade with the rest of the world is roughly in balance and that nobody could accuse the European Central Bank of launching policies to weaken the euro. Mr Tilford points out that Germany blocked discussion of imbalances at the recent Group of 20 meeting, arguing that it's for deficit countries to put their own houses in order.

  • Germany demands NATO show greater commitment to nuclear disarmament
    The Guardian, 14 October 2010

    "France wants no language on nuclear disarmament," said Tomas Valasek, defence analyst at the Centre for European Reform. "France and Germany are very very far apart on this."

  • Wilders' impact felt as Dutch coalition sworn in
    Financial Times, 13 October 2010

    "The Dutch used to be considered an 'old reliable' when it comes to funding the EU – that may now be changing," says Hugo Brady, researcher at the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank.

  • Turkey seeks support for EU bid, but France gives little
    The Wall Street Journal, 13 October 2010

    There is no sign of the EU moving to open up to Northern Cyprus, while Mr Erdogan is unlikely to risk losing face by moving to open Turkish ports ahead of elections next June, said Katinka Barysch, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, a London-based think-tank, attending the seminar. "I don't see any way out," she said.

  • Turnout high for French protests against government
    Voice of America, 12 October 2010

    Analysts like Simon Tilford, of the Centre for European Reform in London, say the reforms are crucial. "What we are seeing is essentially a very powerful group of special interests resisting reforms that would be in everyone's interest and which provide one of the least painful ways of reassuring investors about France's public finances," he said. Tilford believes European governments must take more painful measures than simply increasing retirement age.

  • Saving the euro: Tall ambition, flawed foundation
    Financial Times, 11 October 2010

    Katinka Barysch, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform think-tank, contends that the Germans are in no mood to compromise. "Perhaps for the first time since the second world war, they are allowing themselves to be defiant and proud. Their export-oriented, stability-obsessed economic model is not up for discussion."

  • Schwarzenegger to check out the Russian Silicon Valley
    The Moscow News, 10 October 2010

    "It depends how you define success," deputy director at the Centre for European Reform Katinka Barysch told The Moscow News. "If the government thinks it will create the physical infrastructure for international business then I think that yes, given how much money they have thrown at the project, it will be a success.

  • The EU leader who sees quietness as a strength
    The International Herald Tribune, 09 October 2010

    "His overall approach is one of solid intellectual analysis and modesty about what he can achieve," said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a research institute. "He has analysed where Europe is and where it needs to go. He doesn't always get his way, but he is respected by many heads of government."