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Click on the links below to view Open Europe's press coverage by year: 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005
2011New Open Europe briefing: Bringing EU regional policy back to the UK could save £4.2 billion over seven years 27 January EurActiv Wales Online E-Gov Monitor 26 January West Morning News: Eustice Yorkshire Post: Leader 25 January Telegraph Press Association Yorkshire Post Western Morning News Belfast Telegraph 19 January Hansard Open Europe’s Pawel Swidlicki was quoted in the Telegraph arguing, “If [these savings] were re-invested in the UK regions, along with the amount that is currently spent via the EU, the receipts of each UK region should increase by around 45% compared to the amount of grants they currently get.” Open Europe’s report on EU regional policy was covered by the Press Association, EurActiv, WalesOnline, E-Gov Monitor and big regional papers such as the Yorkshire Post, Western Morning News and Belfast Telegraph. The report was also cited by a leader in the Yorkshire Post and by Conservative MP George Eustice in an op-ed in Western Morning News. Ahead of publication, some of the findings of the report were mentioned by Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom in a House of Commons debate. Increasingly leveraged balance sheet further erodes ECB’s credibility 27 January Telegraph blogs: Persson 25 January WSJ blogs: Real Time Economics Telegraph blogs: Persson Xinhua 18 January Telegraph Il Sole 24 Ore 13 January Telegraph blogs: Persson Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted by the WSJ Real Time Economics blog discussing the potential for a significant increase in the ECB’s balance sheet over the next year. Raoul was also quoted in the Telegraph responding to reports that the IMF would seek extra funds to deal with the eurozone crisis. Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson posted a series of pieces on his Telegraph blog about the eurozone crisis and the possible outcomes of the next EU summit. Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was quoted by Chinese news agency Xinhua discussing the eurozone crisis. Italian business daily Il Sole 24 Ore quoted Open Europe’s estimates from last year that, by 2014 and following a second Greek bailout, each household in the eurozone will be underwriting €1,450 in Greek debt. Open Europe gives evidence on EU development aid 25 January DeHavilland (£) Open Europe’s Research Director Stephen Booth gave evidence on EU development aid to the House of Commons’ International Development Committee. Croatians vote to join the EU in 2013 24 January Christian Science Monitor Following the low turnout in Croatia’s EU accession referendum, Pawel Swidlicki was quoted by American newspaper Christian Science Monitor as saying, “Croatia joining is certainly positive for the EU, but people see that the benefits of membership may have been overstated. They see the current situation with the eurozone crisis and the fiscal pact and…are reluctant to give up sovereignty.” German Economy Minister suggests dropping EU-wide FTT in favour of a ‘bourse tax’ 23 January WSJ: Nixon 21 January Telegraph Raoul Ruparel was quoted in the Telegraph saying, “If it is imposed only on shares this bourse tax may not have such a big impact but if it covers, say, derivatives, then it would have a disproportionate effect on the UK because of the size of the City.” Open Europe’s latest report on EU financial regulation was cited by Simon Nixon in an opinion piece in the WSJ. UK needs to look at radical options to fix EU working time rules 20 January Times: Leslie 18 January CNBC In an op-ed in the Times, Conservative MP Charlotte Leslie cited Open Europe research estimating that EU social policy costs UK business and public sector £8.6 billion a year. Mats Persson appeared on CNBC, discussing the UK’s role in Europe. Open Europe reveals third draft of European fiscal treaty 12 January Times: Live blog Telegraph: Live blog WSJ: Live blog Telegraph El Economista EurActiv France Les Echos Il Sole 24 Ore City AM Public Service Europe Børsen online Talouselämä WSJ Independent Open Europe was quoted in the WSJ and Italian business daily Il Sole 24 Ore saying, “From the UK’s point of view, there are some significant changes [in the new draft], at this stage marking a victory for Cameron and Clegg.” Open Europe was also quoted in the Telegraph, noting that “from the eurozone’s point of view, the draft may actually be worse news than the previous version, as the markets could judge the watering down of the enforcement mechanisms through the EU institutions as a weakness similar to those haunting the original Stability and Growth Pact.” Open Europe was credited for being the first to publish the latest version of the fiscal treaty on the Telegraph, Times and WSJ’s live blogs, and by the Independent, City AM, French business daily Les Echos, EurActiv France, Spanish business daily El Economista, Public Service Europe, Danish financial news site Børsen Online and Finnish magazine Talouselämä. 2012 will be another incredibly messy year for the euro 12 January Bloomberg 9 January CityAM 6 January Telegraph blogs: Persson Irish Independent: Persson 4 January CityAM On his new Telegraph blog, Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson wrote, “My best bet is still on the euro surviving this year – we haven’t yet reached rock bottom. But make no mistake: this will be another incredibly messy year for the euro and the choice between what’s right for democracy in Europe and what’s right for the euro cannot be avoided forever.” The post also featured in the Irish Independent. Following comments by the Greek government that Greece may have to exit the eurozone if an agreement on the second EU-IMF bailout is not reached soon, Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted by City AM saying, “Negotiations have dragged on for some time, and the [Greek] government wants to stress that if investors do not take a haircut on their bonds, the situation will be much worse for everyone.” Raoul was also quoted in a separate article in City AM. Open Europe’s breakdown of the shares of Greek debt held by different groups of bondholders was cited by Bloomberg. Is a breakaway Scotland brave or foolhardy? 12 January Reuters Reuters quoted Open Europe’s senior analyst Christopher Howarth saying, “Our understanding is that the UK's membership of the EU extends to the legal entity of the UK. Scotland would have to apply to join the EU as a non-member and would have to go through the accession process.” Open Europe first in the UK to publish the second draft of European fiscal treaty 10 January Telegraph Cinco Días 7 January FT Weekend Times Telegraph Telegraph: Live blog Mats Persson was quoted in the Times saying, “To use the EU institutions in the way proposed seems to be a pretty big stretch under EU law, but clearly this draft has put the UK on the back foot and Cameron has work to do, particularly in removing reference to the single market.” In FT Weekend, Mats suggested that Cameron and Sarkozy could make common cause in opposing a greater role for the ECJ under the new pact. Mats was also quoted by the Telegraph and the Telegraph’s live blog. Raoul Ruparel was quoted in the Telegraph and Open Europe was also credited for publishing the revised draft of the European fiscal pact by Spanish business daily Cinco Días. Ski-slope on snow-free Danish island continues to receive EU funds 5 January Welt German daily Die Welt cited several examples from Open Europe’s 2008 “100 examples of EU fraud and waste.”
Cameron was right to stand up for unfettered UK
New Open Europe/ComRes poll: 69% of managers at UK finance firms support a British veto on EU financial rules even if it reduces access to the single market Cost of UK health and safety laws heavily dependent on EU directives 1 December Telegraph: Lofstedt 21 November Conservative Home: Heaton-Harris In the Telegraph, Prof. Ragnar Lofstedt, author of an independent review of health and safety legislation commissioned by the Government, cited research from Open Europe’s ‘Still out of control’ report showing that EU Directives accounted for 94% of the cost of UK health and safety laws introduced between 1998 and 2009. On Conservative Home, Chris Heaton-Harris MP cited Open Europe’s research estimating that regulation cost the UK economy £176bn since 1998, with 71% of that amount originating in EU legislation. Supporting treaty change in return for revision of Working Time Directive would be a strategic mistake for Cameron 29 November Coffee House blog: Persson 24 November Conservative Home: Persson Heritage Foundation 23 November Die Presse On Conservative Home, Mats Persson wrote, “Unlike [EU] treaty negotiations, where the UK has a veto, the Working Time Directive is decided by qualified majority voting amongst EU ministers and subject to so-called co-decision with the European Parliament…Cameron would therefore be trading a UK veto – and spend plenty of political capital – in return for little more than the vague hope of a reformed WTD.” He concluded that a better objective for David Cameron would be a “safeguard to protect the UK from harmful EU financial services regulation.” On the Spectator’s Coffee House blog, Mats argued, “Giving the ECJ final say over EU budget rules and introducing automatic sanctions for states that break the rules – which the Germans are very keen on to avoid history repeating itself – really does require a Treaty change among the EU-27…Cameron may therefore have more leverage over a Treaty change than he thinks.” Mats was also quoted in Austrian daily Die Presse. Separately, the Heritage Foundation cited Open Europe research estimating that EU social policy costs British businesses and the public sector £8.6bn a year. Greater intervention by the ECB raises more problems than it solves 29 November Telegraph CityAM WSJ FP 23 November Rzeczpospolita 22 November FT: Ruparel On the FT A-list blog, Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel argued, “Having the ECB act as a full lender of last resort will detract from the economic and structural reforms needed in the eurozone, and may throw up more problems in the longer term; making it ultimately self-defeating.” In response to the ECB’s failure to sterilise all of its purchases of eurozone government bonds, Raoul Ruparel was quoted by the Telegraph, CityAM and the WSJ saying, “The fact banks seem to be hesitant to commit to even one-week ECB deposits highlights just how uncertain the situation has become – banks are keen to hold on to any liquidity given that the situation is now so serious it can change from day to day.” Raoul was also quoted in Canadian weekly The Financial Post and Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, discussing the eurozone crisis. EU officials threaten strike action over pay and conditions 21 November Irish Independent 20 November Sunday Telegraph Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was quoted in the Sunday Telegraph and Irish Independent arguing that the EU officials’ move was unjustified “at a moment when all European governments are cutting their budgets, also at the instigation of the EU.” Commission proposes granting legal migrants easier access to the EU 18 November AP Mats Persson was quoted by Associated Press arguing that the EU will need workers in the future, due to its ageing population, but added that “it's going to be very difficult for [EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia] Malmström to push this through,” due to domestic political constraints. Leaked German Foreign Ministry memo reveals Berlin’s plans for stronger eurozone governance 18 November Sky News Telegraph: Live blog Telegraph FT: Brussels blog Open Europe’s Research Director Stephen Booth was quoted on the front page of the Telegraph arguing that the most far-reaching German plans “would be the first step towards a vision of 'political union’ that would have major consequences for the future of the entire EU, and therefore the UK’s place within it.” Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel appeared on Sky News discussing the main aspects of the Cameron-Merkel meeting, while the Telegraph’s live blog and the FT’s Brussels blog credited Open Europe for translating the leaked memo from German into English. Time for eurozone countries to revert to national currencies 18 November FT: Jacomb In an op-ed in the FT, Open Europe board member Sir Martin Jacomb argued, “The remedy [to the eurozone crisis] may seem unpalatable but it is time to revert to national currencies. Only in this way can the poorer countries have a chance to regain competitiveness. There was a time when a division in to two or more blocks looked feasible, but it is too late for that now.” New Open Europe report: EU social policy costs the UK £8.6bn a year 17 November Yorkshire Post: Persson 10 November Times Guardian: White Public Service Europe 8 November Telegraph: Johnston 7 November FT Sun Telegraph BBC: Today Open Europe’s new report, which estimates that halving the cost to the UK of EU social policy could result in a boost to economic output equivalent to the creation of 140,000 new jobs, was featured by the FT, Telegraph, Times, page two of the Sun, Public Service Europe and by Michael White on his Guardian blog. The findings were also cited on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme and by Philip Johnston in a comment piece in the Telegraph. In an op-ed in the Yorkshire Post, Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson noted, “EU involvement [in social and employment legislation] is increasingly losing appeal on both right and left.” Mats went on to argue that the UK needs a comprehensive plan “to reshape the EU in the wake of the crisis. It could ultimately could lead to the EU doing less things in Britain, but doing them better.” UK risks being consistently outvoted by eurozone ‘caucus’ 16 November Die Presse 14 November EurActiv 11 November Conservative Home: Booth 10 November Rzeczpospolita 7 November Express 6 November Sunday Telegraph The Sunday Telegraph, Express and EurActiv quoted Open Europe’s finding that, under new voting rules established by the Lisbon Treaty, from 2014 the UK and other non-euro countries will not be able to block a proposal they disagree with if eurozone countries start voting as a caucus. On Conservative Home, Stephen Booth warned, “There is a real risk that non-euro members, such as the UK, are consistently outvoted by a eurozone 'caucus’ on crucial votes regarding not only social and employment law but other issues of vital importance to the UK’s interests, such as on financial services and the wider single market.” Stephen was also quoted by Austrian daily Die Presse, while Mats Persson was quoted by Polish daily Rzeczpospolita. MEPs’ new powers increase risk of EU protectionism 16 November New Europe In an article looking at EU-China relations, New Europe quoted Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe warning against the risk of looming EU protectionism, and arguing, “The Lisbon Treaty has given the European Parliament veto powers over free trade which could hand it US Congress-style powers.” Government of technocrats is no good news for Italy’s democracy 14 November France 24 NZH NZH 2 La Stampa 13 November France 24 12 November BBC World Service: The World Today Weekend France 24 11 November City AM Bloomberg El País Zerohedge 10 November Bloomberg Bloomberg 2 Telegraph Telegraph 2 Sun 9 November BBC Radio Wales FT: Live blog Telegraph Business Insider Channel 4 News France 24 8 November Irish Independent Mail Telegraph: live blog American Public Radio Open Europe’s Vincenzo Scarpetta appeared on BBC World Service’s The World Today Weekend programme, American Public Radio, twice on BBC Radio Wales and three times on France 24, discussing the future of Italy after Berlusconi’s resignation. Vincenzo also participated in a TV debate on France 24, where he argued that the presence of an unelected government of technocrats in Italy jeopardises democratic legitimacy, and was quoted by Bloomberg, Irish Independent, Telegraph, Telegraph’s live blog and twice by the New Zealand Herald. Raoul Ruparel was quoted by Channel 4 News, and Mats Persson was quoted by City AM, commenting on Italy’s new government. Open Europe’s briefing estimating that, at a borrowing cost of around 6.7% on its ten-year bonds, Italy would face an extra €28bn in interest payments over the next three years was quoted by the FT’s live blog, the Telegraph’s live blog, Sun, Business Insider, El País, Italian daily La Stampa, Mail, twice by Bloomberg, and twice by the Telegraph. The briefing also featured on Zerohedge. Why David Cameron has got it wrong on the ECB 13 November Sunday Telegraph: Ruparel In an op-ed in the Sunday Telegraph, Raoul Ruparel wrote that David Cameron’s suggestion that the ECB should fully backstop the eurozone is “not only economically flawed but could be politically divisive – asking the ECB to fulfil such a role could undermine the long-term sustainability of the eurozone, and sacrificing the long run to save the short run is always self-defeating.” France and Germany consider slimmed-down eurozone as crisis worsens 13 November Al Jazeera English 11 November WSJ WSJ Americas Ta Nea The Australian Channel 4 News BBC World News Today CNN BBC Radio Wales Talksport 10 November BBC: Newsnight BBC World Service 8 November Sky News RTE Bloomberg Bloomberg 2 National Post 7 November Sky News BBC Radio Wales BBC World Service BBC World Service 2 Raoul Ruparel was quoted by Channel 4 News, arguing that a smaller eurozone “would be possible”, adding, “I think a country leaving from the top is better than someone dropping out of the bottom.” Mats Persson appeared on BBC World News Today and CNN, and Stephen Booth appeared on BBC Radio Wales, both discussing the idea of a slimmed-down eurozone. Mats also appeared on BBC Newsnight and BBC World Service’s The World Today programme, arguing that the choice for the eurozone may now be between break-up or weaker member states accepting a decade or more of austerity measures, in large part decided by officials and politicians from other countries. Separately, Raoul appeared on BBC Radio Wales, BBC World Service, RTE Drivetime,and twice on Sky News, Mats appeared on Al Jazeera English, Stephen Booth appeared on Talksport and Pieter Cleppe appeared on BBC World Service, all discussing the eurozone crisis. Raoul was also quoted by the WSJ and WSJ Americas, Greek daily Ta Nea, Bloomberg, The Australian and Canadian newspaper The National Post. Open Europe’s breakdown of who holds Greek debt was cited by Bloomberg. EU auditors find errors in EU spending for the 17th consecutive year 11 November Mail Open Europe was quoted in the Mail arguing, “The EU budget is too large, too complex and completely irrational. UK taxpayers send billions to Brussels and receive some of it back, but with various strings attached on how it can be spent…The UK should use its veto over the upcoming negotiations on the long-term EU budget to demand significant cuts and reform of the outdated policies that it is funding.” EU-wide financial transactions tax would be biased against the UK 9 November EurActiv Open Europe was quoted by EurActiv arguing, “An EU financial transactions tax would be clearly biased against the UK, which is home to Europe’s largest financial centre, and would in turn require a complex burden-sharing arrangement in order to make it equitable.” 