Research

The Commission's energy roadmap is a missed opportunity

The Commission's energy roadmap is a missed opportunity

Stephen Tindale
22 December 2011
Instead of modelling scenarios in its 2050 energy roadmap, the Commission should have identified priorities for 2012 action: energy efficiency, ETS and a 2030 renewables target.
The UK-EU split: The impact on Central Europe thumbnail

The UK-EU split: The impact on Central Europe

Tomas Valasek
13 December 2011
The UK decision to boycott the new EU treaty has left like-minded countries in Central European in weaker position to resist France's etatist tendencies.
Britain on the edge of Europe thumbnail

Britain on the edge of Europe

09 December 2011
The Brussels agreement on December 9th will weaken British influence in the EU and could damage the single market.
Summit reaction

EU summit: Enough to save the euro?

Simon Tilford
08 December 2011
The UK’s decision to marginalise itself by vetoing a new EU-27 treaty has dominated the post-summit media coverage. And for good reason – it could prove a big step towards UK withdrawal from the EU. However, the bigger question is whether the agreement reached at the summit will do anything to address the fundamentals of the euro crisis. 
The EU and migration:A call for action

The EU and migration: A call for action

Charles Clarke
01 December 2011
All across the EU, voters are worried about immigration. Charles Clarke outlines the steps needed at EU level if governments are to tackle migration issues effectively.
The French learn followership thumbnail

The French learn followership

30 November 2011
France is backing Germany’s wish for a new treaty to enshrine strict budgetary discipline. In exchange, it hopes Germany will save the euro.
The curious case of German leadership thumbnail

The curious case of German leadership

Katinka Barysch
29 November 2011
Is Berlin leading in the euro crisis? Many Germans say it does, by spreading ‘stability culture’ – but not by telling the ECB what to do.  
Monnet loses to de Gaulle

Monnet loses to de Gaulle

28 November 2011
The euro crisis is transforming the balance of power in Europe. Germany is emerging, for the first time in the EU’s history, as the unquestioned leader. France is having to adjust to a subordinate role. The euro countries are likely to integrate more closely, leading to a two-speed Europe. Britain...
The ECB must stand behind the euro

The ECB must stand behind the euro

Simon Tilford
28 November 2011
The eurozone is now subject to a full-blown run on its bond market. Spanish and Italian borrowing costs are now higher than those of Greece, Ireland and Portugal when they were forced to seek bail-outs from the EU and IMF. The crisis has spread to Belgium and France, and even...
Is Turkey our partner now?

Is Turkey our partner now?

Katinka Barysch
28 November 2011
Six years after the start of accession talks, the EU and Turkey are struggling to keep up a semblance of progress. Having opened talks on 13 chapters of EU law by mid- 2010, they have not started on a new one for over a year now. Most of the remaining...
Issue 81 - 2012 file thumbnail

Issue 81 - 2012

25 November 2011
The eurozone and the US

The eurozone and the US: A tale of two currency zones

Philip Whyte
21 November 2011
The US and the eurozone are very different monetary unions. These differences explain why financial markets are picking on the eurozone and not the US.
Russia, China and the geopolitics of energy in Central Asia

Russia, China and the geopolitics of energy in Central Asia

Katinka Barysch, Alexandros Petersen
16 November 2011
China is challenging Russia's traditional dominance over Central Asia's oil and gas. The EU can help the Central Asian countries to prevent losing out in a new 'great game'.
Why stricter rules threaten the eurozone

Why stricter rules threaten the eurozone

Simon Tilford, Philip Whyte
09 November 2011
To restore confidence in the eurozone, leaders must fix its institutional flaws and stretch some rules in the interim. Instead, they are doing the opposite.
Defence austerity

Governments need incentives to pool and share militaries

Tomas Valasek
01 November 2011
Military collaboration among EU countries makes economic sense, but governments will need additional incentives to overcome reservations about initial costs and erosion of national sovereignty.
Britain and France should not give up on EU defence co-operation

Britain and France should not give up on EU defence co-operation

Clara Marina O'Donnell
24 October 2011
Although EU defence efforts have delivered less than had been hoped, they have led to some welcome improvements in European military capabilities.
EU climate policies without an international framework

EU climate policies without an international framework

Stephen Tindale
21 October 2011
Whatever the outcome of the Durban climate summit, the EU should strengthen energy efficiency policies and the Emissions Trading System, to improve energy security.
Global trade imbalances threaten free trade

Global trade imbalances threaten free trade

Simon Tilford
17 October 2011
The G20 needs a strategy to rebalance demand between the surplus and deficit economies if the world is to avoid a slide into protectionism.
Britain, the City and the EU: A triangle of suspicion

Britain, the City and the EU: A triangle of suspicion

Philip Whyte
11 October 2011
Britain has abandoned 'light touch' regulation and signed up to greater supervisory powers at EU level. Yet the Channel looks as wide as ever.  
Eurozone crisis: Higher inflation is part of the answer

Eurozone crisis: Higher inflation is part of the answer

Simon Tilford
03 October 2011
The ECB’s inflation target is too low for a currency union. It risks depressing economic growth and makes it hard for countries like Spain and Italy to regain competitiveness.

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