Publications: Essays 2008

Essays 2008
State, money and rules: An EU policy for sovereign investments essay by Katinka Barysch, Simon Tilford and Philip Whyte, December 2008
The debate about sovereign wealth funds will return as global growth and commodity prices recover. European governments have been right to reject new EU rules on SWFs, and instead support multilateral efforts to set voluntary standards. But the risk of investment protectionism is not banished, as this new CER essay argues. press release
Why is Britain eurosceptic? essay by Charles Grant, December 2008
The British are more hostile to the EU than any other European people. But why? Charles Grant looks at the role of geography, history and economics in nurturing euroscepticism. He pays particular attention to the impact of the eurosceptic press. He asks why Britain's ruling classes have been unwilling to try to shift opinion in a more EU-friendly direction. And he concludes by predicting that in the long run the British will become more sympathetic to the EU.
Why Ukraine matters to Europe essay by Tomas Valasek, December 2008
Until the war in Georgia in August 2008, the EU had taken stability beyond its eastern border for granted. Now it will need to become more active in this volatile region, in which Ukraine is the largest and most important country. If Ukraine successfully 'Europeanises', it will serve as an inspiration to the entire eastern neighbourhood. The EU needs to offer it and other eastern neighbours the prospect of eventual membership to help them become stronger and more prosperous. And it needs to work harder to find solutions to the region's local conflicts, existing and potential ones, such as the Ukraine-Russia disagreement over Crimea. press release
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Is EU competition policy an obstacle to innovation and growth? essay by Simon Tilford, November 2008
European countries need to improve their record of developing high-tech businesses if they are to prosper. This was explicitly recognised in the EU's Lisbon agenda of economic reforms launched in 2000. The reasons for Europe's poor record of innovation are complex, but one factor may be competition policy. In this CER essay, Simon Tilford argues that EU competition rules are less favourable to innovation and hence competition than their advocates believe. press release
Willing and able? EU defence in 2020 essay by Daniel Keohane and Tomas Valasek, June 2008
Demand for military forces is growing. And the Europeans increasingly turn to the EU when in need of troops for peacekeeping or for delivering humanitarian aid. But will the EU be able to keep up with the demand? Daniel Keohane and Tomas Valasek argue that it is possible, but only if the EU governments reform and pool their militaries, and if the EU and NATO co-ordinate their work more effectively. They also warn the Europeans to stop assuming that the EU will never fight a shooting war, and call on the EU to start a debate on when to use hard military force. press release
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Growing old gracefully: How to ease population ageing in Europe essay by Alasdair Murray, January 2008
Europe stands on the cusp of a demographic revolution. Rising life expectancy and low fertility are radically transforming Europe’s demographic profile. Ageing populations pose profound political, economic and social challenges for Europe. Many commentators are deeply pessimistic about the consequences of population ageing for the social and economic fabric of Europe. But Alasdair Murray’s essay takes a more optimistic view. He argues that although pro-natal policies or increased immigration cannot be relied on to reverse Europe’s long-term population trends, demography is not destiny. press release
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