Research
The EU and the rule of law: Much movement, little change
07 October 2024
The EU has strengthened its tools to defend the rule of law, but it needs to start applying them more forcefully.
Surviving Trump 2.0: What does the US election mean for Europe's economy?
03 October 2024
While EU leaders fret about a second Trump presidency, they should not be complacent about Kamala Harris’s prospects. Neither president would fundamentally change the economic dilemmas facing Europe.
What a Harris presidency would mean for Europe
30 September 2024
A Harris presidency would signal continuity for transatlantic relations. But Europeans should not think they can turn back the clock to the pre-Trump era.
All at sea? UK-German co-operation in the Nordic-Baltic region
26 September 2024
Whatever happens in Ukraine, Russia will remain a threat to EU and NATO interests in the Nordic-Baltic region. The UK and Germany should try to co-operate more closely there.
Draghi's plan to rescue the European economy: Will EU leaders do whatever it takes?
17 September 2024
Mario Draghi offers EU leaders a convincing roadmap out of economic stagnation. But the road to implementation is going to be politically difficult.
Reducing or removing CO2 emissions: Can offsets make the difference?
05 September 2024
The EU must insist on more rigorous carbon offsets for these to become a credible tool to achieve net zero emissions.
Amidst complex threats, how can the EU fight terrorism more effectively?
30 August 2024
The EU’s counter-terrorism policy remains under-developed and in need of reform.
Towards a UK-EU Security Pact
06 August 2024
The UK wants to forge a ‘security pact’ with the EU. But too much ambition now risks failure. A gradual approach will be more successful.
In the UK's plans for AI, Brussels still looms large
25 July 2024
The new British government plans to regulate powerful AI models. But it should also influence how European authorities implement their law on AI and help shape global norms on AI regulation.
The murky world of French politics
19 July 2024
Two weeks after the second round of France’s parliamentary elections, it is still far from clear who or what can form a new French government.
Articles
Navigating data sovereignty: Lessons for Taiwan
07 October 2024
Taiwan Insight
Governments are paying growing attention to the concept of data sovereignty. This poses challenges for countries like Taiwan, whose economies have been built around open digital trade.
Want a ‘reset’ with the EU, PM? Here’s how you could pull it off…
02 October 2024
The Independent
With Keir Starmer in Brussels to restore post-Brexit relationships with European leaders, Ian Bond suggests ‘low-key’ is the name of the game when it comes to influencing foreign policy.
Warum der Draghi- Bericht eine Riesenchance für Deutschland ist
17 September 2024
Handelsblatt
Die Bundesrepublik steht im Zentrum der Krise. Draghis Analyse ist vor allem für uns ein Angebot, die Probleme im EU-Konzert zu lösen. Von Lucas Guttenberg, Nils Redeker und Sander Tordoir.
3 questions on the Draghi report on European competitiveness to Sander Tordoir
12 September 2024
Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
We asked Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, for his first reactions to the Draghi report.
How to get to an EU-UK security pact
12 August 2024
EU Observer
The UK’s EU reset is fully underway. The European Political Community summit in Blenheim was the perfect platform for Keir Starmer to present the UK as a key ally to its EU neighbours, and Britain’s leaders have been touring European capitals to grease the wheels of diplomacy.
Charles Grant, szef londyńskiego think tanku: Fala imigracji w Wielkiej Brytanii musi opaść
08 August 2024
Rzeczpospolita
Skrajna prawica jest w Wielkiej Brytanii równie wpływowa, co we Francji – uważa Charles Grant, założyciel i dyrektor londyńskiego Centre for European Reform.
Press
EU backing for China EV tariffs shows Berlin's waning influence
07 October 2024
Reuters
Zach Meyers, assistant director of the Centre for European Reform, said the tariff dispute illustrated Germany no longer led EU trade policy and that the influence of France too was more limited after Commission President Ursula von der Leyen removed French commissioner Thierry Breton and gave a less influential role to his successor.
Analysts: Germany’s ‘selfish’ EV vote aims to channel Chinese retaliation onto France or Spain
07 October 2024
EurActiv
Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, told Euractiv that Germany could potentially enjoy “the best of both worlds” by enjoying the protective benefits of tariffs while avoiding the negative effects of any Chinese retaliation.However, he also warned that, regardless of whether China retaliates against German combustion engine vehicles, German automakers are experiencing profound structural problems.
Win in China EV tariffs vote leaves EU relieved yet wary over Beijing's likely retaliation
05 October 2024
South China Morning Post
“The stakes are hard to overstate. If Scholz had succeeded in overturning the tariffs at the eleventh hour, it would have vindicated China’s efforts to lean on individual member-states and been the final nail in the coffin of EU efforts to have a foreign economic policy,” said Sander Tordoir of the Centre for European Reform.
