Charles Grant

Charles Grant

Director
Areas of expertise 

Britain's EU referendum, the 'future of Europe' debate, the euro, Russia, European foreign and defence policy and China's relations with the West.

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Transatlantic tensions file thumbnail

Transatlantic tensions

01 December 1999
The friendship between the EU and the US is unusually strained, and the outlook appears bleak. Tension is most evident in the one area where the EU has a coherent foreign policy, trade (the EU's reluctance to implement WTO rulings on bananas and beef hormones has been shameful).
Britain in Europe

Britain in Europe

01 October 1999
The history of Britain's troubled relationship with the European Union has been far too repetitive. Every time that the continental countries want to deepen their union, the British hold back and predict failure; and later, when they see the venture working, they grudgingly join and accept rules written by others.
A golden opportunity for reform

A golden opportunity for reform

02 August 1999
It is easy to forget that the Eurosceptical mood of many EU countries is a recent phenomenon. In the late 1980s, when the EU's prime task was the creation of a single market, its popularity grew in every member-state.
Europe's defence industry

Europe's defence industry: A transatlantic future

02 July 1999
In December 1998 Europe's first major cross-border defence industry merger was imminent: a deal between British Aerospace (BAe) and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Dasa) had been agreed and all but signed and sealed.
European defence post-Kosovo

European defence post-Kosovo

04 June 1999
European Union has long talked about building a defence capability, but done very little about it. In the first week of June 1999, however, two events gave a boost to the EU’s military aspirations. At the Cologne summit EU leaders agreed on a scheme that would enable the EU to...
Europe's emerging political union

Europe's emerging political union

01 April 1999
As many Darwinians believe that evolution has progressed not steadily, but through occasional, sudden spurts. The European Union may be evolving in a similar way.
The end of EADC

The end of EADC

01 February 1999
A little over a year ago the political leaders of Britain, France and Germany launched their plan for a European Aerospace and Defence Company (EADC).
Reshaping Europe's defence

Reshaping Europe's defence

01 December 1998
All across Europe, politicians and diplomats are scratching their heads and asking the same question: when was the last time that Britain came up with such a constructive initiative on the future of the European Union?
Can Britain lead in Europe?

Can Britain lead in Europe?

02 October 1998
Britain should join France and Germany in forming a triple alliance to lead the European Union, suggested Gerhard Schröder, the German Social Democrats' candidate for Chancellor, in April 1998.
Elect the Commission

Elect the Commission

01 October 1998
The European Commission enjoys little legitimacy in the eyes of most Europeans. So long as it is run by appointed politicians it will continue to be seen as a remote and overbearing bureaucracy.