'No' vote in euro bailout referendum would force Greece’s default and eurozone exit 4 November BBC: Peston Xinhua 3 November BBC: Today Sky News Polish Radio: Cleppe 2 November ITV News Public Service Europe Business Insider 1 November Guardian CityAM Zerohedge Reuters 31 October Talouselämä 26 October De Volksrant Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted on the front pages of the Guardian and City AM, and by Business Insider, Public Service Europe, and Reuters, arguing, “If the Greek public vote no in the referendum Greece could be left with no funds and no government, teetering on the edge of a disorderly default and a disorderly exit from the eurozone.” Raoul also appeared on ITV News, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and Sky News, discussing the current situation in Greece. Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was interviewed by Polish Radio and Chinese news agency Xinhua on the G20 summit and the Greek referendum. Zerohedge and Finnish business weekly Talouselämä featured Open Europe’s analysis of the Greek referendum. On his blog, the BBC’s Business Editor Robert Peston quoted Open Europe’s figures breaking down how Greek debt is divided among international lenders. Dutch daily De Volksrant cited Open Europe’s finding that, in the event of a Greek and Portuguese debt restructuring, European banks could need up to €372bn. ‘Eurozone caucus’ is a risk for the UK 3 November Reuters Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson was quoted by Reuters warning against a ‘eurozone caucus’, and arguing that, should the eurozone achieve greater political integration, “The risk would be that eurozone ministers might meet in the weeks of some financial turmoil and decide to beef up, say, a ban on short-selling and agree a common position, and then they get the Romanians and the Bulgarians on board and effectively outvote the Swedes and the British [under the qualified majority voting system].” France angered by Italian ECB board member’s refusal to resign 1 November BBC World Service 24 October De Tijd 22 October WSJ Raoul Ruparel was quoted in the WSJ saying, “Clearly [choosing ECB posts] has become highly politicised and subject to horse-trading...That's a worrying trend.” Separately, Mats Persson appeared on the BBC World Service’s World Business Report, discussing the tenure of outgoing ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet. Belgian daily De Tijd reported on Open Europe's discussion in Brussels with German Professor Markus C. Kerber, who is suing Trichet over ECB purchases of eurozone debt. UK should seek repatriation of EU social policy 30 October Sunday Express Independent on Sunday 29 October Spectator: Forsyth Mail: Heffer 27 October Jeff Randall show 26 October Mail 25 October Channel 4 News In an article looking at what powers the UK could repatriate from the EU, the Mail cited Open Europe’s estimates that EU employment legislation introduced between 1998 and 2009 has cost the UK economy £38.9bn. In the Spectator, James Forsyth reported that Open Europe will soon be publishing research showing that negotiating opt-outs from EU social policy would give a large boost to the British economy. Open Europe’s finding that EU regulations had cost Britain £124bn since 1998 was cited by Simon Heffer in the Mail and by Channel 4 News. Meanwhile, Mats Persson warned in the Sunday Express that British Prime Ministers have talked tough on Brussels before but come up empty-handed, arguing, “What the Government needs to do is come up with a plan of what it intends to do. It needs to go beyond broad political assurances, [the trouble is] they don’t seem to have any ideas where to take this.” Mats also appeared on Sky News’ Jeff Randall show discussing Britain’s changing role in Europe. Open Europe’s Research Director Stephen Booth was quoted in the Independent on Sunday, arguing, “Negotiations on the EU’s long-term budget…will be a crucial test of the Government’s commitment to EU reform.” EU Foreign Minister takes part in Commonwealth summit 30 October Sunday Times Open Europe’s Chris Howarth was quoted in the Sunday Times saying, “[EU Foreign Minister] Baroness Ashton has not set the world on fire to date.” Latest eurozone deal falls far short of what is needed 28 October CityAM: Ruparel 27 October Zerohedge Business Insider AFP Telegraph: Live blog 26 October BBC News CBC 25 October Mail Independent In an op-ed in City AM, Raoul Ruparel argued, “Unlike in previous rounds, Wednesday’s meeting between Eurozone leaders saw some real progress. But with the risk of being a killjoy, it still falls far short of what is needed to solve the Greek and eurozone crisis…Instead of fabricating complicated financial instruments (which they previously lambasted for causing the crisis), eurozone leaders should accept a full hard restructuring in Greece, full recapitalisation of European banks and begin implementation of the necessary reforms to boost growth and competitiveness.” Raoul also appeared on BBC News and CBC discussing the possible outcomes of the latest EU summit. Open Europe’s briefing on what the eurozone deal could look like was covered on the Telegraph’s live blog, AFP, Zerohedge, and Business Insider. Separately, Mats Persson was quoted in the Independent in an article looking at the personal relationships between European leaders. Open Europe was also quoted in the Mail. MEPs endorse inflation-busting EU budget increase 27 October Telegraph Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph noting that the vote showed the double standards of MEPs, at a time when the EU is demanding deep cuts in the public spending of countries like Greece and Italy. New Open Europe briefing: EU banks could need up to €370bn in event of eurozone debt restructuring 21 October GFS News Conservative Home: Ruparel 20 October City AM: Ruparel Telegraph Sun Talouselämä HVG Wall Street Italia Linkiesta Wirtschaftsblatt Der Standard Hospodárske Noviny Financní Noviny Open Europe’s findings that, in the event of a restructuring of eurozone countries’ debt, a recapitalisation of European banks could cost between €260bn and €372bn were cited in the Telegraph, Sun, GFS News, Der Standard, Wirtschaftsblatt, Italian financial news site Linkiesta, Wall Street Italia, Finnish business magazine Talouselämä, HVG, Slovakian daily Hospodárske Noviny and Czech daily Financní Noviny. On Conservative Home, Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel argued that the “only viable short-term option for the eurozone remains a debt restructuring in Greece and Portugal and a full recapitalisation of European banks. The UK government has another opportunity to grasp this, it would do well to take it, otherwise we could end up with yet another non-solution to the crisis, which not only the eurozone but also the UK can no longer afford.” In an op-ed in City AM, Raoul criticised the plan to use the eurozone’s bailout fund, the EFSF, to insure sovereign debt, arguing, “any EFSF insurance would prove ineffective, since countries [such as Italy and Spain] would be partly guaranteeing themselves through their membership of the fund and unable to make good on these guarantees if under threat of default – the exact moment when the guarantees would need to be called upon.” Greece set to receive more bailout money despite missing deficit targets 20 October BBC World Service 17 October Jeff Randall live show 16 October De Zevende Dag 12 October Telegraph Raoul Ruparel was quoted in the Telegraph, saying, “The EU and IMF have now dropped all pretence that Greece can achieve its original deficit targets, but look set to pay out the next tranche of Greek bailout aid regardless. This may be necessary to avoid a disorderly default, but it is imperative that the EU takes these failures into account when deciding the future of the second Greek bailout.” Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson appeared on Sky News’ Jeff Randall live show discussing the disagreements between France and Germany on future plans to sort out the eurozone crisis. Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe appeared on BBC World Service discussing how a eurozone break up could be managed. Pieter also appeared on De Zevende Dag, Belgium’s morning politics show, discussing the eurozone crisis. ECHR judge uses his position to shield wife from corruption investigation 18 October Mail Open Europe’s Research Director Stephen Booth was quoted in the Mail saying, “This is a damning indictment on the standard of some judges at the court, which has the power to overrule the UK. The sooner the UK introduces proper safeguards against rulings from judges in Strasbourg the better.” New study proposes cuts to European Parliament’s budget worth £349m per year 15 October Telegraph Stephen Booth was quoted in the Telegraph saying, “This is a welcome proposal, which illustrates just how much fat could easily be cut from the [European] Parliament's budget.” Slovakian government falls after parliament rejects euro bailout fund expansion 14 October HN 13 October WSJ: Persson Guardian Czech TV: Cleppe 12 October BBC World news In an op-ed in the WSJ, Mats Persson argued that, having achieved painful reforms and restructuring of its banking sector, “Slovakia is now being asked to provide loan guarantees to bail out countries that failed to enact similar reforms. You don't have to be a paid-up member of the Austrian school of economics to see the potential for moral hazard on a huge scale.” Raoul Ruparel was quoted in the Guardian and Slovakian daily Hospodárske Noviny saying, “Even if Slovakia's no vote becomes a yes vote by the end of the week, I do think it will encourage those countries that have already expressed their reservations about the lack of control over the guarantees they have offered – the Netherlands, Finland, Germany and Austria in particular – to be more vocal in the future.” Raoul also appeared on BBC World news discussing the Slovakian situation and the eurozone crisis. Pieter Cleppe was interviewed on Czech TV commenting on the political limits to eurozone bailouts. European Parliament’s new visitors centre is a waste of taxpayers’ money 14 October Czech TV: Cleppe Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was interviewed by Czech TV commenting that, in addition to the European Parliament’s visitor’s centre, the so-called ‘Parlamentarium’, the EU’s information policies are not good value for taxpayers’ money. UK risks being outvoted on CAP reform 12 October Bloomberg Mats Persson was quoted by Bloomberg saying, “The reformist bloc is outgunned and outnumbered. About 21 countries, which is obviously a strong negotiating block, are basically in favour of the status quo. Whoever can get Germany on board wins the battle.” ECB’s independence is key to euro survival 11 October FT: Ruparel On the FT’s A-list blog, Raoul Ruparel argued, “That the eurozone lacks a lender of last resort, is a structural flaw in its fabric which has been sorely exposed by the current crisis. However, papering over it with unlimited liquidity in the near term will not solve the problem. And perhaps most importantly, forcing the ECB into the role of lender of last resort could seriously jeopardise German support for the entire euro project.” UK must seek repatriation of EU employment law 10 October LBC Radio: Booth Stephen Booth appeared on LBC Radio arguing in favour of repatriating aspects of EU employment law, particularly the Working Time Directive. Conservative leaders agree that the EU should do less 6 October ABC Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson was quoted by Spanish newspaper ABC commenting on the Conservative Party’s position on the EU. European Commission working to circumvent UK veto on financial transactions tax 4 October Telegraph 2 October Sunday Telegraph: Booker 29 September LA Times 27 September Euractiv Mats Persson was quoted by the Telegraph saying, “Any attempt at circumventing the UK veto, and passing an FTT [financial transactions tax] via the back door, would be a disaster for the UK and the City of London. Trying to get around the veto in this way is unlikely to work, but the UK Government still needs to be absolutely clear that this is a complete non-starter.” Open Europe was quoted by EurActiv arguing, “An EU financial transaction tax would be clearly biased against the UK, which is home to Europe’s largest financial centre, in turn requiring a complex burden-sharing arrangement in order to make it equitable.” Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted by the Los Angeles Times. In his Sunday Telegraph column, Christopher Booker cited Open Europe’s estimates of the cost of an EU FTT to the UK. How have European leaders performed in the eurozone crisis? 3 October La Tribune Mats Persson was quoted by French business daily La Tribune in a special feature assessing the role of several top European politicians – including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso – in the eurozone crisis so far. New EU agency workers rules could put 28,000 young workers’ contracts at risk 2 October Sunday Times 1 October BBC News 24 Saturday's Times Saturday's Telegraph 30 September Conservative Home: Booth Telegraph The Sunday Times cited Open Europe’s finding that the new regulations implementing the EU’s Temporary Agency Workers’ Directive could put 28,000 young workers’ contracts at risk by making them too expensive to keep on. Open Europe’s Research Director Stephen Booth was quoted in the Telegraph saying, “The Government could still delay the introduction of these rules and explore ways to implement them in the lightest way possible.” On Conservative Home, Stephen suggested, “In the long-term, the Government should explore the repatriation of employment law from the EU level altogether.” Stephen was also quoted in the Times and appeared on BBC News 24. Commission threatens to sue UK over ‘right to reside’ benefits test 30 September Mail Open Europe’s Stephen Booth was quoted in the Mail saying, “Freedom of movement within the EU has largely been positive for the UK but issues surrounding benefits and social security are understandably very sensitive. For the freedom of movement within the EU to work, governments have to be able to assure their citizens that welfare systems won’t be abused.” German MPs vote to expand eurozone bailout fund 30 September Coffee House blog: Ruparel BBC News BBC Five Live BBC Radio Wales ABC Independent Guardian’s live blog Mats Persson appeared on BBC News, BBC Five Live, BBC Radio Wales and ABC discussing the Bundestag vote, arguing, “Markets are already looking for a bigger and more effective bailout fund and we'll probably be in this position again before too long.” Raoul Ruparel was quoted by the Independent and on the Guardian’s live blog saying, “Merkel's tough choices are far from over with the passage of this vote.” On the Spectator’s Coffee House blog, Raoul argued, “Markets are already setting their eyes on something bigger than the [eurozone’s bailout fund, the] EFSF. It may not be long before Merkel has to go cap in hand to her Parliament again.” Plan to top up eurozone bailout fund through the ECB is a non-starter 29 September BBC World Service: Cleppe 28 September De Dagelijkse Standaard: Cleppe 27 September CityAM: Persson 26 September Telegraph In an op-ed in City AM, Mats Persson argued, “The plan would require a radical reworking of the EFSF [the eurozone’s bailout fund] framework, since it is not designed to be leveraged or be subordinate to the ECB in terms of covering losses [and] using the ECB’s balance sheet to top up the EFSF would further expose the former to even more risky debt.” Raoul Ruparel was quoted in the Telegraph saying, “This plan remains very much up in the air. The issue will be getting approval and what price would be extracted for that.” Pieter Cleppe appeared on BBC World Service discussing the plan. Pieter also discussed the trade-off between keeping the eurozone together and breaking it up on Dutch blog De Dagelijkse Standaard. Dutch government wants to make sure that EU farm subsidies are only paid out to active farmers 28 September De Telegraaf An article in De Telegraaf cited Open Europe's finding that Swedish King Carl Gustav XVI received €1.6m in EU farm subsidies over five years. EU bureaucrats refuse proposal for 40-hour working week 23 September Mail Telegraph Public Service Europe Open Europe’s Research Director Stephen Booth was quoted by the Telegraph and the Mail saying, “For Brussels civil servants to protest against working a few more hours a week borders on comedy, would it not be for the EU facing its worst crisis in its history. It shows a complete lack of self-awareness and is an insult to taxpayers all over Europe, who face falling living standards and the threat of redundancy.” ECB credibility at risk amid growing fears of Greek default 21 September NPR Radio 20 September Business Insider 19 September De Tijd: Persson 18 September LBC Radio: Ruparel 15 September BBC Newsnight BBC Manchester 14 September BBC World Service LBC Radio: Persson Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson appeared on the BBC World Service arguing that a Greek default would damage the ECB’s credibility due to its bond-buying programme and liquidity provision for banks. In an interview with Belgian financial daily De Tijd, Mats argued, “Markets are losing trust in a central bank which has been weakened…In theory, the ECB can ‘inflate’ away the losses, by simply printing money, but that option is simply unacceptable in Germany.” Mats also appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC Manchester and LBC radio, discussing the eurozone crisis. Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted by Business Insider discussing the prospect of using ‘enhanced cooperation’ to increase the size and scope of the eurozone’s bailout fund, the EFSF, saying, “The EFSF is not part of the EU Treaties…Therefore, enhanced cooperation cannot apply to it.” Raoul also appeared on LBC Radio and US radio station NPR discussing the eurozone crisis and the potential impact of a Greek default. Eurozone banks borrow US dollars from the ECB amid credit crunch fears 19 September Polish Radio 15 September WSJ Responding to ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet’s comments that, “There is no liquidity issue for the banking sector of the euro area as a whole,” Raoul Ruparel was quoted by the WSJ warning, “At the start of eurozone crisis, a lot of people paid attention to averages, now it's almost a worthless tool. It's the details that count.” Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was interviewed by Polish Radio, arguing, “There is an irresponsible unwillingness amongst European policy makers to deal with the problems of European banks.” EU aid: Who’s it for? 19 September AlertNet Reuters AlertNet covered Open Europe and ODI’s joint debate on EU aid, quoting Stephen Booth saying, “The EU's aid budget as it currently stands is designed to do too many different things at once.” Commission seeks new power grab with Schengen reform proposal 16 September Polsat Pieter Cleppe appeared on Polish TV channel Polsat arguing, “The Commission is merely trying to use the discussion about Schengen to take powers from member states. It doesn’t seem to realise that such decisions are at the core of the sovereignty of national democracies…The solution is not more powers to Brussels.” Eurozone crisis provides opportunity for the UK to pursue European localism 13 September BBC blogs: Hewitt Handelsblatt German Constitutional Court ruling gives German MPs greater say over future eurozone bailouts 8 September Bloomberg Businessweek El País Telegraph live blog San Francisco Chronicle Business Insider L’Express Zerohedge EurActiv The Deal Pipeline 7 September BBC World Service: The World Today Dnevnik Telegraph The Parliament Taloussanomat 6 September Al-Jazeera English Zerohedge IHT 4 September Sunday Telegraph Ahead of the ruling, Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Sunday Telegraph saying, “The Court will almost certainly approve the bailouts, possibly citing as a reason that monetary stability is a legally protected interest.” Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was quoted in the IHT, Telegraph, The Parliament magazine and Bulgarian business daily Dnevnik saying, “Injecting more parliamentary democracy into the eurozone crisis is clearly a good thing. But it will also further limit EU leaders’ room for manoeuvre when dealing with the crisis, which in turn could increase market uncertainty.” In response to the ruling, Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted by Bloomberg saying, “The ruling also seems to further entrench the German government position that Eurobonds are a no-go, by warning that Germany should not assume other countries’ liabilities. However, the wording used by the Court also seems to suggest that joint debt in the eurozone could be constitutionally allowed if it involved a stronger German say over other member states’ fiscal policies.” Raoul was also quoted in the Telegraph live blog, El País, Businessweek, San Francisco Chronicle, EurActiv, Business Insider, L’Express, Zerohedge and The Deal Pipeline. Mats Persson appeared on BBC World Service’s The World Today programme, and Raoul Ruparel appeared on Al-Jazeera English, discussing the ruling. Open Europe’s briefing outlining what the ruling could mean for the eurozone crisis was cited by Finnish business daily Taloussanomat and Zerohedge. Open Europe’s Director selected one of the “Top 99 under 33 foreign policy leaders” 8 September Young Professionals in Foreign Policy: Press release Diplomatic Courier: Persson Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson has been included by The Diplomatic Courier and Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (YPFP) in a list of “Top 99 under 33 foreign policy leaders” and “intellectual entrepreneurs” who impact international affairs. The autumn issue of The Diplomatic Courier also featured an interview with Mats. Government must develop positive blueprint for revised UK-EU relationship 8 September Telegraph 5 September Telegraph Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph arguing that the coalition Government risks falling out of step with both European developments and public opinion, unless David Cameron “develops a positive blueprint for a revised EU-UK relationship…Unfortunately, there seems to be no such sense of urgency from No 10 at the moment.” A separate article in the paper noted that a new parliamentary group of around 80 new intake Conservative MPs – who are planning to put pressure on the Government to renegotiate the UK’s role in the EU and will seek to involve Labour and Lib Dem MPs – “will work closely with think-tank Open Europe.” UK europhiles need an equivalent of Open Europe? 7 September Huffington Post: Hug In the Huffington Post, Policy Director of the Foreign Policy Centre Adam Hug suggested that those in the UK who support greater European integration need to set up an “organisation in the same mould as” Open Europe. EU member states are miles away from having a common foreign policy 7 September The Diplomat Open Europe’s Research Director Stephen Booth was quoted by The Diplomat magazine, arguing, “Germany’s decision to abstain in the UN vote over Libya shows that the EU remains fragmented when it comes to taking concrete action…The events of the recent past, such as over Libya and also Iraq, illustrate that the EU remains a bloc of 27 individual nations, often with different external interests, which often allows the likes of Russia and China to play them off against each other.” Internet and democracy: Striking the right balance between privacy and transparency 6 September APA Austria Presse Agentur quoted Pieter Cleppe speaking at the European Forum in Alpbach (Austria) on internet and democracy, and arguing that, as regards privacy concerns, the difference between social networks such as Facebook and governments is that users have the option to unsubscribe from this kind of services, “which one doesn't have with governments.” Support for the EU is waning in the wake of eurozone crisis 3 September LewRockwell.com: North 31 August Guardian podcasts: Persson Mats Persson was interviewed for a podcast by the Guardian, arguing that the support for the EU is dropping across Europe, in the wake of the eurozone crisis. Separately, writing on LewRockwell.com, economic historian Gary North cited Open Europe’s finding that the ECB has an exposure of €444bn to weaker eurozone economies. What way forward for Italy? 30 August ECFR podcasts: Scarpetta In a podcast for the European Council on Foreign Relations, Open Europe’s Vincenzo Scarpetta discussed the current politico-economic situation in Italy and the possible consequences for the future of the eurozone. Half-hearted Eurobonds will not solve the crisis 29 August FT Letters: Persson In a letter to the FT, Mats Persson argued that, even if they can be achieved politically, “it is far from clear that the half-hearted mix between Eurobonds and national bonds that currently is being discussed will actually end the crisis. Such an arrangement would discourage fiscal discipline while possibly even increasing overall borrowing costs for indebted economies, as the national share of the bonds would face alarmingly high rates if Eurobonds were implemented on existing debt.” EU Temporary Agency Workers Directive harms UK economy 27 August Telegraph Stephen Booth was quoted in the Telegraph saying, “This Directive and the whole area of [EU] employment regulation are harmful to Britain’s economy. The UK needs to put them on the table in any negotiation over the eurozone.”
EU transaction tax plans meet with criticism 25 August Telegraph Zerohedge Russia Today 19 August Telegraph CNCB Washington Post Fox News Forbes KLFY Diário Económico Spravy.pravda E15 18 August Yahoo Finance TV Bulgarian National Radio August 17 Telegraph Mail Euronews Al Jazeera English 16 Aug GFS news 15 August Independent on Sunday: Leach Writing in the Independent on Sunday, Open Europe’s Chairman Lord Leach argued, “EU leaders appear to be facing a stark choice: full fiscal union or fracture into many pieces…So is there a workable alternative to the dilemma of long-term depression in the EU's periphery, or uncontrolled currency disintegration? There is. Germany could leave the eurozone instead, taking Finland, the Open Europe’s Director Pieter Cleppe was quoted by CNBC discussing the eurozone crisis noting that “a message is being sent to countries [that] if you have a euro-sceptic vote, you are actually being rewarded for it." Pieter was also quoted by the Washington Post, Fox News, Forbes, Portuguese paper Diário Económico, Euronews, Slovakian paper Spravy Pravda and Czech newspaper E15, and appeared on Al Jazeera English, Russia Today and Bulgarian National Radio. 23 August EUobserver: Scarpetta In a comment piece on EUobserver, Vincenzo Scarpetta argued, “ Britain may get the kind of Europe it wants 21 August Sunday Times: Raab Conservative Home: Montgomerie 20 August Comment is Free: Persson Writing on the Guardian’s Comment is Free, On Conservative Home, Tim Montgomerie said, “The think tank Open Europe will be crucial to supporting a more strategic Tory position on Eurozone crisis threatens pension funds 15 August De Morgen Pieter Cleppe was quoted in Belgian daily De Morgen looking at the cost of the eurozone crisis saying, “If interest rates remain at the current low level meant to support the European periphery, pensions are under threat as pension funds will struggle to realise the returns they have promised”. ECB resumes bond buying as contagion threatens to spread to Italy and Spain 11 August De Dagelijkse Standaard: Cleppe 9 August WSJ The Parliament Columbia Journalism Review ZF RT: Cleppe FD Der Standard 8 August WSJ WSJ Americas ORF RTE: Drivetime 6 August Conservative Home: Persson National Review Online 5 August BBC News: Ruparel LA Times BBC live blog Telegraph live blog Novinite 4 August RT: Ruparel Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted in the WSJ, the WSJ Americas and Columbia Journalism Review saying, “I can't imagine [the ECB is] going to be willing to put up the amounts of the money the markets would want to prop up Italy and Spain, it would have to be hundreds of billions of euros.” Open Europe was also cited on the BBC’s and the Telegraph’s live blogs, by The Parliament, Der Standard, Dutch business daily Het Financieele Dagblad, Romanian business daily Ziarul Financiar, and Bulgarian news agency Novinite, warning against some aspects of the ECB’s bond-buying programme. Open Europe’s briefing on the ECB’s exposure to weaker eurozone economies was cited by the WSJ. Open Europe’s blog was cited by the National Review Online. Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson was quoted in the LA Times saying, “In terms of a way out for the eurozone, it looks very, very tricky, because none of these countries – particularly Italy – have any strategy for growth and competitiveness.” Raoul also appeared on BBC News and Russia Today discussing the spread of the crisis to Italy and Spain. Mats appeared on RTE’s Drivetime programme.Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe appeared on Austrian TV ORF and Russia Today. In an op-ed on Dutch news site De Dagelijkse Standaard, Pieter wrote that “the idea that a number of loans could contain the situation [in the eurozone] is becoming discredited. Only two alternatives seem to remain: a break-up of the currency union, or the creation of a transfer union.” On Conservative Home, Mats warned that “any move towards a full fiscal union in the eurozone would soothe markets in the short-term. But the trade-off is that Europe is setting itself up for a potentially massive political fall-out in the long-term, as voters and taxpayers in weaker and stronger countries alike grow increasingly impatient. The Coalition better start planning for all eventualities.” Eurozone crisis is an opportunity for the UK to renegotiate relationship with EU 8 August Die Presse 2 August BBC Newsnight Mats Persson appeared on BBC Newsnight discussing whether the Conservative Party's stance on Europe is changing with the 2010 intake of MPs and if the eurozone crisis is an opportunity for the UK to renegotiate its relationship with the EU. “The new intake [of Conservative MPs] instinctively feels that something is wrong in Europe; that we need to see reform. But they don’t want to withdraw altogether, they want to find a third way between withdrawal and the status quo,” he argued. Mats was also quoted in Austrian daily Die Presse on the same topic, arguing that the UK “has significantly more influence in the EU than even the British government would like to admit.” EU hopes to shed image of overpaid staff 29 July WSJ Brussels Beat The WSJ’s Brussels Beat column quoted Open Europe’s Siân Herbert saying, "The Commission's proposal is certainly a step in the right direction, but remains too little, too late. For too long, the Commission has simply acted as a conveyer belt, with its employees confident of jobs for life. ... The entire culture needs to change." Europe and UK in for a nasty short-term ride as eurozone crisis bites 27 July QFinance 25 NPR 24 July Sunday Telegraph: Persson 22 July BBC LBC LBC Evening Standard Der Standard Telegraph Mail Telegraph Express Manager Magazin Portfolio.hu Correio do Brasil Terra Brasil 21 July Mail Euronews 20 July Kurier Telegraph 19 July Globe and Mail Intereconomia 18 July El Mundo El Economista Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Open Europe Director Mats Persson argued, “Eurozone leaders took some decisive action this week to save their currency. But while the deal agreed at Thursday's EU summit looks decent on paper, it rests on some heroic assumptions…For starters, the deal is a huge political gamble on the willingness of taxpayers throughout the eurozone to continue to underwrite other countries' debts. This package also amounts to another step on the slippery slope towards debt union in Europe…So where does all of this leave Open Liberalisation of the EU economy and freer trade 26 July Conservative Home Conservative Home’s ‘think tank growth manifesto’ cited Open Europe arguing that, “The Government needs to push for a long-term solution to the eurozone debt crisis – bailouts aren’t working, debt restructuring will be needed…the UK needs to seek allies in pushing for a better-functioning single market and protecting the interests of the City of London.” Osborne says eurozone integration will be in UK’s interest 22 July FT Open Europe was quoted in the FT saying, “If it’s going to encourage further eurozone integration, the government must be absolutely clear about its vision for the UK’s future relationship with a fast-changing Europe. This should include a clearly defined list of powers that it wants returned from National parliaments across Europe are looking more eurosceptic 21 July Spectator The Spectator’s front page story looking at the rising wave of euro scepticism across Europe, quoted Open Europe Director Mats Persson saying, “The EU is coming up against the full force of parliamentary democracy.” Ashton to table proposals for EU military headquarters 20 July Public Service Europe 18 July Express 17 July Sunday Times Open Europe Research Director Stephen Booth was quoted on page two of the Sunday Times saying, “Creating a new EU headquarters would simply be a distracting attempt to paper over the deep-seated divisions in EU foreign policy, which show no signs of going away. It would potentially threaten Treasury estimates UK faces an extra £3bn in cuts under Commission plans for increased EU budget 16 July Saturday’s Mail Open Europe’s Stephen Booth was quoted in the Mail saying, “There is no justification for an increase, especially when so much of Brussels’ budget is poorly and wastefully spent.” ECB faces dilemma on Greek debt rollover 14 July The European: Persson The European: Persson 13 July Business Insider Yahoo Finance: the Daily Ticker 12 July Business Insider La Tribune 6 July Telegraph 5 July FT: Scott 4 July FT: Jacomb Stuttgarter Zeitung 2 July WSJ Writing in the FT, Sir Martin Jacomb, Chairman of Share plc and Open Europe board member, argued that, “Those in charge of eurozone governments and the ECB are trying to avoid disruption to the banking system; an important objective. But it is, at the very least, equally important to focus on how the poorer countries can regain their ability to become competitive once more.” He concluded, “Accordingly, unattractive, expensive and messy though this is, dismantling the euro is the least woeful course of action. Otherwise social as well as economic trouble lies ahead and the economic future of the EU itself will be threatened.” Writing for German magazine The European, Open Open In a letter to the FT, Open Europe Vice Chairman Derek Scott argues that trade gains to German manufacturing exporters, as a result of monetary union, “have been at the expense of German consumers and taxpayers” and that “the trade surpluses have been recycled to In an interview with Stuttgarter Zeitung, Open Europe's Can there be an EU foreign policy? 12 July FCO Open "Too big to bail-out? Spain and the future of the eurozone" 11 July GFS GFS 12 July GFS Open Europe’s joint event with FAES on Spain and the eurozone crisis was featured in three articles by GFS News. More than 10,000 employed by the Commission earn more than £71,500 a year 7 July Telegraph 6 July The Parliament Open Europe’s Research Director Brussels offers UK £23bn to axe rebate 5 July New Europe 3 July Sunday Times Open Europe’s Director European Commission proposes inflation-busting new long-term EU budget 1 July Guardian The Parliament UTV Mail 29 June Telegraph Mail
Open Europe Research Director Stephen Booth was quoted in the Guardian saying, "The European Commission has again opted for an above-inflation increase without the radical reform needed to make the EU budget more rational and on target. The European Commission has also chosen to employ some creative accounting by moving some spending items off its main balance sheet, to hide the true rise in overall expenditure. This type of spin will not win the trust of taxpayers and citizens across Europe."
