EU legitimacyEU's Rubik's cubeGermany & 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 EU's Rubik's cube: Who will lead after 2014?
    Insight by Hugo Brady, 03 April 2013
    The EU's Rubik's cube: Who will lead after 2014?
  • Germany’s plans for treaty change – and what they mean for Britain
    Insight by Charles Grant, 28 March 2013
    Germany & Treaty change
  • An unconventional bargain
    Bulletin article by Steven Everts and Daniel Keohane, 02 June 2003

    The Convention on the future of Europe has now entered its final phase. To the surprise of many it has already reached consensus on many elements of a new constitution for the EU.
  • The CER guide to Giscard's draft EU constitution
    Briefing note by Charles Grant, 30 May 2003

    The draft constitution for the EU published on 26 and 27 May 2003 has provoked a ferocious debate in the British press. However, on closer inspection, the text would not fundamentally change the UK’s position in the EU, and it secures nearly all of the British government’s key objectives.
  • More power for the parliament
    Bulletin article by Pervenche Bérès MEP , 01 April 2003

    The Convention on the future of Europe is drawing up a constitution that is supposed to transform the EU. Much of the discussion has focused on the EU's executive: the powers of the Commission, the organisation of the EU presidency and the role of the European Council.
  • Why Europe does not need a new president
    Bulletin article by Peter Sutherland, 02 December 2002

    Powerful political forces in the Convention on the future of Europe and elsewhere, are calling for the appointment of a president of the European Council.
  • The timetable for enlargement
    Briefing note by Heather Grabbe, 21 October 2002

    The Irish referendum result has removed a major uncertainty in the enlargement process. The Nice treaty agreed in 2000 contains the key institutional principles for decision-making in a Union of up to 27 member-states: the number of votes that each country has in the Council of Ministers, and how many representatives each country can send to the European Parliament.
  • The case for a Europe-wide referendum
    Bulletin article by Steven Everts, 01 October 2002

    It is time for pro-Europeans to face up to the uncomfortable truth that the EU has a serious legitimacy problem. The anti-Europeans' most persuasive claim is that the EU is an elite project over which 'the people' have virtually no influence.
  • EU enlargement depends on Ireland
    Briefing note by Daniel Keohane, 06 September 2002

    On October 19th the Irish government will hold a second referendum on the Nice treaty. Irish voters – the only people who have been asked to vote on that treaty – voted 'No' to it in June 2001. The purpose of the treaty, agreed in December 2000, is to change the EU’s institutions so that it can cope with up to 12 new members.
  • What future for federalism?
    Essay by Gilles Andréani, 06 September 2002

    In the Convention and elsewhere, Europe is once again debating its institutional framework. Gilles Andréani, in this essay provides a valuable contribution to this debate by analysing the steady rise of 'inter-governmentalism' over the last decade.