Research

The Hartz myth: A closer look at Germany's labour market reforms

The Hartz myth: A closer look at Germany's labour market reforms

Christian Odendahl
10 July 2017
Germany's labour market reforms of the early 2000s had a modest effect on the economy. Europe should learn nuanced lessons from the German experience.
Arrested development: Why Brexit Britain cannot keep the European Arrest Warrant

Arrested development: Why Brexit Britain cannot keep the European Arrest Warrant

Camino Mortera-Martinez
10 July 2017
The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) has made it easier for the UK to extradite criminals. But once it leaves the EU, Britain will find it almost impossible to negotiate as good an arrangement as the EAW.

Ulster's fight, Ulster's rights? Brexit, Northern Ireland and the threat to British-Irish relations

Edward Burke
07 July 2017
Brexit risks destabilising the peace process in Northern Ireland. The EU and UK may need to agree on a special status for the Province.

The limits to Labour's 'constructive ambiguity' over Brexit

Simon Tilford
06 July 2017
Labour proposes a "jobs-first" and hard Brexit at the same time. This means the party can't capitalise on the Tories' stewardship of the economy.
Brexit maze

Brexit maze: The role of EU institutions in the negotiations

Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska
05 July 2017
Theresa May will be reluctant to openly discuss the difficult choices ahead of the UK. Citizens and business should look to the EU institutions for information about their future post-Brexit.

What future for the European defence fund?

Sophia Besch
28 June 2017
For the European defence fund to succeed, member-states have to agree how to distribute the money, how to finance joint projects, and which capabilities to develop.

Britain prepares for a softer Brexit

27 June 2017
Britain’s general election has increased the chances of a ‘softer’ Brexit. But what would a softer Brexit look like? And could it include a customs union with the EU?

Trump, Europe and the Middle East peace process: A path out of the quicksand

23 June 2017
The Middle East peace process is frozen. Rather than attempting to reach an all-or-nothing final agreement, Europe and the US should pursue an incremental approach.

Hard Brexit, soft data: How to keep Britain plugged into EU databases

Camino Mortera-Martinez
23 June 2017
Retaining full access to EU databases fighting crime and terrorism will not be easy for Britain. Any deal will require a role for the European Court of Justice and keeping EU privacy laws.
How should the EU react to Britain's general election?

How should the EU react to Britain's general election?

Simon Tilford, John Springford
15 June 2017
The EU-27 can force Britain's politicians to acknowledge Brexit’s trade-offs, by offering the British four options from which it must choose.

What does the election result mean for Brexit?

John Springford, Simon Tilford
09 June 2017
Brexit barely figured in the UK's general election, but the result means that the country might yet have an election fought explicitly on the issue.

Why no deal would be much worse than a bad deal

John Springford, Simon Tilford
24 May 2017
Theresa May and several of her ministers have claimed that no Brexit deal would be better than a poor deal. They are wrong.

Macron, Merkel and the future of the euro

24 May 2017
Emmanuel Macron wants to change the way the eurozone is run. But can he persuade Angela Merkel?

Europe's forgotten refugee crisis

Camino Mortera-Martinez
24 May 2017
The EU is far from having solved the problems that led to the refugee crisis. It needs to make its asylum system work and do more to send irregular migrants back.

Bulletin Issue 114 - June/July 2017

John Springford, Simon Tilford, Charles Grant, Camino Mortera-Martinez
24 May 2017
Europe's NATO balancing act

Europe's NATO balancing act

Sophia Besch
24 May 2017
This week in Brussels, Europe's leaders must not only convince President Donald Trump of NATO's value, but also push for Europe's NATO priorities.
A flexible EU: A new beginning or the beginning of the end?

A flexible EU: A new beginning or the beginning of the end?

Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska, Christian Odendahl
18 May 2017
The EU needs to become more flexible if it is to tackle current and future challenges effectively. But it should do so transparently, and remain inclusive.
Good cop, bad cop: How to keep Britain inside Europol

Good cop, bad cop: How to keep Britain inside Europol

Camino Mortera-Martinez
16 May 2017
A post-Brexit deal on Europol should be relatively easy to negotiate. The UK could retain a special status, but the British government will need to make some concessions.

Unfreezing TTIP: Why a transatlantic trade pact still makes strategic sense

Rem Korteweg
11 May 2017
Despite concerns about Trump's views on trade, a transatlantic deal would bring foreign policy benefits. If only Europe could get its act together.

A prime minister unshackled

09 May 2017
Checks on prime ministerial power are weak in Britain – and Theresa May’s massive parliamentary majority after the general election will weaken them further. In the context of Brexit, this is dangerous.