Stephen was also quoted by The Parliament and Northern Irish TV channel UTV, while the Mail cited Open Europe’s briefing responding to the Commission’s proposal. Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Mail and the Telegraph.
Second bail-out is no way forward for Greece 1 July HoweStreet.com Business Insider 30 June FT: Scott Telegraph Financni Noviny iDNES.cz Bloomberg BBC News Právo Business Insider 29 June Malta Independent Jurnalul National BBC World Service 28 June Telegraph Comment is Free: Ruparel BBC Telegraph blogs: Hannan FXstreet.com Interia.pl Hospodarske Noviny 27 June E15 Telegraph 25 June Saturday's Mail CNN Expansión 24 June BBC Radio 5: Wake Up to Money BBC News Conservative Home: Persson Russia Today BBC Radio 4: The World Tonight 24 June Times: Leach 23 June La Stampa blogs: Malaguti FT: Ruparel Trends BBC Wales Reuters TV RTE: Drivetime Economist: Bagehot 22 June Guardian Mail Mail: Andrew Alexander Telegraph Telegraph 2 Les Echos L'Echo Belgique De Tijd Parkiet Rzeczpospolita FT Adviser Washington Post FT Adviser WSJ SF Chronicle Isotimia CNBC SVT Libero 21 June Guardian BBC: Mason BBC live Express Business Insider Sky News La Stampa Le Figaro blogs: Lachèvre Die Welt Newsnight Bloomberg Bloomberg TV 19 June Sunday Times Belga 18 June Standaard CNN
Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was widely quoted commenting on the Greek crisis, including in the Guardian, saying: “A second Greek bail-out is almost certain to result in outright losses for taxpayers further down the road because, even with the help of additional money, Greece remains likely to default within the next few years…Another bail-out will also increase the cost of a Greek default, transferring a far bigger chunk of the burden from private investors to taxpayers.” Open Europe featured widely on broadcast media discussing the Greek and eurozone crisis, with Director Mats Persson appearing on BBC News, BBC Newsnight, CNN, BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight, BBC Radio 5 Live’s Wake Up to Money, RTE’s Drivetime programme, and BBC Wales. Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel appeared on BBC News twice, BBC World Service, BBC 5 Live, Bloomberg TV, Reuters TV, BBC Radio Manchester, and Russia Today and Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe appeared on Sky News and Swedish TV SVT.
In a letter to the Times, in response to former Chancellor Alistair Darling, Open Europe Chairman Lord Leach of Fairford argued that, “Mr Darling still defends the principle of the single currency. Yet he admits that a one-size-fits-all monetary policy is senseless without a unitary fiscal system. It follows that he believes that Britain should be a member of a United States of Europe. This is a perfectly tenable position to hold, but it should be made explicit, so that the electorate, which holds a different opinion, can know where he stands.”
Writing in the FT, Open Europe’s Vice Chairman Derek Scott argued that it was only ever “partially true” that Germany reaped huge benefits from the EMU and “it is no longer true at all.” In an article on the Guardian’s Comment is Free, Raoul Ruparel argued that comparisons between the Greek debt crisis and the Lehman Brothers collapse are “overblown”.
Open Europe’s report on the second Greek bail-out featured widely in the press, including several articles in the Telegraph and the WSJ, Sunday Times, Mail, Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN Expansión, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Die Welt, Helsingin Sanomat, Berliner Morgenpost, De Standaard, Les Echos, L'Echo Belgique, De Tijd, Polish dailies Rzeczpospolita and Gazeta Gieldy Parkiet, Slovakian financial daily Hospodarske Noviny and Czech financial daily Financni Noviny.
London to bear brunt of tax on finance to fund higher EU spending 30 June Telegraph
Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph responding to European Commission proposals for an EU tax on financial transactions. "Apart from lacking democratic legitimacy, the cost from such a tax will not primarily hit bankers," Mats said.
€444bn exposure to weak eurozone economies risks bankrupting the European Central Bank 30 June Helsingin Sanomat: Puttonen 29 June La Tribune: Aftalion 25 June Sol 21 June DR 19 June El Mundo 17 June Les Echos Business Insider
Open Europe’s briefing on the ECB’s exposure was cited in French financial daily Les Echos, Spanish daily El Mundo, Portuguese magazine Sol, Business Insider, by Danish national broadcaster DR, by French Economics Professor Florin Aftalion in an op-ed for La Tribune and by Finnish Economics Professor Vesa Puttonen in an op-ed for Helsingin Sanomat.
Newly-elected Conservative MPs call on Cameron to use eurozone crisis “to shape Europe’s post-crisis order” 23 June FT: Letter FT
In a letter to the FT, 14 prominent Conservative MPs who won seats for the first time in last year’s election called on David Cameron to stop taking a “backseat” in the negotiations over the future of the eurozone. Both the letter and an article in the paper cited Open Europe research showing that the UK now has an exposure to the eurozone of over €700bn, mostly via the banking system, €300bn of which is to the weaker eurozone economies.
MEPs agree to publish report on their expenses abuses 23 June Mail The Parliament
Stephen Booth was quoted in the Mail saying, “Naming and shaming MEPs would act as a deterrent to others.” Stephen was also quoted by The Parliament.
European Parliament spent more than £100bn on properties across Europe 19 June Express
Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was quoted in the Express saying, “Instead of building up a real estate portfolio across Europe, the European Parliament should genuinely think about how it can respond to citizens’ and taxpayers’ concerns.”
Lords vote to water down Government’s EU ‘referendum lock’ 19 June Mail on Sunday
Open Europe was quoted in the Mail on Sunday noting, “It is no surprise that many of the Lords most opposed to giving the British people a say on the future of the EU have close links to the EU institutions and in some cases get taxpayer-funded EU pensions. It is the EU elite, not the people, who got it wrong on the euro.”
UK 'should not join Greek bail-out' Open Europe’s research was also cited in the Economist, IHT, Telegraph, FAZ, twice in City AM, Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, Irish Independent, Irish Times, US financial magazine Barron’s, French financial dailies Les Echos and La Tribune, twice in Greek financial daily Isotimia, in Swedish financial daily Dagens Industri, in Dutch dailies Trouw and Het Financieele Dagblad, in Dutch magazine Elsevier, Belgian dailies Express.be, HLN and De Morgen, Slovakian financial daily HNonline, Slovenian daily Dnevnik, on the IHT blog, Economist’s Free Exchange blog, WSJ’s Real Time Economics blog, El Mundo blog, Conservative Home, Dutch news website Laatste Nieuws.nl, Slovenian news website Dnevnik, on Business Insider, HoweStreet.com and on several financial news sites. EU to cost average British family £700 a year by 2020 8 June Telegraph Mail Open The world’s many shades of entrepreneurship 7 June FT An article in the FT examining entrepreneurship across the world cited Open Europe’s calculations on regulation noting that “between 1998 and 2008 the cumulative cost of regulation introduced to the countries of the EU was €1,400bn”. Give Brussels power to veto Britain's tax policies, urges Euro bank chief 4 June Mail In response to ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet’s calls for a single EU finance ministry, Open Europe’s Stephen Booth was quoted in the Mail saying, “Greater fiscal union in the eurozone would have a big impact on the UK — if decisions on competition or specific sectors were made in Europe, it would affect us”. UK 'should not join Greek bail-out' 17 June Independent 16 June Sun 15 June Channel 5 News
Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted by the Independent saying, "Since the bailout fund for which the UK is partly liable is activated by a majority vote, the Government could in theory be outvoted and forced to take part in a second Greek bailout. However, another bailout will only increase the cost of an inevitable Greek default, transferring more of the ultimate risk from private investors to taxpayers. Better then to plan for a full, orderly restructuring which would deal with
The ECB’s €444bn exposure to weak eurozone economies, a risk to taxpayers 17 June Dagens Industri HoweStreet Les Echos 16 June Sun Conservative Home: Lilico Het Financieele Dagblad 15 June Il Sole 24 Ore WSJ: Real Time Economics 14 June CNBC India 13 June Economist blogs: Free Exchange Barron’s La Tribune Irish Times: McManus FT Letters: Persson Isotimia.gr Trouw: Schout 10 June Economist 9 June Standaard: Cleppe HNonline.sk City AM Business Insider El Mundo: Gallego Wyatt Investment Research HLN IEX.nl Dnevnik Dagelijkse Standaard: Cleppe 8 June WSJ: Persson 7 June Elsevier Isotimia Irish Independent SpitsNieuws Express.be Beursduivel.be Baltic Course Ceska Pozice Invertia Mindful Money Euro2Day Vsekiden Banking Times Micronews 6 June Telegraph FT FAZ IHT
The FT featured Open Europe’s latest report highlighting that the ECB has €444bn in exposures to Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and Greece. The article quoted the briefing noting that, “Hefty losses for the ECB are no longer a remote risk,” with Greece likely to default within the next few years – even if it gets a fresh bail-out package from the EU and IMF”.
Open
Open
Open Europe’s research was also cited in the Economist, IHT, Telegraph, FAZ, twice in City AM, Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, Irish Independent, Irish Times, US financial magazine Barron’s, French financial dailies Les Echos and La Tribune, twice in Greek financial daily Isotimia, in Swedish financial daily Dagens Industri, in Dutch dailies Trouw and Het Financieele Dagblad, in Dutch magazine Elsevier, Belgian dailies Express.be, HLN and De Morgen, Slovakian financial daily HNonline, Slovenian daily Dnevnik, on the IHT blog, Economist’s Free Exchange blog, WSJ’s Real Time Economics blog, El Mundo blog, Conservative Home, Dutch news website Laatste Nieuws.nl, Slovenian news website Dnevnik, on Business Insider, HoweStreet.com and on several financial news sites.
EU to cost average British family £700 a year by 2020
Open
The world’s many shades of entrepreneurship 7 June FT
An article in the FT examining entrepreneurship across the world cited Open Europe’s calculations on regulation noting that “between 1998 and 2008 the cumulative cost of regulation introduced to the countries of the EU was €1,400bn."
Give Brussels power to veto Britain's tax policies, urges Euro bank chief 4 June Mail
In response to ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet’s calls for a single EU finance ministry, Open Europe’s Stephen Booth was quoted in the Mail saying, “Greater fiscal union in the eurozone would have a big impact on the UK — if decisions on competition or specific sectors were made in Europe, it would affect us."
