Press quotes

  • Atmosphere tense over confusing stance on Europe
    Financial Times, 17 November 2011

    As Charles Grant of the CER puts it: "The risk is that Cameron will start making impossible demands. If pushed too far, Germany will go for a completely new treaty outside the EU framework. That will trigger a real crisis in the relationship."

  • From love-in to brush off: Staying close is hard to do
    The Times, 17 November 2011

    "He is rattled. France is being dragged into this crisis," said Simon Tilfordof the CER. Britain is a source of particular irritation, he suggests, because Mr Cameron and George Osborne are saying in public what the French only say in private.

  • Europe's debt crisis moves toward bigger economies
    National Public Radio, 16 November 2011

    "Even economies that do not have the fiscal problems of some of the other eurozone economies are considered a risk, [they] are being shunned," says Simon Tilford, chief economist of the CER in London.

  • Widening split in Europe on the virtue of austerity
    The New York Times, 16 November 2011

    But, said Mr Tilford, the eurozone "is going to crack unless ECB enters the picture soon." If the central bank really starts carrying out the lender of last resort function, then the crisis can still be reined in, he and others said.

  • Europeans have deep doubts about euro
    Voice of America, 15 November 2011

    "If a country were to opt to leave the eurozone, the rest of the eurozone would have to make sure that process was a relatively controlled one…" said Simon Tilford, chief economist at the CER. 

  • No stopping technocrats as Europe crisis brings down governments
    Bloomberg, 15 November 2011

    While the appointments in Greece and Italy avoided snap elections that may have created even greater turbulence in financial markets, governments made up of non-political experts can't make up for the single currency’s flaws, said Philip Whyte at the CER . ...

  • Success and advice cast a giant as a villain, not a model, in Europe
    The New York Times, 15 November 2011

    "The Germans often don't sufficiently appreciate how wrenching the economic changes are that they're prescribing," said Philip Whyte, a senior research fellow at the CER in London.

  • "El peor momento desde la II Guerra"
    El Pais, 15 November 2011

    "Pienso que estamos en terreno muy peligroso, y que la eurozona debe actuar de inmediato", dijo Simon Tilford, economista en jefe del CER.

  • Path out of eurozone crisis spells prolonged economic pain
    Reuters, 14 November 2011

    "On current policy trends, a wave of sovereign defaults and bank failures are unavoidable. Much of the currency union faces depression and deflation," wrote Simon Tilford and Philip Whyte in a new paper for the CER.

  • Greek, Italian plans bypass voters
    USA Today, 14 November 2011

    "Greece has been asked to attempt the impossible," said Simon Tilford, chief economist with the CER in London. "The strategy, the fiscal austerity program over the last two years, has failed and has pushed the economy into a very deep slump.