EU member states set to confirm EV tariffs, resisting German, Chinese lobbying
04 October 2024
EurActiv
Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, said it would be “profoundly damaging” to the EU’s global credibility if Beijing had succeeded in “peeling off” enough member states to block the tariffs.He also noted that, although the vote will almost certainly not trigger a complete cessation in EU-China trade links, it could represent a significant “milestone” in the history of Brussels and Beijing’s political relationship.
Europe's industrial nightmares are coming true
01 October 2024
Bloomberg
The scale of the problems facing Europe, though, with Germany giving up hope of achieving any growth this year, mean a lot has to go right. If energy costs are a competitive disadvantage for industry, that’s a separate challenge to needing more R&D spending. Trade policy will also have to play a part in leveling the playing field for domestic industries, with an imminent decision due on China EV tariffs. All these will have to work alongside foreign policy in the race to secure raw materials, as the Centre for European Reform notes.
Duitse autosector ‘verkeert in slaaptoestand’, verdeeldheid over staatssteun
23 September 2024
BNR Nieuwsradio
Hulp bieden aan consumenten om de auto-industrie te helpen kan een oplossing zijn, denkt Sander Tordoir, senior econoom van het Centre for European Reform. 'Mijns inziens zijn maatregelen die de consument versterken wel nodig. Dit jaar zijn ongeveer 2,5 miljoen auto's in Duitsland. Dat is bijna een miljoen minder dan de piek voor de pandemie. Er is een zwakke vraag in Duitsland zelf, daar kan je natuurlijk iets aan doen.'
Deutschland darf nicht einfach dichtmachen
22 September 2024
Redaktions Netzwerk Deutschland (RND)
Sander Tordoir, Chefökonom der renommierten Denkfabrik Centre for European Reform, sieht in Draghis Schrift etwas Historisches: Sie verbinde Pläne von Jean Monnet (Verteidigungsintegration) und Jacques Delors (Binnenmarkt) mit Bidenomics (Clean Tech plus Resilienz).
Nigel Farage is right: Britain’s Remainers are back
20 September 2024
Politico
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, said vocal pro-European backbenchers probably won’t be as influential as the ERG — despite already having a “rather fraught relationship with the Labour leadership.”
Draghi report
19 September 2024
Financial Times
Among the many comments on the Draghi report, the ones by Martin Wolf and the Centre for European Reform are well worth your time.
European Parliament throws weight behind Draghi report
19 September 2024
PA Europe
Reacting to the report, the Centre for European Reform questioned whether the bloc’s leaders will be willing to implement its findings.It wrote: “Draghi’s report represents a much-needed reality check for the EU’s ambitions. European leaders must address the lack of support for disruptive innovation in Europe and the difficulty entrepreneurs face in commercialising their ideas and scaling up.
Podcasts
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: What does the US presidential election mean for Europe’s economy?
03 October 2024
Alan Beattie, Aslak Berg and Zach Meyers discuss the transatlantic economic relationship.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Evaluating Mario Draghi's report on competitiveness
13 September 2024
Elisabetta Cornago, Luigi Scazzieri, Sander Tordoir and Zach Meyers discuss Mario Draghi's report.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: NATO at 75
02 August 2024
Luigi Scazzieri and Sophia Besch discuss NATO and European security.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: What's happening in France and what it means for Europe
12 July 2024
Charles Grant and Sophie Pedder discuss the French elections.
CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: What the Labour landslide means for UK-EU relations
10 July 2024
Charles Grant and Neil Kinnock discuss the UK election results.
Events
Discussion on 'Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and long-term prospects for European security' with Daniel Fried
08 October 2024
London
Please email [email protected] for further information, including how to register.
CER/Delegation of the EU to the UK Conservative party conference fringe event on 'Working together to support Ukraine'
01 October 2024
Hall 8a, The ICC, Birmingham
With George Freeman, Bernard Jenkin, Alicia Kearns, Isabell Poppelbaum and Valerii Zaluzhnyi
CER/Delegation of the EU to the UK discussion on 'The soft power of languages'
26 September 2024
London
With Alison Graves, Bernardette Holmes and Dominic Schroeder
CER/Delegation of the EU to the UK Labour party conference fringe event on 'Working together for European security'
23 September 2024
Auditorium 1C, ACC, Liverpool
With Stella Creasy, Kitty Donaldson, Stephen Doughty and Pedro Serrano
CER/Delegation of the EU to the UK Liberal Democrat party conference fringe event on 'Working together towards an inclusive world order'
16 September 2024
Empress Room, The Grand, Brighton
With Yevheniia Kravchuk, Layla Moran, Pedro Serrano and Julie Smith