ECB Chief proposes single EU finance ministry 3 June Telegraph
Open Europe’s Research Director Stephen Booth was quoted in the Telegraph saying: "Greater fiscal union in the eurozone would have a big impact on the UK – if decisions on competition or specific sectors were made in Europe, it would affect us."
EU spent £20million on promoting European causes in the US 3 June Mail
Stephen Booth was quoted in the Mail saying: “The EU has absolutely no mandate to wade in to politically sensitive debates in the US."
EU Commissioners spent more than €7.5m on private jet travel 2 June BBC: Newsnight Telegraph CNN 24 May RTL: Investigations
Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph saying: “With the public mood in Europe turning increasingly hostile to the EU, the Commission would do itself a huge favour by putting an end to this kind of excessive spending. Revelations about EU waste have become almost routine, but that doesn’t make them anymore acceptable.”
Mats also appeared on BBC Newsnight discussing the problems of waste and excessive spending in the EU budget.
Spain at risk of contagion from eurozone debt crisis under “perfect storm scenario”
Spanish dailies Expansión and ABC cited Open Europe research warning of a “perfect storm scenario” in Spain, which would see a worsening of the crisis in countries such as Greece and Portugal coincide with domestic factors such as a large drop in real estate prices and an increase in the number of bad loans in Spanish banks. Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted saying: “It’s unlikely that a bail-out will solve any of
Greece could request a second bail-out worth up to €60bn 17 May CQ Global Researcher 12 May FullFact.org 11 May Mail Dagelijkse Standaard: Cleppe Elsevier De Morgen
The Mail cited Open Europe’s calculations that under such a scenario, the UK would be liable for between €900m and €3.6bn, due to its commitments under the IMF and the European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM). Open Europe’s
On Dutch site De Dagelijkse Standaard, Pieter Cleppe revealed that the
A journal article from CQ Global Researcher, titled “Future of the Euro”, cited Open Europe’s briefing on a Portuguese bail-out and quoted Raoul Ruparel saying: “Greece and Ireland are already bailed out and look like they won’t be able to finance themselves next year,” suggesting that a debt restructuring is the only real long term solution.
EU Commission proposes 4.9% increase for EU’s 2012 budget 18 May Conservative Home: Callanan
Writing on Conservative Home, Martin Callanan, leader of the Conservative MEPs, said that the Commission’s proposed increase was “unacceptable” and cited Open
Open Europe briefing: EU’s €13bn commitment to North Africa and the Middle East has failed to promote democracy and development 17 May Deutsche Welle 12 May Kristdemokraten 9 May Express De Volkskrant Dnevnik 8 May Sunday Times NOTW Svenska Dagbladet al-Ahram Elisa 7 May AFP
Mats Persson was quoted in the Sunday Times arguing: “The [European] Commission needs to explain how these regimes were able to pass its democracy and anti-corruption tests for direct aid funding, while people in these countries took to the streets protesting against their corrupt and autocratic rule.”
Vincenzo Scarpetta was quoted by AFP saying: “Moving forward,
EU to ask for UN Security Council seat 12 May Russia Today: Cleppe
Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe appeared on Russia Today commenting on a European Parliament resolution calling for the EU to be assigned a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. “For the EU to basically try to have a common stance, when they agree, is probably a good idea. The problem is that on many issues member states just don’t agree. Italy and the UK have different interests and different opinions on, for example, how to deal with Libya,” he noted.
MEPs endorse joint lobbyist register for EU institutions 12 May Euradionantes: Scarpetta
Open Europe’s
UK opts in to EU data sharing law on air passengers’ details 12 May LBC 11 May Telegraph Mail
Open Europe Research Director
Europe Day 2011 9 May Euradionantes: Cleppe
In an interview with French local radio Euradionantes on the occasion of Europe Day, Pieter Cleppe argued that “one of the EU’s best achievements has been to promote open borders, and the prospect of EU accession has stabilised ex-Communist countries [but] from the very beginning, a protectionist customs union and a tendency for centralisation were installed.”
Commission’s £225m bill to ‘communicate’ the EU 10 May Express 8 May Telegraph
Open Europe’s Director
National contributions to EU aid spending should be voluntary 5 May Financieele Dagblad: Booth
Writing in Dutch daily Het Financieele Dagblad, Open
Emergency migration controls force EU into borders U-turn 5 May Mail Sun
Open Europe’s Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Mail arguing, “One of the EU’s most fundamental pillars - free movement of people - is now coming under massive strain…Open borders within the EU have generally benefitted Europe but politicians also need to appreciate what a hugely sensitive area this is.”
Possible EU accession of 4 May Europarl TV
Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe appeared on Europarl TV discussing the possible EU accession of
Ten economic lessons from Europe for the next US President 27 April Heritage Foundation
In a joint briefing note published for the Heritage Foundation, Heritage Foundation’s Sally McNamara, J.D. Foster and Open Europe Director Mats Persson argued that the “primary lesson from the eurozone sovereign debt crisis is that running large deficits and accumulating debt with no indication of changing will always translate into higher interest payments and likely higher interest rates, meaning more tax revenue will be consumed just paying for past fiscal sins.” They also note that central banks could "become part of the problem" if they continue to prop up insolvent banks and governments.
Open Europe briefing: Less than half of the EU’s external aid goes to the world’s poorest countries 27 April DeStentor NU.nl Nieuws.nl Fok.nl 26 April Sunday Times: Letters 22 April AFP 21 April Telegraph: Letters
Open Europe’s report on EU aid continues to receive widespread coverage across Europe. In a letter to the Dutch Parliament, Dutch Europe Minister Ben Knapen noted that he supports Open A group of development aid NGOs also responded to the report in a letter to the Sunday Times. Oxfam commented on the report in a letter to the Telegraph. Open Europe’s report was also cited by Dutch news agency Nieuwsbank, AFP, German paper Main Post, Polish news site Wirtualna Polska and twice in Dutch magazine Elsevier.
Schwarzenegger for EU President 25 April Coulisses de Bruxelles 23 April AFP La Dernière Heure EUbusiness
Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was quoted by AFP commenting on the possibility of Arnold Schwarzenegger running for EU President. "Someone with an American style of politics with outspoken ideas would absolutely not be appreciated by EU leaders", he said. Pieter was also quoted by Coulisses de Bruxelles, EUbusiness and La Dernière Heure.
Commission proposes 4.9% rise to EU budget
The BBC quoted Open Europe’s calculations that a 4.9% rise would increase UK contributions to the EU budget by £680m. An article in the Mail cited examples from Open
EU budget increase could cost the UK an extra £680m in 2012 21 April Express Politics.co.uk 20 April Newsnight: Persson WSJ 15 April Express
Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted by the BBC, the Express and on Politics.co.uk arguing that "The commission is either completely misreading or wilfully ignoring the public mood around Europe…Just like national governments, the EU has to adapt and find ways to re-shuffle and prioritise the funds available in the current economic climate. Almost everywhere you look there is fat that can be cut from the EU budget - from the 50 or so EU quangos to the wasteful farm subsidies to cohesion subsidies to
Mats also appeared on the BBC’s Newsnight programme saying that the UK Government needed to take a far more proactive approach in pushing for changes to how the EU budget is spent, not only its overall size. Stephen Booth was quoted in the Express. A comment piece in the WSJ cited examples from Open Europe’s report “Another 50 Examples of EU Waste”.
EU freedom of movement under pressure 20 April Al-Jazeera: Persson
Mats Persson appeared on Al-Jazeera discussing the row between France and Italy over migrants coming from North Africa and the implications for the EU’s Schengen Agreement.
The Price of the euro in Finland: The single currency is exacting ever-higher political and economic costs 20 April Time Blogs: Schuman 19 April WSJ: Persson 18 April Newsnight: Persson
Following the gains made by the populist True Finns party in Finland,
Open Europe briefing: Less than half of the EU’s external aid goes to the world’s poorest countries 21 April Elsevier blog: Joosten 20 April Welt Wirtualna Polska Main Post Nieuwsbank 19 April Dutch Foreign Ministry press release Conservative Home Telegraaf Nieuwsblad Elsevier Elsevier II AD Geenstijl.nl Nieuws.nl Nu.nl Powned TV Il Giornale18 April Daily Mail Express 17 April Sunday Times Telegraph NOTW Express.be Milliyet
Open Europe’s report on the EU’s aid spending featured widely in the UK and European press, and was cited in the Telegraph, Sunday Times, News of the World, Mail, Sun, Express, on Conservative Home, in German newspapers Welt and Main Post, Belgian newspapers Express and Het Nieuwsblad, in Dutch newspapers De Telegraaf, Elsevier and AD, by news agency Nieuwsbank, news sites Niews.nl and NU.nl, politics blog GeenStijl.nl, PownedTV, Italian newspaper Il Giornale, Polish news site Wirtualna Polska, and twice in Turkish daily Milliyet.
Stephen Booth was quoted in the Telegraph arguing, "The EU's aid budget suffers from poor accountability and unnecessary bureaucracy, and, most critically, less than half the money spent goes to the world's poorest people". He added, "National contributions to the EU aid budget should be made voluntary. At a time when funds are tight, it is vital that governments get value for money".
Portugal needs debt restructuring, not a bail-out 12 April Spectator: Persson 11 April Conservative Home: Persson BBC Radio Scotland 10 April LBC
Mats Persson argued in an opinion piece on the Spectator’s Coffee House blog that “a bail-out will do little to solve Portugal’s underlying problems… It is finally starting to dawn on people that a large amount of the debt circulating the system will never realistically be repaid…All this means that the government is putting British taxpayers’ money on the line, but the UK remains exposed to meltdowns in the eurozone in future”.
Mats also authored a piece on Conservative Home arguing that the main political lesson to be learnt from the UK’s involvement in the Portuguese bail-out was not to give up vetoes over sensitive areas of EU policy without first thinking through every possible consequence, such as the Labour government in 2001 giving up the veto over the part of the EU treaties which is now being used to justify the euro bail-outs.
Meanwhile, Raoul Ruparel appeared on LBC radio discussing the Portuguese bail-out and the future of the eurozone, and on BBC Radio
How the EU elite got it wrong on the euro 11 April Telegraph blog: Hannan Conservative MEP Dan Hannan referenced Open Europe’s report “They said it: How the EU elite got it wrong on the euro” on his Telegraph blog, highlighting how politicians, journalists and others failed to predict how the eurozone would evolve.
Portugal needs debt restructuring, not a bail-out 8 April BBC Newsnight CNN Connect the World BBC News ITV News Telegraph: Oborne Telegraph: Ruparel FT New Statesman LA Times Chicago Tribune ABC News i Informação 7 April Guardian Metro Mirror El Economista Politics.co.uk 30 March Radio Renascença 29 March Economist: Bagehot 28 March Gazeta Prawna 26 March Mail 25 March BBC: Mason Diario de Noticias
Open Europe’s Director
Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel appeared on BBC, ITV News and
Meanwhile, in the Telegraph, Peter Oborne wrote: “Last week, in a commentary of first rate importance, the think tank Open
Open Europe’s findings that the UK could be liable for between €945m and €4.3bn in the event of a €70bn Portuguese bailout were cited in the Guardian, Mirror, Metro, New Statesman, on the Economist’s Bagehot blog and Paul Mason’s BBC blog, in Spanish economic daily El Economista, Polish financial paper Gazeta Prawna, Portuguese papers Diario de Noticias, i Informaçao, Destak, and several other regional and international papers.
MEPs want EU Tax 8 April Express
Open
MEPs vote to increase their 2012 budget and reject proposals to fly economy class 7 April Euradionantes: Cleppe
Open
House of Lords publishes report on future of EU budget 5 April House of Lords report
The House of Lords EU Committee report on the future of the EU budget post-2013, which argued that the overall size of the EU budget “should not increase in real terms”, cited Open Europe’s calculations that repatriating EU regional spending would have saved the
Sunlight is the best disinfectant for European Parliament 5 April Public Service Europe: Cleppe
Commenting on the European Parliament’s lobbying scandal in Public Service Europe, Pieter Cleppe suggested that, as a first step towards enhancing transparency, MEPs should "publish a list of all the lobbyists or members of pressure groups that they have met…As a second measure, there should be better application of the current duty to fill in a ‘declaration of financial interests."
EU proposals on short selling driven by political agenda 4 April Public Service
In an article for Public Service
The EU budget needs reform 1 April Europe’s World: Cleppe
Writing in Europe’s World, Pieter Cleppe suggested three measures which should be taken to fix the EU budget, including slashing the costs of EU bureaucracy, repatriating regional spending from richer member states and radically reforming agricultural spending.
UK net contribution to the EU nearly doubles to £9.2bn 31 March Telegraph Stephen Booth was quoted saying, “At a time when the Government is trying to cut national spending, it makes no sense to increase our contributions to a bloated EU budget that is in desperate need of reform."
UK rejects EU plans to ban petrol-fuelled cars from city centres by 2050 29 March Mail
Open Europe was quoted arguing: “This goes to show the extent of the EU's ambitions to interfere in the
UK could be required to contribute billions to Portuguese bail-out 25 March BBC: Mason LBC New York Times Economic Voice Mail Sun Express Express: Pollard El Pais El Mundo Diario de Noticias HLN De Morgen Z24 TASR Origo Telegraph Blogs: Hannan Finance.si Politics.co.uk UPI 24 March Spectator: Persson BBC Newsnight Conservative Home Russia Today Guardian Telegraph Mail Mirror Express Evening Standard Liverpool Echo Sunderland Echo Yorkshire Evening Post IFA MSN Money This is Money BBC: Today BBC: Hewitt SKY News Channel 4 RT Investor.bg BNT Lettera 43 Aktualne.sk CNyes IFDPA
Mats Persson appeared on BBC Newsnight, BBC Today and SKY News, and was quoted on Newnsnight’s Chris Mason’s blog, discussing the prospect of a Portuguese bail-out. Mats noted that the growing concern among citizens in the EU about their potential liabilities in eurozone bail-outs is contributing to the rise of eurosceptic parties such as the True Finns in
Open Europe’s estimates of the potential size of a Portuguese bail-out and the
Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel was quoted saying: "The cases of
On the Spectator’s Coffee House blog, Mats argued that, despite not having a veto over a potential bail-out, “the
Taxpayer-funded EU political parties allowed to campaign in national referenda 21 March Express
Stephen Booth was quoted saying, “This goes to show that MEPs are determined that the EU’s tentacles reach into almost every aspect of domestic politics.”
