Tag: Europp

Could a ‘reverse Greenland’ arrangement keep Scotland and Northern Ireland in the EU?

Could a ‘reverse Greenland’ arrangement keep Scotland and Northern Ireland in the EU?

While no member state has ever left the European Union, Greenland opted to leave the EEC in 1985. Ulrik Pram Gad assesses what lessons the case of Greenland might have for the UK following its decision to leave the EU. He suggests that while the two situations are radically different, Greenland could serve as inspiration […]

Support for Brexit is no longer a minority viewpoint on the British left

Support for Brexit is no longer a minority viewpoint on the British left

In recent years, Euroscepticism has frequently been associated with the right of the political spectrum in the UK, but a number of figures on the left have also voiced their support for the country leaving the EU. Imke Henkel writes that while criticism of the EU’s handling of the Eurozone and migration crises is understandable, […]

The European Commission experienced a ‘subtle disempowerment’ during the Eurozone crisis

The European Commission experienced a ‘subtle disempowerment’ during the Eurozone crisis

How did the Eurozone crisis affect the balance of power between the EU’s institutions? As Eugénia da Conceição-Heldt writes, opinion has been split over whether the crisis strengthened or damaged the European Commission’s role in EU decision-making. She argues that while some authors have highlighted an apparent increase in the Commission’s responsibilities over economic governance during […]

What a fair relationship between ‘euro ins’ and ‘euro outs’ could look like

What a fair relationship between ‘euro ins’ and ‘euro outs’ could look like

The relationship between Eurozone members and non-euro states has been cited by David Cameron as one of the key issues in his attempted renegotiation of the UK’s EU membership. Nicolai von Ondarza writes that while some actors have proposed stronger blocking powers for non-euro states, a far better arrangement would be to simply give these […]

Towards a critical data science – the complicated relationship between data and the democratic project

Towards a critical data science – the complicated relationship between data and the democratic project

What is driving the rise in data-driven techniques used by politicians and political campaigns to connect with the concerns and needs of citizens? Will a data-driven approach to political campaign messaging disrupt the “echo chamber” effect that is perceived to emerge within online spaces? Jo Bates finds the role of data science in the development of […]

Connecting discontent with austerity and support for migrants

Connecting discontent with austerity and support for migrants

To what extent has there been a shift in attitudes toward asylum seekers in the UK during the refugee crisis? Bridget Anderson writes that in the wave of support for welcoming refugees there has been a surprising silence about the situation of asylum seekers already in the UK. She argues that if we are to […]

It remains unclear how much leeway member states have to restrict EU migrants’ access to benefits

It remains unclear how much leeway member states have to restrict EU migrants’ access to benefits

The issue of ‘benefit tourism’ has become a hot topic in several EU states, with a number of countries calling for tighter restrictions on the access of EU citizens to certain social benefits. Michael Blauberger and Susanne K. Schmidt write on reforms pursued in Austria, Germany and the UK. They note that while the legal […]

Greece surrendered, but the real defeat was for Europe

Greece surrendered, but the real defeat was for Europe

Greek MPs recently approved an austerity package with the Eurogroup. Michael Cox writes that the conditions attached to the bailout were exceptionally tough and aimed largely at deterring other left-wing parties, such as Podemos in Spain, from challenging the status quo. He argues that while the final agreement represented a surrender by the Greek government, […]

Five minutes with Gideon Skinner: “The trend in the polling is clearly toward support for the UK staying in the EU”

Five minutes with Gideon Skinner: “The trend in the polling is clearly toward support for the UK staying in the EU”

What can the polling tell us about the likely result in the UK’s referendum on EU membership? In an interview with EUROPP’s editor Stuart Brown, Gideon Skinner, Head of Political Research at Ipsos MORI, discusses the recent trends in British public opinion, the potential for David Cameron’s intended renegotiation to shape the outcome, and why […]

Europe’s hidden economy: how governments can bring undeclared work out of the shadows

Europe’s hidden economy: how governments can bring undeclared work out of the shadows

The so called ‘shadow economy’ refers to work and financial transactions that take place outside of the view of public authorities. Colin C. Williams writes on the scale of this problem in Europe, noting that while the estimated size of the undeclared economy in the EU is around 18.4 per cent of GDP, it is […]