EU legitimacySingle market Britain & the EU
  • Can national parliaments make the EU more legitimate?
    Insight by Charles Grant, 10 June 2013
    Can national parliaments make the EU more legitimate?
  • The CER commission on the UK and the single market
    Insight by John Springford, 07 June 2013
    The CER commission on the UK and the single market
  • Tilting at European windmills
    Insight by Katinka Barysch, 29 May 2013
    Tilting at European windmills
  • The French, the European Commission and the Tories
    Insight by Charles Grant, 29 January 2009

    One Frenchman, Jean Monnet, invented the European Commission, and another, Jacques Delors, was its greatest president. Yet the French are increasingly hostile to this Brussels institution.
  • The Runway 3 red herring
    Opinion piece by Charles Grant
    The Guardian, 22 January 2009

    Simon Jenkins, Martin Kettle and Polly Toynbee are columnists I respect and quite often agree with. So when they - and many Comment is Free contributors - join the George Monbiots of this world in attacking the proposed third runway for Heathrow, I read them carefully.
  • Why is Britain eurosceptic?
    Essay by Charles Grant, 19 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.

  • This is no time to listen to the siren call of the euro
    Opinion piece by Philip Whyte Simon Tilford
    The Guardian, 14 October 2008

    Since the Labour party entered office in 1997, the UK economy has become more "European". One of the government's first acts in office was to sign up to the EU's social chapter. It followed this with the introduction of a minimum wage in 1999, along with sustained increases in public expenditure.
  • In defence of Anglo-Saxon capitalism
    Insight by Charles Grant, 29 September 2008

    Those who never liked ‘Anglo-Saxon’ capitalism are feeling smug. Marxists, fans of ‘Rhineland’ capitalism and those who simply cannot stand American power are crowing.
  • The CER guide to the French presidency
    Briefing note by Charles Grant, Clara Marina O'Donnell, Hugo Brady, , Philip Whyte, Simon Tilford, 04 July 2008

    France's EU presidency was always going to be ambitious, with wideranging plans for climate change, immigration and defence. Now, however, France will have to focus on resolving the legal and institutional mess created by the Irish No to the EU's Lisbon treaty.
  • The exit beckons for Britain
    Opinion piece by Charles Grant
    New Statesman, 18 October 2007

    As EU leaders gathered for their latest summit, Britain's Euro sceptics fired their heavy artillery rounds. The Conservatives, the Sun, Mail and Telegraph whipped themselves into a fury, convinced that if they took their analysis of the EU reform treaty to new hyperbolic heights, they could force the government to offer a referendum.
  • Yes to a referendum, but not on this treaty
    Bulletin article by Hugo Brady, 01 October 2007

    Britain is divided over the EU’s new Reform Treaty. The eurosceptic lobby is ratcheting up a well-funded, media-savvy campaign to pressure the government into holding a referendum on the treaty.