Osborne needs to cut EU regulation 21 March Sun
The Sun’s political columnist Trevor Kavanagh cited Open Europe’s calculation that regulations from
Britain in better position than US and EMU 21 March Telegraph: Scott
Looking ahead to the UK budget, Open Europe’s Vice-Chairman Derek Scott argued that: “Britain is in a better position to recover than either the States, with its size and impact on the rest of the world, or the countries in EMU, which are stuck in the equivalent of the Gold Standard.”
UK’s human rights review will not consider withdrawal from jurisdiction of Strasbourg court 19 March Mail
Stephen Booth commented that the commission established to review UK human rights appeared too hamstrung to make a major difference, and that “the priority of keeping the Coalition on course has taken precedence over tackling the ongoing and serious implications of outside interference in UK human rights law”.
Portugal needs a bailout…and more 10 March Europe’s World: Ruparel Writing on Europe’s World website ahead of the eurozone leaders’ meeting,
MEPs vote to implement EU-wide Financial Transactions Tax 9 March CityAM: Heath Express
CityAM Editor Allister Heath cited Open Europe’s findings that an EU-wide Financial Transactions Tax could cost the UK between £40bn and £180bn a year in support of his argument that the real cost of the tax would be far greater than MEPs realise. Open
EU “referendum lock” passes House of Commons 8 March Conservative Home: Booth
Writing on Conservative Home,
Scandal of EU Medical Perks 7 March Express
Stephen Booth was quoted saying: “MEPs are paid very generously by anyone’s standards so there’s absolutely no justification for all the extra perks.”
Europe will not abandon its Galileo satellite 7 March Respekt
Czech weekly magazine Respekt featured an interview with
EU’s External Action Service spends millions on PR and staffing 5 March Express
Siân Herbert was quoted saying, “The European External Action Service’s complex web of staff is growing by the day yet stands in stark contrast to its limited influence on the world stage. Recent
Brussels revises transparency rules for EU schmoozing 4 March BBC News
BBC News cited Open Europe’s findings that some ex-EU commissioners were still receiving generous allowances, even when their annual salary exceeds 100,000 euros. Commenting on the Commission’s review of its code of conduct, Mats Persson said despite these ‘golden parachutes’, “I think the Commission takes this review seriously... it's slowly moving in the right direction."
Commission should improve transparency on lobbyists 4 March BBC World Service
MEPs vote to increase personal staff expenses by a further £15,336 3 March Telegraph Irish Independent
Mats Persson was quoted saying: “Asking for even more cash now, at a time of continued austerity in member states, isn’t exactly going to increase the popularity of MEPs, which is already at all-time low.” Mats was also quoted in the Irish Independent.
ECJ ruling will increase insurance costs 11 March The National 7 March Times of Malta 3 March Mail Swindon Advertiser 2 March Comment is Free: Booth Conservative Home: Persson Times: Leader Sun Scotsman Express Euractiv Wales Online Express.be CT24 1 March Independent Telegraph Mirror Evening Standard Economist: Bagehot’s blog Telegraph Blogs: Hannan WSJ: The Source blog Business Week Forbes NPR Huffington Post The Parliament Nieuws.nl 20min Ziarul Financiar Nibelungen Kurier Investor Today Insurance Daily IFAonline CNN BBC: World Service BBC Radio Sussex ITV News ITV News online Scottish TV AP TV TodayFM 28 February Metro Sun Mail Mirror Express PA Press and Journal Conservative Home UK Autoblog MSN Money Shropshire Star Express and Star
Open Europe’s research into the consequences of the ECJ’s ruling to ban the use of gender in determining risk for insurance products featured widely in the UK, European and international press throughout last week. Open
Stephen also appeared on the BBC World Service, BBC Radio Sussex, ITV News, ITV News Online and Irish radio TodayFM.
On the Guardian’s Comment is Free, Stephen argued the ruling risked trivialising human rights, adding that “With a growing body of EU rights legislation… the concept of human rights is driven into new areas where it does not belong. The risk is that, in the growing confusion and interference, we lose all perspective on what constitutes a fundamental human right.”
Following the ruling,
Overtime perk extends European officials’ holiday to 12 weeks 27 February Sunday Times LBC
Mats Persson was quoted saying, “Taxpayers will understandably ask by what right EU bureaucrats on six figures ask for extra days off to compensate for what are considered normal working hours in most places. It’s amazing these kinds of perks remain in place.” Mats also appeared on LBC, discussing the costs and benefits of the EU.
The EU should impose sanctions on Gaddafi's 23 February Spectator: Persson
On the Spectator’s Coffee House blog
Open
In a letter to the FT, Open Europe Chairman Lord Leach argued that those who disagree with the view that Britain would have better survived the crisis if it were in the eurozone must always point to what did not happen: “We did not have the hyper-bubble that Spain and Ireland had as a result of interest rates that were too low; and we did not find ourselves unable to react quickly with monetary easing when the banking crisis hit”. He concluded that although neither side can be 100% right, it nevertheless “must be better to control one’s own monetary destiny”.
The ECHR ruling on prisoners’ votes 21 February Evening Standard
In a letter to the Evening Standard,
Spanish adult shop received EU funding
The front page of German paper Bild featured Open
EU spent more on travel for its officials than on food aid in 2010 12 February Times 11 February Mail Irish Independent
Siân Herbert was quoted in the Times saying: “While boosting trade with developing nations is a noble objective, far too often these trips simply send out the wrong message to European taxpayers. MEPs enjoy luxurious hospitality in exotic locations, but it is very rarely clear what these trips actually achieve. This is yet another example of why the EU budget is in need of tighter controls and serious reform.” Siân was also quoted in the Mail and the Irish Independent.
The truth about European power over human rights 10 February Mail blog: Synon
On her Mail blog, Mary Ellen Synon cites Open Europe’s briefing arguing that if the EU accedes to the European Convention on Human Rights as a separate entity, it will make it “increasingly difficult for the UK to negotiate a carve-out from European human rights legislation.”
Reforming the EU’s long-term budget 8 February House of Lords
Mats Persson gave oral evidence to the House of Lords’ EU Select Committee’s inquiry into the EU’s long-term budget.
The European Union: Pretention without power 7 February Forbes
On his Forbes magazine blog, Doug Bandow quoted Open
Europe closes in on single economic governance rules 4 February Sofokleous10 3 February WSJ 2 February AFP
Open Europe’s briefing showing that EU plans for Greek restructuring will only cut Greece’s total debt by between 2.4% and 4.2% without involvement from private bondholders was cited by AFP, the WSJ and Greek news site Sofokleous10.
EU police forces to see British passengers' personal information 2 February Telegraph
Open
Express campaign for the 1 February Express
Stephen Booth was quoted saying: “The
Factcheck: How much does the EU cost? 1 February FullFact.org 28 January FullFact.org
Independent fact-checking site Fullfact.org cited Open Europe research showing that 71% of the cost of regulations introduced in the Britain begins battle over EU failure to reform its agriculture budget 28 January Telegraph
Mats Persson was quoted saying: “Not a single penny more of the
Galileo: 25 January Time 18 January Telegraph Telegraph: Hannan's Blog The Foreigner 13 January Aftenposten
Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph commenting on the rising costs of the project saying, "This is a textbook example how not to run a project". Mats was also quoted in Aftenposten, Time magazine and Norwegian news site The Foreigner. Open
Buzek: European Parliament’s
On his EUobserver blog, Bruno Waterfield cited Open Europe’s blog post criticising Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, for comparing the European Parliament’s seat in
The Government’s EU Bill 24 January Express EurActiv 23 January NOTW 20 January Spectator: Persson Conservative Home: Lord Leach On the Spectator’s Coffee House blog, Mats Persson argued, “the huge merit of attaching these provisions to the Bill is that in two simple brushstrokes, a large slug of EU laws would be brought back into the
20 January Express
The Express featured Mats Persson discussing the difficulties the
19 January Telegraph
Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph saying, “Undoubtedly, the
Peter Mandelson’s lucrative new job
EU funds new generation surveillance technologies which threaten citizens’ privacy 18 January Freie Allgemeine Short News.de
Open Europe’s research into the EU’s funding for new generation surveillance technologies, and in particular the INDECT project, was cited in the German press by ShortNews.de and Freie Allgemeine.
European Parliament’s visitor centre over budget and behind schedule 16 January Express
Open Europe’s Brussels seminar on 11 January with Markus Kerber 15 January NOL 13 January Tijd De Morgen Deutsche WelleOpen Europe’s event with Professor Markus Kerber, who filed a lawsuit against the eurozone bail-out with the German Constitutional Court, featured in Belgian newspapers De Morgen and De Tijd, Deutsche Welle and Hungarian daily NOL.
European Parliament’s visitor centre already £4m over budget
Open
Open Europe’s seminar in
Open Europe’s seminar in Brussels, which featured German Professor Markus Kerber, was reported on by Belgian business magazine Trends, Dutch broadcaster NOS, RTE, RTV, Euractiv and in Greek financial daily Express. ECA pressured to cover up irregularities and fraud in EU funds
Pieter Cleppe was quoted in the Telegraph saying: “This insider story should serve as a warning not to give in to EU demands for more money until the culture of financial irresponsibility is being dealt with more fundamentally.”
The Government’s EU Bill 11 January Times letter: Leach Spectator Coffee House: Persson 9 January Sunday Express 8 January Express
Open Europe’s Chairman Lord Leach argued in a letter to the Times that MPs “should not be concerned” over the sovereignty clause in the EU Bill and rather than focussing on the debate surrounding Parliamentary sovereignty, MPs contemplating amendments to the Bill “would do better to focus on helping the coalition to tighten the safeguards against the transfer of powers to the EU contained in the Bill’s ‘referendum lock’.”
On the Spectator Coffee House blog, Open
Baroness Ashton’s constant absence from key EU meetings 7 January Mail
Mats Persson was quoted in the Mail saying: “It was a spectacular mistake for the
Backlash against perks for EU officials
Stephen Booth was quoted in the Telegraph and the Daily Star saying: "If the top ranks of the EU's civil service can take this much time off it raises interesting questions about how much work they're actually doing."
City traders brace themselves for new EU financial watchdogs 5 January Express
Siân Herbert was quoted saying: “The EU’s new financial watchdogs will see the
What to expect from the EU in 2011?
Siân Herbert appeared on Al Jazeera discussing
2010
What to expect from the EU in 2011?
Open
The ongoing eurozone crisis 26 December CT24
Pieter Cleppe was quoted by Czech news service CT24 in an article about the crisis in the Eurozone, discussing the infighting and confusion that exists at the heart of the EU decision-making process.
What Cameron should push for at the EU summit 20 December Euractiv BBC World Service Express.be 17 December BBC World BBC World Service Radio Antena 1 16 December Telegraph Evening Standard CNBC 15 December Telegraph Fokus 9 December BBC: Hewitt 7 December Spectator: Persson
Open Europe’s Mats Persson wrote a post on the Spectator’s Coffee House blog arguing “it’s time for Cameron to play European politics…There’s a power vacuum in
Pieter Cleppe appeared in interviews twice on BBC World Service, on BBC World, Portuguese Radio Antena 1 and on CNBC arguing that "Instead of trying to agree on how much more taxpayers' money they want to put on the table to save the euro, EU leaders should focus on more fundamental solutions to the common currency's problems". Pieter was also quoted by Belgian news site Express.be. On his blog, BBC Europe editor Gavin Hewitt cited Open
The value for money of the 19 December Sunday Telegraph LBC 20 December Express 13 December Telegraph
Siân Herbert was quoted on page two of the Sunday Telegraph saying, “The system of MEPs' expenses is an absolute minefield, raising serious questions about transparency and accountability". Siân was also quoted in the Telegraph and the Express. Stephen Booth appeared on LBC radio.
Cameron announces EU budget freeze pact 18 December Independent 17 December BBC
Mats Persson was quoted in the Independent and by the BBC saying, “A cash freeze on the EU's long-term budget without reforming its actual substance could well prove a strategic mistake. Such a deal would serve to antagonise the new member states that stand to lose the most and represent a missed opportunity to re-negotiate the EU's flawed subsidy schemes, at a time when the
European Parliament political groups organise study trips at expense of European taxpayers 16 December DR
Pieter Cleppe was interviewed on Danish TV, DR, saying, "They should take the same decisions as many ordinary people all over
Doubts over effectiveness of Citizens’ Initiative 16 December Rzeczpospolita
Polish daily Rzeczpospolita quoted Pieter Cleppe noting that the Commission previously ignored a petition for scrapping the two seats of the European Parliament, with more than one million signatures.
AIFM Directive could endanger the City 14 December Parliament
Pieter Cleppe was quoted by The Parliament saying, "With the agreement on the AIFM directive and on financial supervision, the Belgian presidency has successfully concluded EU attempts to transfer more powers to the EU. These reforms might, however, endanger the City of
EU’s overseas ambassadors enjoy generous salaries and perks 12 December Sunday Times 13 December Express 11 December Telegraph 10 December BBC World Service 7 December Il Fatto Quotidiano 6 December Express 5 December Sunday Times
Mats was also quoted in an article in the Sunday Times looking at pre-accession benefits. Siân Herbert was quoted in the Telegraph criticising the EU for spending €3m on an anti-poverty development conference. BBC World Service featured Open
Human rights laws cost 7 December Mail
Siân Herbert was quoted in the Mail saying: "The ECHR and the European Court of Justice [which rules on EU law] now act as a de facto supreme court in the
Europe’s hidden billions: Cohesion for a reason 3 December FT 1 December Express 30 November BBC File on 4
The FT cited Open Europe's proposal to scrap structural funds for the wealthiest EU member states and quoted Open Europe's Director
Mats also appeared on the BBC’s File on 4 programme, arguing that "taxpayers have every right to be angry about this because the waste in the EU budget has been going on for a long time. It's quite simply unacceptable." The Express quoted Open
British share of euro bailouts could cost families £700 a year 3 December Express 1 December Telegraph
An article in the Telegraph showing that the UK could in total be liable for at least £20bn in potential eurozone loans quotes Open Europe’s
Hungarian company asked to pay back EU money for dog wellness centre 02 December HVG 30 November Times of Malta 26 November Express 24 November WSJ 22 November De Pers 21 Magyar Szó 19 November IHT NeoFM: Bumerang Elsevier Euractiv.sk
An article in Hungarian economic magazine HVG reported that Hungarian Development Agency - the national body responsible for the distribution of the EU's regional development funds - has asked Hungarian IT company Gyrotech Ltd to pay back the money from the European Regional Development Fund it received in 2007 for a project to "improve the lifestyle and living standard of dogs". The article credited Open
Meanwhile, Open Europe’s list of 50 examples of wasteful EU spending continued to receive coverage, as it was cited in the Express, the IHT, the WSJ, Dutch daily De Pers, Hungarian paper Magyar Szo, on Hungarian Radio NeoFM, Dutch magazine Elsevier, the Times of Malta and Euractiv Slovakia.
