Research

British foreign policy after Brexit: Hand in hand?

22 March 2018
British foreign policy priorities will change little after Brexit, but London will need to find new ways to rally EU support for them.

Europe's cyber problem

Camino Mortera-Martinez
22 March 2018
Europe has been good at dealing with cyber crime. But it struggles to prevent and respond to state-sponsored cyber attacks.

Will the unity of the 27 crack?

John Springford, Sam Lowe, Beth Oppenheim
15 March 2018
Some British politicians believe that the 27 will divide during the Brexit trade negotiations, because of their differing economic interests. But disagreements between the 27 are minor, thanks to Theresa May's red lines.

Brexit and rules of origin: Why free trade agreements ≠ free trade

Sam Lowe
13 March 2018
Without an EU-UK customs union British exporters will face a new barrier to trade: rules of origin. No amount of positive thinking and innovative solutions can eliminate this problem.

Theresa May's Irish trilemma

07 March 2018
Theresa May must choose two of the following three options: an exit from the single market and customs union, no hard border with Ireland, and an all-UK approach to Brexit.

Plugging in the British: EU foreign policy

06 March 2018
As part of the EU, the UK has been able to leverage the resources of other member-states to support Britain’s foreign and development priorities. After Brexit, that will be harder.

The Ukraine model for Brexit: Is dissociation just like association?

Beth Oppenheim
27 February 2018
Some argue that a Ukraine-style association agreement offers the UK a viable model for its future relationship with the EU, combining both ‘sovereignty’ and close economic ties.

Macron's plans for the euro

23 February 2018
Decision-makers in Paris sense a golden opportunity to reform the eurozone. They are optimistic that, notwithstanding political uncertainty in Germany, some key reforms can begin this year.

The good European? Why Germany's policy ambitions must match its power

Sophia Besch, Christian Odendahl
22 February 2018
The next German government should overcome 'small nation' thinking: Berlin needs to acknowledge that its domestic economic policy has consequences for its neighbours. It also needs to take more responsibility for European security.

The fight for liberal values: Annual report 2017

Charles Grant, Ian Bond, Simon Tilford
06 February 2018
The CER's annual report features essays on the creation of the CER, the CER at 20, Brexit, economics and Donald Trump's impact on geopolitics, it also highlights some of our work on foreign and defence policy.

Britain's services firms can't defy gravity, alas

John Springford, Sam Lowe
05 February 2018
Britain's specialism in traded services, some of which can be delivered electronically, has led Brexiters to claim that the country's trade will inevitably unmoor itself from Europe. In fact, Britain is not about to enter a "post-geography trading world".

Italy after the election: From partner to spoiler?

30 January 2018
Italy's 4th March election is likely to be less consequential than many assume. But it will highlight the urgency of reforming the eurozone and better managing migration.

'Canada', 'Norway' or something in between?

26 January 2018
The EU will reject's Britain's request for a bespoke partnership based on regulatory alignment. The UK will have to put up with a Canada-style deal, unless it shifts its red lines.

From 14 points to 280 characters: Trump vs Wilson

22 January 2018
Woodrow Wilson's 14 points of January 1918 were the first sketch of the liberal, rules-based international order. A century later, Donald Trump risks demolishing the edifice.

Poland’s prime minister: New face, same old tune?

Agata Gostyńska-Jakubowska
22 January 2018
The new prime minister’s style will be more emollient than his predecessor’s, but he is unlikely to back down on judicial reforms.

Holding out hope for a half-way Brexit house

John Springford, Sam Lowe
22 January 2018
The UK is considering 'managed divergence' from EU rules, which the 27 will reject. A better strategy would be to remain in the customs union and single market for goods.

Of transition and trade deals

Sam Lowe
16 January 2018
The UK will not be able to replicate the EU’s free trade agreements ready for March 30th 2019. The only solution is to ask the EU for help.

Conference report: How to save the EU

Simon Tilford, Christian Odendahl, Sophia Besch
15 January 2018
50 leading economists, political scientists and experts on the EU considered the forces undermining the Union, and how Europe should respond to them.

Nord Stream 2: More hot air than gas?

Noah Gordon
12 January 2018
Some EU member-states see the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline as Russia’s latest anti-European weapon. But even if they are right, the threat can be mitigated.