Press
EU dynamo is consumers, not trade deals or tariffs
29 January 2026
Reuters
EU consumers could be predictably stirred with the kind of “Buy European” subsidies as proposed by economists such as Sander Tordoir at the Centre for European Reform.
Six ans après, le Brexit n’a pas tenu sa promesse et provoqué un impact majeur sur l’économie britannique
29 January 2026
Le Temps
John Springford, un économiste et chercheur au Centre for European Reform, estime que cet écart de PIB représente une perte de revenus équivalente à 2000 livres (2100 francs suisses) par habitant et un manque à gagner en recettes fiscales de 40 à 80 milliards de livres (42 à 84 francs suisses).
You want proof that Brexit was a disaster? Go to an airport
27 January 2026
iNews
The Centre for European Reform estimated that UK GDP per capita was 6-8 per cent lower, investment 12-18 per cent lower and productivity down 3-4 per cent, leaving the country poorer than it would otherwise have been.
Programme militaire européen SAFE : vers une volte-face du Royaume-Uni ?
27 January 2026
Capital
Charles Grant, directeur du Centre for European Reforme, explique dans une récente analyse que «certains fonctionnaires de la Commission étaient plutôt embarrassés. Ils ont évoqué les pressions considérables exercées par la France. (...) Un fonctionnaire français – travaillant pour une institution de l'UE et non pour la France – a estimé que la France avait 'intimidé' la Commission».
Brexit Britain wil niet kiezen tussen EU en VS. Hoelang is dat nog houdbaar?
26 January 2026
Financieel Dagblad
Het probleem van Starmer is dat de Britten na tachtig jaar nauwe samenwerking enorm afhankelijk zijn van de VS, zegt oud-diplomaat Ian Bond van de denktank Centre for European Reform. ‘Het is onze grootste handelspartner na de EU, de investeringen over en weer zijn immens. We hebben de VS nodig voor veel van ons militaire materieel en de inlichtingendiensten hebben een unieke samenwerking.
NPO Radio 1: Europa gooit het roer om
26 January 2026
De ‘Groenland-crisis’ heeft Europese leiders wakker geschud. De afhankelijkheid van de Verenigde Staten moet, in ieder geval voor de komende jaren, drastisch worden teruggeschroefd. Maar dit is niet alleen slecht nieuws. Over hoe we dat nu precies doen, dat losweken, praten we vandaag verder met Sander Tordoir, hoofdeconoom bij het Centre for European Reform.
The PM has a doctrine — but it’s delusional
25 January 2026
The Sunday Times
When Lithuania said it would withdraw from the treaty to join Finland, Estonia and Latvia, which shrewdly never signed up, a Labour Foreign Office minister in the Lords, Baroness Chapman of Darlington (formerly Starmer’s political secretary), voiced strong disapproval: “The UK regrets Lithuania’s decision [and] has frequently raised concerns with Lithuania regarding withdrawal.” When I reported this to a former British ambassador to Latvia, Ian Bond, he groaned and described it as “nuts”.
Kaja Kallase raju aasta Brüsselis: «Kui ta on veendunud, et on õige asi, siis ta eriti ei hooli, kas von der Leyeni korrusel arvatakse teistmoodi»
23 January 2026
Postimees
Briti teaduri, Lätis suursaadikuna töötanud Ian Bondi jaokson Euroopa Liidu kui terviku vaatest murekoht Hiina, mille-suunalise poliitikapuhul on liikmesriikide ühisosa leidmise katsed tahaplaanile jäänud. KaPalestiinas võinuks kasvõi Läänekaldal sealse Palestiina Omavalitsusegakõvasti rohkem koostööd teha.
Briti teadur Kaja Kallasest: ta on aus, teised juhid käituvad vahel nii nagu võiksime lihtsalt teeselda, et Trump juhib vaba maailma
23 January 2026
Postimees
«Ma tean, et ta ei ole Brüsselis universaalselt populaarne,» ütleb Briti mõttekoja CER vanemanalüütik, kunagine Ühendkuningriigi suursaadik Lätis Ian Bond Kaja Kallase esimest aastat Euroopa Liidu kõrge välisesindajana kokku võttes.