The Irish bailout won’t solve eurozone’s underlying problems 1 December The World Tonight 29 November Belfast Times 26 November BBC World Service 1’40 24 November BBC World Service 23 November BBC Radio Ulster
Open
Open
Is the EU condemned to remain a diplomatic dwarf? 1 December RFI
Open Europe’s
ECJ rules in favour of pay rise for EU officials 30 November Il Fatto Quotidiano 25 November Mail
Open Europe’s
CAP needs reform 29 November Express
The Express quoted Open Europe’s
Let us raise a glass to the campaigners who kept 26 November Conservative Home: Trefgarne
On Conservative Home, Open Europe’s board member George Trefgarne looked at the success of one of Open Europe’s predecessors, the Business for Sterling campaign, in keeping the EU legislation cost 26 November Express 25 November Express
The Express quoted an Open Europe survey from 2007 showing that 54% of 1,000 quizzed company chief executives believed that the burden of EU regulation “outweighed” the benefits of the single market and cited Open Europe’s research showing that EU legislation has cost the British economy approximately £124bn since 1998.
Open Europe’s
EU launches website to dispel “urban myths” 26 November Express 24 November Telegraph
Open Europe’s
The Citizen’s Initiative: Power to the people EU style 22 November BBC
EU’s growing police and justice role is going unnoticed by voters 22 November Mail on Sunday
Open
A bailout won’t save the tottering eurozone 18 November Politics.co.uk Spectator Coffee House blog 17 November Terzake
Writing on the news website Politics.co.uk, Open Open Europe’s Writing on the Spectator's Coffee House blog, Open Europe Director
Another 50 examples of EU waste 18 November ATV DelMagyar.hu 16 November Khaleejtimes: Castle 15 November Nepszabadsag Nepszabadsag 2 Bild Kronen Zeitung Heute 14 November Delo SME13 November Rzeczpospolita12 November Aktuality Pozri! Newsnight BBC Sky News blog Elsevier Telegraaf BBC 2 Postimees Ohtuleht Ihned La Croix iDNES EUbusiness Le Point Ta Nea InfoRadio.hu Delfi Dnevnik 11 November FT Telegraph Times IHT WSJ: Wheatcroft Sun Sun: Leader Mail Star Express Heute MF Dnes AFP Iltalehti Le Monde Norrbottens Kuriren La Voz de Galicia EPA L'Alsace.fr Journal.ie MTI Bumm.sk France 24 Gazdasagiradio.hu BFM Business World
Open Europe's report "Another 50 Examples of EU Waste" was widely reported in the European media, including on BBC Newsnight, BBC news online, in the FT, Times, Telegraph, IHT, Sun, Mail, Express, German daily Bild, Austrian dailies Kronen Zeitung and Heute, Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, Czech daily MF Dnes, Dutch daily Telegraaf, and by Patience Wheatcroft in the WSJ. The report was also featured by Dutch magazine Elsevier, Alex Rossi's Sky News blog, AFP, Le Point, Greek daily Ta Nea, Bulgarian daily Dnevnik, Estonian dailies Postimees and Ohtuleht, Slovenian daily Delo, Slovakian newspaper SME, Finnish paper Iltalehti, Swedish daily Norrbottens Kuriren, Spanish regional paper La Voz de Galicia, on Le Monde's website, in Hungarian dailies Nepszabadsag, ATV and Del Magyar, on Hungarian InfoRadio, Czech website iDNES, by Slovak agency Bumm, and by Hungarian press agency MTI.
The EU gravy train 15 November Channel 4
Open
Commission u-turns on EU salaries 15 November Express 14 November NOTW 11 November Euractiv
Open Europe's Stephen Booth was quoted in the News of the World criticising the European Commission's recent proposal for a 0.4% increase in EU officials' salaries arguing: “When the
EU to spend £850 million for new office complex in Luxembourg 15 November Sunday Times Mail
Open Europe's
Treaty change gives the UK an opportunity to repatriate powers from Brussels 14 November Sunday Telegraph
Open
Referendum law needs to be tightened up 12 November Mail 11 November Telegraph
Open Open Europe’s briefing on the rising costs of the EU’s Galileo satellite project was cited by the Spectator’s Douglas Murray, who writes that the study reveals “all too predictable results [from the EU]: incompetence and infighting were the least of it.”
2011 EU budget talks deadlocked over MEPs’ EU tax demands 11 November Mail
Open
Nation states are dead: EU chief says the belief that countries can stand alone is a 'lie and an illusion' 11 November Mail
Open
Commissioners profit after leaving office 10 November BNR 14'50 in
Open
Auditors flag up EU budget errors for 16th consecutive year 11 November SVD 10 November Mail Journal.ie 9 November Telegraph Parliament EUobserver: Waterfield La Tribune 8 November BBC: Record Europe
Open Europe’s Open Europe’s
EU Committee of the Regions wants 14% rise, and 37 new posts 5 November Times
Open Europe's Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Times criticising the EU’s Committee of the Regions and saying: “This committee sums up the problems of EU waste […] It costs taxpayers millions of euros a year and yet it is far from clear what it actually achieves.”
Continental shift: 5 November Economist 4 November L'agefi
The Economist featured Open Europe's graph showing that while the
Baroness Ashton's External Action Service takes shape 3 November ABC 1 November Telegraph 31 October Mail on Sunday 28 October Times
Open Europe was quoted in the Times commenting on the new headquarters of the EU's foreign service saying: "At a time of austerity, any new expenditure of the EU's diplomatic service must be carefully weighed against the benefits it generates for taxpayers and citizens...taxpayers will ask what the added value of this new headquarters is." Open Europe's
"Cameron may well have severely underplayed the 2 November Spectator coffee house: Persson 1 November Newsnight 31 October Contrepoints 29 October Conservative Home: Open Europe 28 October Spectator coffee house: Persson 27 October Euractiv
Open
MEPs get £400,000 in pay and perks 1 November Sunday Express
Open Europe's
UK to send more money to Brussels 2 November The Parliament 1 November Russia Today 31 October LBC Sunday Times 30 October Times 29 October Sky News Al Jazeera 28 October Express 28 October Times: Cavendish 24 October NOTW NOTW: Persson
Writing in the News of the World,
Mats also appeared on Sky News arguing "if you look at the errors in the EU budget on the structural funds for instance [...] 11% of the funding paid out to member states should not have been paid out in the first place, according to the European Court of Auditors [...] That is not pocket change." Writing in the Times, columnist Camilla Cavendish argued that Cameron should follow Open
Up to half of British laws come from 29 October Telegraph
28 October L'Express
French newspaper L'Express noted that, according to an internal EU document, the Commission expects Open
EU will spend £33 million on new quangos despite cutbacks across 28 October Mail Mail 26 October The Parliament 24 October Telegraph Mail HVG EUobserver Express 23 October BBC Sunday Telegraph Sunday Express Irish Independent on Sunday NOTW
Open Europe's Siân Herbert was quoted in the Sunday Telegraph saying: "The radical increase in the cost of EU quangos stands in stark contrast to the deep cuts facing government agencies in the
EU agrees deal on hedge funds directive 27 October Mail The Parliament
Lost in space: how the cost of the EU's Galileo project has skyrocketed 27 October ARD 26 October Onlinekosten.de 25 October Handelsblatt Irish News of the World
Handelsblatt cited Open Europe's briefing on Galileo's rising costs, which estimates that the project will cost EU taxpayers €22.2bn to operate over a 20 year period. Open
As cuts hit hard at home, we hand even more cash to Europe 22 October Adevarul 21 October Sun Mail The Parliament
Open Europe was quoted on page two of the Sun saying, “When the UK government is being forced to make difficult choices about the public services it can afford, taxpayers will be outraged to see more of their money heading to Brussels.” Open
Stephen was also quoted by Romanian daily Adevarul and The Parliament magazine.
Costs of the EU’s AIFM Directive 22 October Global Custodian Fondionline 21 October Expansión 20 October WSJ
Open Europe’s research on the costs of the EU’s proposed AIFM Directive on hedge funds and private equity managers was cited in the WSJ’s Heard on the Street column, Spanish economic daily Expansión, and on finance websites Fondionline and Global Custodian.
Mr. Spend and Mrs. Save 21 October Fokus
Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted in Swedish magazine Fokus in an article looking at President Nicolas Sarkozy and Chancellor Angela Merkel’s differing approaches to the eurozone crisis, saying that the “Germans are growing tired of being the EU’s bank.”
Sarkozy and Merkel: We need a new EU treaty 20 October Mail Express 19 October Spectator: Persson Conservative Home 18 October Telegraph
Open
Writing on the Spectator Coffee House blog, Mats argued, “Rather than instinctively reaching for the veto, David Cameron should back [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel’s demands, in return for the repatriation of powers to the
Open
European Commission announces proposals for an EU tax and a review of the 20 October Rzeczpospolita 19 October Telegraph
Open
New report highlights spiralling cost of Galileo 18 October The Parliament 17 October NOTW
The News of the World reported Open
The Parliament quoted Mats saying, “If it’s ever completed, the Galileo programme could bring benefits, but it’s absolutely extraordinary how poorly managed this project has been up to now.”
EU executive to rewrite conflict of interest rules 14 October Times of Malta 13 October Rzeczpospolita
The Times of
Ex-Irish EU Commissioner quits bank in ethics row 7 October AFP
In a story looking at the pay and conduct of EU Commissions, AFP quoted Open Europe’s estimates showing that European Commission President José Manuel Barroso earns $400,000 per year – as much as US President Barack Obama.
Hague seeks sovereignty law as he declares: 7 October Mail
Open
Is this how the EU got a Yes to 7 October Mail: Synon’s blog
On her Daily Mail blog, Mary Ellen Synon quoted Open
Defending with all divisions 5 October House Magazine
Open
EU officials set for salary reduction 5 October Euractiv
Open
EU states seek budget cuts, in theory 5 October WSJ
Open
Mats also argued that regional spending for the EU’s richer member states should be scrapped and that the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee should be abolished, as they together cost EU taxpayers around €200 million a year.
Margaret Thatcher’s former offices are taken over by Eurocrats 3 October Sunday Telegraph
Open Europe’s
Lord Mandelson still paid £8,600 a month by EU 3 October Sunday Express 25 September Telegraph Mail
Open
Anti-austerity protests hit 30 September Sky News
Open Europe’s
Former EU Commissioners still paid years after leaving 24 September Parliament 23 September BBC BBC Radio 4 AFP Le Parisien Delfi Ta Nea MMC RTV
Open Europe's Stephen Booth appeared on the BBC Radio 4 PM programme, and was quoted in a BBC article arguing that "the EU's current rules on former Commissioners urgently need to be toughened up...Ex-officials are being allowed to take up well paid positions in the private sector or in national governments while still receiving huge EU payoffs, paid for by the taxpayer...how can citizens expect these people to take an objective view on EU policy when they are still receiving payments from the European Commission?"
Open Europe is also cited by AFP, Le Parisien, Greek daily Ta Nea, Slovenian TV and radio station MMC RTV and Latvian online news agency Delfi.
Lord Leach: "I can not think of any satisfactory solution which does not lead to a breaking up of the eurozone as it is now" 23 September NRC Handelsblad
In an interview with Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad, Open Europe's Chairman Lord Leach said, "a monetary union is also a political union and there it goes wrong...politicians must understand that this isn't a temporary crisis, but a permanent problem. It is no banking or debt crisis, but a problem of competitiveness. The South of
French lectures on European principles ring hollow 23 September European Voice: Persson
In a letter to European Voice, Open
European secret service 23 September Wirtschaftswoche
Open EU to vote in new financial watchdogs 23 September Belfast Telegraph 22 September Herald Evening Standard CNBC 13 September WSJ: Stelzer
In the WSJ, Irwin Stelzer cited Open Europe's report on financial supervision noting that the UK will have the same voting weight as Poland within the decision-making body of the new EU financial supervisors, despite being home to 36% of the entire EU wholesale financial market compared to Poland's 0.3%.
Open Baroness Ashton demands more cash for diplomats as national governments face cuts 20 September Telegraph
Open Europe's Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph saying: "The cost of the EU's diplomatic bureaucracy is already unacceptably high, particularly as the new structure stands the risk of adding more, not less, confusion about who is speaking on behalf of Europe, in addition to drawing funds away from national foreign ministries at a time when funds are scarce".
20 September Conservative Home: Persson
Open
The Working Time Directive and European Arrest Warrant need renegotiation 16 September Conservative Home: Persson
In an article on Conservative Home, Open Europe's Mats Persson argued "these two laws are textbook examples of EU legislation gone out of control: both are hugely disproportionate and have evolved in a way that was not at all foreseen when UK ministers first signed up to them, in turn creating a range of unintended and negative consequences."
Britons to be given vote on transfer of power from 14 September Spectator: Coffee House blog Persson 14 September Conservative Home 12 September Telegraph
Open Analysts see limited value in EU budget vetting 13 September EurActiv
Open
EU commission 'interfered' in run-up to Lisbon Treaty vote 10 September The Parliament
The Parliament cited Open Europe's research which found that the Commission spent at least €351,765 on Irish journalists and Lisbon-related seminars in 2009, possibly in the run up to Ireland's referendum on the Treaty.
EU markets chief Barnier warns the City casino days are over 10 September Telegraph 9 September EU Chronicle 8 September Mail 7 September Express Le Monde Il Sole 24 Ore Caixun Dow Jones City AM Conservative Home WSJ: Wheatcroft Evening Standard Guardian Politics.co.uk 6 September Telegraph 3 September Telegraph
Open Europe's Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph discussing the risks of the reform of EU financial supervision for the City of
Open
Extradition treaties to be reviewed 9 September Guardian Independent
Open Europe’s
9 September HNonline
Open Europe’s Mats Persson was interviewed by Slovakian business daily Hospodarske Noviny discussing
Taxpayers’ money spent to boost Barroso’s profile as Commission President 8 September The Parliament 5 September The Parliament Sunday Telegraph 3 September The Parliament The Parliament 2
Open Europe’s Siân Herbert was quoted in the Sunday Telegraph saying, “Spending money on improving Barroso's image is the latest in a long line of EU vanity projects funded by the taxpayer [...] Instead of paying for photos and videos of an unelected Commission President, the EU could radically improve its image by actually starting to listen to citizens and stopping wasting their money.” The article also cited Open Europe’s research revealing that over €8 million was spent in 2009 on entertaining, training and 'informing' journalists.
