In the Press - EU rejects claim Genoa bridge collapse linked to its spending rules
16 August 2018
The Guardian
Luigi Scazzieri, a specialist in EU-Italy relations at the Centre for European Reform, said Salvini’s remarks were clearly “trying to deflect all kinds of responsibility”, but may strike a chord with Italian voters weary of austerity. “The commission is approaching this as a technicality. Salvini is making a broader political point, which will resonate much more with Italians,” Scazzieri said.
In the Press - Brexit: EU leaders consider 'Jersey model'
10 August 2018
Jersey Evening Post
Supporters of the Jersey model, which was proposed by the Centre for European Reform think-tank earlier this year, say that it would mean border checks would not need to be applied to the land border with Ireland – a key Brexit issue.
In the Press - European leaders mulling Jersey compromise, defying Michel Barnier's line
09 August 2018
The Telegraph
European leaders would not want Britain to benefit overall by leaving their club –and the price they want it to pay is becoming clear. The Centre for European Reform's trade wonk Sam Lowe tells me that the White Paper (which fleshed out Mrs May’s Chequers plan) "almost gets to Jersey", but that Mrs May would be expected to "accept that potential future divergence is not on the table" over goods.
In the Press - How no-deal Brexit chatter could be helping UK's Theresa May
07 August 2018
Bloomberg
“The government forcing people to think about it now ultimately strengthens their hands,” said Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform in London. “It means thought is put into why pursuing such an outcome is foolhardy.”
In the Press - Jeremy Corbyn ditches consensus to reject EU trade deals
04 August 2018
Financial Times
Sam Lowe, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, another think-tank, said such efforts had yet to bear fruit. “We know very well what Corbyn is against on trade but not much about what he has to replace it with,” he added.
In the Press - Brexit deal off the menu at May-Macron summit
03 August 2018
Politico
“The Commission is taking a hard line not because it wants to but because it’s got instructions from France and Germany to do so,” said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform think tank in London. “The British should not assume that just by talking to Merkel and Macron things will get easier.”
In the Press - The dangerous delusion of no-deal Brexit
02 August 2018
The Economist
Brexiteers may call this Project Fear 2.0, but the evidence is against them. Market confidence would suffer. John Springford of the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank, says a no-deal Brexit would trigger both a recession and a run on the pound. No deal is not a serious option, even if today’s febrile politics pretends it is.
In the Press - Has the EU-US trade war really been cancelled?
02 August 2018
Moneyweek
Last week, Donald Trump and Jean-Claude Juncker surprised many people when they announced an agreement to seemingly avert the trade war that many people had been expecting. While Trump has hyped this as a major breakthrough, many people have been more sceptical. John Springford, the deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, kindly agreed to discuss the implications for the deal with us.
The success of the deal “is yet to be seen”, says Springford. After all, “it’s not an agreement in itself, just an agreement to start talking about talks”.
The success of the deal “is yet to be seen”, says Springford. After all, “it’s not an agreement in itself, just an agreement to start talking about talks”.
In the Press - 'End of the fairy tale': Summer of discontent hits Macron's reputation
02 August 2018
The Local
"He [Macron] hasn't convinced enough people that what he's doing is not just franco-francais, that he's not just pursuing a French agenda and dressing it up in European clothing," said Charles Grant, director of the London-based Centre for European Reform.
In the Press - Germany's military is struggling amid rising tensions with Trump and Russia
01 August 2018
Business Insider UK
"What we've seen in the last few years — really the sort of tragic and kind of embarrassing stories about the state of the Bundeswehr — that is certainly sinking in, and Germans are now supporting more defense spending than they have in the past," Sophia Besch, a research fellow at the Centre for European Reform, said on a recent edition of the Center for a New American Security's Brussels Sprouts podcast.
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Future events
Labour Party Conference fringe event on 'What will be the outcome of Brexit?'
25 September 2018
Speakers: Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central Yvette Cooper, MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford Jon Lansman, Chair, Momentum Keir Starmer, MP for Holborn and St Pancras Chair: Charles Grant, Director, Centre for European Reform
Conservative Party Conference fringe event on 'What will be the outcome of Brexit?'
01 October 2018
Speakers: Vicky Ford, MP for Chelmsford Juliet Samuel, Columnist, The Telegraph Antoinette Sandbach, MP for Eddisbury Chair: Charles Grant, Director, Centre for European Reform