BBC News - The Context: EU leaders meeting to discuss Greenland
22 January 2026
Armida van Rij spoke to The Context as EU leaders met to discuss Greenland and the ongoing crisis in transatlantic relations.
Switzerland grapples with neutrality in a continent remade by war
22 January 2026
The Times
“The EU really dislikes the Swiss model quite intensely and has a very low opinion of it. So they don’t really want the British to have anything resembling the Swiss model,” Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, wrote recently.
The leverage that Europe has over the US economy
22 January 2026
The New York Times
“European leaders cannot act as though the last few weeks did not happen,” said Ian Bond, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank. “This was the most serious crisis in transatlantic relations in a long time, but with Trump in the White House, it will not be the last.”
What if Trump became the catalyst for resetting EU-UK relations?
21 January 2026
The New Union Post
With the US no longer a reliable ally for Europe, Brussels and London should "rebuild bridges that were demolished in 2016," says Ian Bond, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform. Yet the ongoing EU-UK 'reset' negotiations should overcome "the legacy of the bad feeling that has built up over the last ten years."
A ‘trade bazooka’, tariffs and a World Cup boycott: How Europe can hit back at Trump over Greenland
21 January 2026
The Independent
Guttenberg’s post was reshared by Sander Tordoir, chief economist at the Centre for European Reform, who added: “Europe should hold a competing football competition in Denmark at exactly the same time – and call it the Viking Freedom Supercup.”
In a subsequent emailed statement, Mr Tordoir said deployment of the ACI was unlikely, with a trade and tech war promising difficulty for both sides.
In a subsequent emailed statement, Mr Tordoir said deployment of the ACI was unlikely, with a trade and tech war promising difficulty for both sides.
‘We moeten onze defensie-industrie opschalen, dat kan niet door Amerikaanse wapens te blijven kopen’
20 January 2026
NRC Handelsblad
Europa kende crisis na crisis -financiële crisis, corona, invasie van Rusland. Dus er is niet veel capaciteit om vooruit te denken, ziet Armida van Rij. Toch is dat noodzakelijk, om afbrokkeling van de EU en NAVO te voorkomen.
The specter of Detroit
19 January 2026
The Signal
Can Europe save its auto industry? Sander Tordoir, chief econmist at the Centre for European Reform on how Chinese competition, American tariffs, and self-inflicted injury have put Europe’s carmakers on the brink.
Aggressive US rhetoric over Greenland demands a change in strategy by the EU and UK, officials say
18 January 2026
Financial Times
Europeans “will have to balance any steps they could take against the risks to their own defence capabilities if the US, for example, blocked the sale of weapons and munitions, either destined for Ukraine or for Nato countries themselves, or cut off the supply of US imagery and intelligence”, said Ian Bond, deputy director at the Centre for European Reform.
Het Zwitsers zakmes van Donald Trump: “Handelstarieven zijn zijn geliefkoosde wapen”
18 January 2026
De Standaard
De Nederlandse econoom Sander Tordoir is ervan overtuigd dat Trump die tarieven een bijzonder geschikt wapen vindt om zijn uiteenlopende scala aan doelen te verwezenlijken. Van het verhogen van de overheidsinkomsten, de terugkeer van de maakindustrie tot het onder druk zetten van landen en zelfs bondgenoten vanwege politieke plannen. “De handelstarieven zijn voor hem als een Zwitsers zakmes.”
Could Donald Trump ever attack the UK?
16 January 2026
Metro
Metro asked Ian Bond, the deputy director of a London-based European Union think-tank, whether the UK has anything to worry about. Bond, of the Centre for European Reform, said: ‘It’s almost inconceivable that even a president as erratic as Trump would attack the UK.
Taking the Pulse: What issue is Europe ignoring at its peril in 2026?
15 January 2026
Carnegie Europe
2026 has started in crisis, as the actions of unpredictable leaders shape an increasingly volatile global environment. To shift from crisis response to strategic foresight, what under-the-radar issues should the EU prepare for in the coming year?