Research

Draghi's plan to rescue the European economy: Will EU leaders do whatever it takes?

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?

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?

Amidst complex threats, how can the EU fight terrorism more effectively?

Nigel Howard
30 August 2024
The EU’s counter-terrorism policy remains under-developed and in need of reform.
Towards a UK-EU Security Pact

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

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

The murky world of French politics

Christine Ockrent
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.
Where might UK-EU relations be under a Labour government?

Where might UK-EU relations be under a Labour government?

John Peet
18 July 2024
The Labour government offers a chance for a new start for UK-EU relations. But the UK will have to both address the causes of Brexit and present a compelling offer.
NATO at 75: Strong but brittle?

NATO at 75: Strong but brittle?

15 July 2024
NATO’s 75th anniversary summit sought to project unity and strength, but large challenges simmer under the surface. 
Navigating the storm? The EU, the UK and Trump 2.0

Navigating the storm? The EU, the UK and Trump 2.0

10 July 2024
A second Trump presidency would lead to extensive transatlantic turbulence. The UK and its European partners would need to be pragmatic in finding new ways of working together.
An open letter to Keir Starmer: Ten suggestions on how to foster better relations with Europe

An open letter to Keir Starmer: Ten suggestions on how to foster better relations with Europe

08 July 2024
In an open letter to Keir Starmer, Charles Grant offers ten suggestions on how the Labour government can improve the UK-EU relationship.

Articles

3 questions on the Draghi report on European competitiveness to 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

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.
Reino Unido-UE: hacia un alineamiento

Reino Unido-UE: hacia un alineamiento

06 July 2024
La Razon
El próximo gobierno británico necesita una estrategia coherente hacia la UE, que abarque desde el comercio y la regulación hasta la energía, la política exterior y la defensa.
Judy Asks: Will enlargement spur EU reform?

Judy Asks: Will enlargement spur EU reform?

27 June 2024
Carnegie Europe
Enlargement might spur EU reform, but I won’t hold my breath for more than minor changes.

Has the EU turned to the right?

Christina Keßler
21 June 2024
British Foreign Policy Group
For the first time, the European Parliament elections have taken place without the United Kingdom. From 6th– 9th June, citizens from across the EU went to the polls. But what is next for the bloc – and what do these results mean?

Press

Brexit is 'stifling' exports and imports, report finds

17 September 2024
Financial Times
John Springford, a trade economist at the Centre for European Reform think-tank, said that while Du’s results differed from some other academic studies, the findings were in keeping with overall trade data. “Jun Du and her colleagues’ paper fits with what we know in the aggregate data about UK goods trade: exports and imports to all destinations, in both the EU and the rest of the world, have grown more slowly than peer economies,” he said.

What The Hague is cooking on trade

16 September 2024
Politico
The Netherlands are “nicely in the middle of the debate between more China hawkish von der Leyen on the one hand, and more China dovish Germany on the other hand. And they still have a tradition of being very pro-trade,” said Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform (CER).

Will Mario Draghi’s masterplan get the momentum it needs?

14 September 2024
Financial Times
“The diagnosis is hard to argue with,” wrote Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, in an excellent thread on X. Tordoir said the plan “channels aspects of the thinking of Jean Monnet (EU defence integration), Jacques Delors (EU single market) and Bidenomics (cleantech/economic security), but above all, Draghi’s own vision.”

Draghi-Bericht: Welche Schritte dieKommission schnell einleiten könnte

11 September 2024
Table Media
„Der Bericht bietet ein starkes intellektuelles Fundament für eineeuropäische Industriestrategie. Das hatten wir so noch nicht“, sagt Sander Tordoir, Chefökonom beim Think-Tank Centre for European Reform (CER).

What Brussels energy players think about the Energy Union

11 September 2024
EurActiv
Elisabetta Cornago, senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform noted that grids will have to be a “a major focus” of the next Energy Commissioner. 

Massiv ldnesisk statsstotte kan koste mio. af job

11 September 2024
Jyllands-Posten
Sander Tordoir, der er chefokonom i taenke-tanken Centre for European Reform, kalder det, Niebuhr Gears er ramt af, for et »Kinachok«.Og det er ikke kun relevant for det Ikastbaserede selskab. Tvaertimod karakteriserer Sander Tordoir det som den storste udfordring, som europaeisk erhvervsliv star med lige nu. Og han forudser, at det kommer til at definere de naeste 5 -10 ar for Europa. »Den massive overproduktion og grusomme priskonkurrence i Kina bliver eksporteret til alle os andre,« siger han og tilfojer: »Det her er af en helt anden slorrelsesorden end noget, vi har set tidligere.«

EU moet heilige huisjes afbreken, zegt Draghi. Hoe nu verder?

10 September 2024
Het Financieele Dagblad
Het is zoals Sander Tordoir, econoom van de denktank CER, het zegt: ‘Het zal onmogelijk blijken de EU-begroting voldoende te herzien om de investeringsdoelstellingen te verwezenlijken.’Tordoir waarschuwt: ‘Duitsland en andere zuinige landen zullen tegenspartelen.’

Raffaele Fitto, l'espoir italien d'un portefeuille en or à la Commission

10 September 2024
La Croix
« Il [Raffaele Fitto] est bien connu à Bruxelles, modéré, constructif et, à bien des égards, le choix évident » pour l’Italie, a décrypté Luigi Scazzieri, chercheur au Centre for European Reform (CER). « Il n’est pas susceptible de créer des problèmes. Le problème consiste à obtenir un portefeuille de haut niveau ou un poste de vice-président ».

Draghi presenta un informe demoledor. Y se llevará a la práctica

10 September 2024
EL Confidencial
Están empleando sus recursos para conseguir mayor poder e influenciamientras que la Unión Europea ha decidido detenerse en el escalón anterior. Como afirmaba Sander Tordoir, “Europa es el único actor importante que todavía respeta las reglas. Es muy difícil ganar en el póquer si eres el único jugador que no hace trampa”.

Can anything spark Europe’s economy back to life?

09 September 2024
The Economist
In telecoms, he [Draghi] wants to make mergers easier, to boost investment. “Telecoms is probably the worst example of the need for scale,” says Zach Meyers of the Centre for European Reform think-tank. Fewer operators would mostly mean higher prices and lower quality, but not more investment.

Podcasts

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

Luigi Scazzieri, Sophia Besch
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

Charles Grant, Sophie Pedder
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

Charles Grant, Neil Kinnock
10 July 2024
Charles Grant and Neil Kinnock discuss the UK election results.

CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: What would a Labour government mean for Europe?

26 June 2024
Aslak Berg, Ian Bond and Luigi Scazzieri discuss the UK election.

Events

CER/British Embassy Berlin/UCL European Institute hybrid discussion on 'The future of European security'

10 September 2024
Hybrid Berlin/Microsoft Teams
With Claudia Major, Jana Puglierin, Luigi Scazzieri and Michael Scharfschwerdt

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

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/Bruegel launch of 'Europe's banking union at ten: Unfinished yet transformative' by Nicolas Véron

24 September 2024
Hybrid London/Zoom
Please email [email protected] for further information, including how to register.