Siân was also quoted by the Parliament magazine reacting to the announcement of the first “State of the
6 September Telegraph Today Programme
Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph reacting to EU Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski’s claims that the
Colonel Gaddafi may be paid by EU to stop immigration 3 September Express
Open
Commission tries to spin poll results 3 September Mail: Synon's blog 2 September Europaportalen 27 August EUobserver
Open
Wish EU were here? Pampered pen-pushers posted to paradise resorts 29 August News of the World
Open
Europeans losing faith in EU 27 August EurActiv
Open
26 August Telegraph
Open
EU to spend £8m a year on Baroness’s new offices
Open Europe’s Siân Herbert was quoted in the Mail and on page 2 of the Express commenting on the prospective £8 million that the EU is considering to spend per year to lease the new European External Action Service (EEAS) headquarters in Brussels. “The ballooning costs of the EU's new foreign service are becoming an increasing burden on British taxpayers and stand in sad contrast to the cuts facing the UK's Foreign Office, which does a much better job of representing UK citizens' interests throughout the world”, Siân argued.
Uproar as 24 August Express
Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted in the Express commenting on the cost of EU officials pensions to
100 of Baroness Ashton’s EU diplomats paid more than William Hague 21 August Telegraph
Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph commenting on findings that more than 100 of the EU diplomats working for the new European External Action Service (EEAS) will be paid more than
Top Eurocrats get huge pay rise 20 August Express
Open Europe was quoted in the Express commenting on reports that EU officials are in line for three pay rises boosting their salaries by over 5 percent over the next twelve months and saying: “The Government needs to stand up for UK taxpayers and make it clear that handing over more money to Brussels when it is budget-cutting at home is simply unacceptable”.
Vigilance is required if we are to stop the trickle of policing and criminal justice powers to the EU 20 August Conservative Home
Conservative Home featured an article by Open Europe’s
“Given that agreeing to any new or amended EU justice and home affairs legislation means ceding jurisdiction to the ECJ, the Government is already taking a rather liberal interpretation of its promise to ‘ensure that there is no further transfer of sovereignty or powers over the course of the next Parliament’”, Stephen said.
Fury as EU envoy to the 14 August Express
Open Europe’s
European Union pushes for right to levy taxes directly on British 11 August Spectator Deutsche Welle 10 August Express 9 August Telegraph
Open Europe was quoted in the Telegraph criticising Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski’s proposal for a direct EU tax and arguing: "The Commission seems to think that because of the tough economic climate, national governments would be keen to let Brussels collect money for the EU budget directly, rather than handing it over from national budgets. But what about the ordinary citizens who would be forced to pay? Imposing an EU tax would be an unmistakable move to a federal
Open
Open
European Parliament: We lose power and get virtual democracy 8 August Sunday Telegraph
An article in the Sunday Telegraph cited Open Europe’s daily press summary in relation to the role-playing website Citzalia, which recreates the life of MEPs in virtual reality.
EU payments to consultants balloon as overall budget explodes 7 August Telegraph
Open
Attack on red tape fails to convince bosses 5 August PA
Open Europe was quoted by PA responding to the Government’s decision to adopt a ‘one-in, one-out ’ system for new laws, saying: “There are clearly question marks about how EU regulation, which is responsible for the most costly red tape affecting businesses, will be incorporated in such a one-in, one-out scheme […] If the Government's promise to reduce the number and costs of regulation are to be credible, then EU laws must be included in this scheme”.
Anxiety grows over new powers for ESMA 29 July Global Risk Regulator 19 July FT
Open Europe's Director Mats Persson featured in an article in Global Risk Regulator discussing the forthcoming European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), which he indicated "looks like the first step towards a European Securities and Exchange Commission". On the rushed negotiations, which could see the ESAs operational by January 2011, Mats added: "I don't really understand the rush. We question whether the ESAs will actually address any of the underlying causes of the financial crisis. And, we do not subscribe to the view that if the ESAs are not up and running by January 1, it will be a disaster. On the contrary, it might be a good thing to allow more time to properly work through these proposals and ensure they make sense".
Meanwhile, the FT also cited Open Europe's debate, held on 12 July in conjunction with Policy Exchange, on the EU's proposals for financial supervision and regulation.
CAP should be scrapped 28 July BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live featured Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell discussing measures to drive down the UK's deficit. She suggested that the EU's wasteful Common Agricultural Policy should be scrapped, as it raises costs for consumers.
EU's intelligence agency a burgeoning European secret service 28 July Le Monde
An article in Le Monde, which reported the appointment of Patrice Bergamini as head of the EU's intelligence agency, the Joint Situation Centre (SitCen), cited Open Europe describing SitCen as a burgeoning European secret service.
New Czech government likely to be less EU-critical 27 July MFDnes
Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted in Czech daily MFDnes, saying: "It seems that the new [Czech] coalition is going to be less critical towards the EU than it was during the period of the country's EU presidency, even though the ODS is in the government. Minister Schwarzenberg will also possibly give up a few Czech embassies in favour of EU ones".
Europe's Emissions Trading Scheme created a transfer of $470 million a year from British firms to their overseas competitors 27 July Washington Times
An article by Iain Murray and Matthew Sinclair in the Washington Times looking at carbon cap and trade systems cited Open Europe's research on the EU's emissions trading scheme.
EU funds £400 million worth of "confidential" projects 26 July Telegraph
The Telegraph cited Open Europe's finding that between 2007 and 2009, the EU has funded £400m worth of confidential projects.
€13.8m of EU funds spent on research revealing that apples are healthy 23 July Mail Sun
Open Europe's Siân Herbert was quoted in the Mail and on page two of the Sun criticising the "ridiculous spending" of taxpayers' money in reference to a €13.8m EU research project that concluded that two apples a day are good for cholesterol.
European Investigation Order threatens both civil liberties and criminal justice system 19 July Express
An article in the Express, looking at the consequences of the introduction of the European Investigation Order (EIO), quoted Open Europe's Stephen Booth saying: "This would not only pose a major threat to civil liberties in the UK but also irreversibly change the shape of our criminal justice system. The coalition's claims to be serious about civil liberties are meaningless unless they defend individuals' freedoms and rights from unwelcome EU laws, as well as those in the UK".
MEPs check out of the European Parliament early and head to the 16 July The Parliament
Commenting on 15 MEPs’ trip to the
End the travelling circus between 16 July Knack
Open Europe's
British MEPs have worst European Parliament attendance record 16 July The Parliament 10 July Telegraph
An article in the Telegraph, reporting that the UK’s 72 member delegation to the European Parliament had the worst attendance record of all 27 member states, quoted Open Europe’s
Open 15 July Brussels blogger study 2010
The Open Europe blog has been ranked 7th in public affairs firm Waggener Edstrom’s ‘
The Coalition must keep promise on referendum 13 July E!Sharp
Open Europe’s Director
13 July Express
Open Europe was quoted in the Express, commenting on research that found the
MEPs must change their attitude in order to convince voters 13 July TSF Radio Noticias
Open Europe’s
European Commission has given out £400m in grants to “confidential” projects
The Sun and the Express both reported on Open
8 July TVP
In an interview with Polish TV channel TVP, Open Europe's
Future treaty changes should repatriate powers 8 July American Spectator
Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted by the American Spectator magazine arguing that any future EU treaty change should be used by David Cameron to repatriate powers to
European Commission proposes ‘peer review’ of member states’ pensions systems 8 July Express The Parliament
In an article in the Express on the European Commission’s suggestion that retirement ages across Europe should be raised, Open Europe’s
‘The EU after the euro crisis: superstate or disintegration?’ 5 July Guardian: Hannan
Writing in the Guardian, Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan cited Open Europe’s recent debate, “The EU after the euro crisis: superstate or disintegration?”, and argued that trying to label critics of the European Union as xenophobes is a “handy way of sidestepping criticism”.
Foreign Secretary wants more British officials in EU institutions 2 July Deutsche Welle Radio
Open
'The EU after the Euro crisis: Superstate or disintegration?' 1 July Telegraph: Hannan 30 June EUobserver blogs
Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan summarised on his Telegraph blog the arguments he set out at Open Europe's debate in
Commission outlines plan to suspend EU subsidies for countries flouting deficit rules 30 June Telegraph
Following the publication of new proposals to issue sanctions against EU countries that fail to conform to rules on deficits, Open Europe's Stephen Booth was quoted by the Telegraph calling on the government to oppose a "disproportionate" measure, adding: "The UK has said it will play no part in the euro for the very reason that it wants to maintain control over economic and monetary policy. Why would the government then agree to be sanctioned by an economic government designed for the eurozone?"
MPs' expenses: New Lords allowance regime 'open to abuse' 29 June Telegraph
In response to the news that the new House of Lords' expenses system will be operated on a per diem basis, Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph pointing to the experience of the European Parliament, where MEPs were caught "signing in and sloping off". He added, "The idea of a per diem allowance eliminates a lot of accountability."
Protests against austerity measures paralyse Greece 29 June Russia Today
Open Europe's Mats Persson appeared on
George Soros: 24 June Express
With rumours spreading about the potential collapse of the euro, Stephen Booth was quoted by the Express in relation to Germany's economic policies, saying: "Germany understandably wants to maintain control over its economic policy but this crisis has shown that being part of the single currency involves huge responsibilities to the other euro countries, something which politicians didn't tell their citizens when they signed up to the euro."
EU takes on extra 18 MEPs for £7 million 23 June Telegraph
Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted in the Telegraph, as the European Union amended the Lisbon Treaty to allow an extra 18 MEPs to begin work, saying that it was "strange that the EU sees it fit to go through a complicated process of treaty reform just to provide for more jobs in the European Parliament - at a time when virtually every country in Europe is cutting back. This says a lot about the EU's priorities. If anything, the EU's institutions should be slimmed down."
Osborne axes Treasury's "Euro Preparations Unit" 22 June Telegraph
Cameron backs EU treaty deal in move that could block another referendum 22 June Mail
Following David Cameron's assurance that the
Over 1,000 unelected EU officials paid more than David Cameron 22 June Express
After revelations that over 1,000 EU civil servants are paid more than the
Record numbers take part in EU student mobility scheme 22 June EurActiv
Open
Cameron returns from first EU summit 21 June Guardian: Booth EUobserver: Persson's blog
Writing for the Guardian's Comment is Free, Open Europe's Stephen Booth argued that, at his first EU summit, David Cameron successfully avoided greater incursions on the
Austerity but not for the EU 21 June Tele
Appearing on Spanish TV channel Tele
European Council summit sees Cameron resisting moves for closer EU economic governance 17 June BBC: Robinson Mail Conservative Home 16 June Economist: Eastern Approaches blog
Open
The Mail quoted Open
The effects of the CAP in Poland 17 June Dziennik
An article in Polish newspaper Dziennik looking at the effects of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy cited Open Europe’s research revealing that the EU spends €293m subsidising tobacco farmers.
16 June FT Video 11 June Telegraph
Open Europe Director
Ahead of the European Council summit, Mats appeared on FT Video discussing recent tensions between
15 June Mail on Sunday
Following the publication of a new report from the Office of Budget Responsibility which estimated that the
The cost of regulation 15 June Express: Clark
In his column in the Express, Ross Clark cited Open Europe’s research, which found that regulation introduced between 1998 and 2008 cost the UK economy £148 billion.
Van Rompuy admits €750bn eurozone aid package may not be enough 11 June Telegraph: Hannan 7 June Telegraph: O'Brien
On his Telegraph blog Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan ‘hat-tipped’ Open Europe’s press summary, which revealed comments from EU President Herman Van Rompuy, who said that the cost of eurozone bailouts may rise above the €750bn already agreed by EU governments.
On his Telegraph blog, Policy Exchange Director Neil O’Brian also recommended Open
MEPs want to snoop on web searches 8 June Mail on Sunday
In an article in the Mail on Sunday looking at a European Parliament proposal to more closely monitor citizens’ web searches, Open
Life after the Commission 8 June Le Post
An article in Le Post cited Open
The true cost of compliance 7 June Private Equity Manager
An article in Private Equity Manager cited Open
Government promises "fresh approach" on 4 June LBC radio
Open Europe's
Sweden must resist moves towards fiscal federalism 1 June Svenska Dagbladet: Persson & Sigfrid
Open Europe's Mats Persson and Karl Sigfrid, MP for Swedish governing party Moderaterna, wrote an op-ed for Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet, in which they argued that "what we probably will see in the eurozone in the long-term is common fiscal policies, which aim to even out economic differences", that could include direct EU taxes. "EU taxes and fiscal federalism would disadvantage Sweden and lack democratic legitimacy...through large financial transactions Swedish taxpayers would be forced to pay for the mistakes of governments which they cannot vote out of office," they noted.
MEPs have spent £5m on foreign trips since 2004 31 May Sunday Telegraph News of the World
Open Europe researcher Siân Herbert was quoted in the Sunday Telegraph and News of the World saying: "It seems ridiculous that while the EU faces economic crisis, MEPs jet to far-flung destinations and stay in luxury hotels."
Stanley Fink: "The last government was asleep at the watch" on AIFM Directive 31 May Sunday Telegraph 24 May New Europe El Periodico de Aragon
An article featuring an interview with Stanley Fink, sometimes referred to as the 'godfather' of the UK hedge fund industry, in the Sunday Telegraph cited Open Europe's research on the AIFM Directive, which estimated that €5.3bn in annual tax revenues will be lost to Britain if hedge fund managers conduct their business elsewhere, and that in total the Directive could end up costing the UK economy between €6.8bn and €9.6bn by 2020.
The research was also cited in Spanish paper El Periodico de Aragon, and in an article in New Europe magazine discussing the directive.
Frosty relations between France and Germany 31 May EUobserver blog: Persson
On his EUobserver blog, Open Europe Director Mats Persson looked at the Franco-German relationship and argued, "If Merkel sounds like Thatcher, what exactly is that a sign of? German taxpayers are potentially liable for some €120 billion in eurozone loans and have just seen the independence of the ECB kissed goodbye - after having been promised that neither could ever happen. Whining over the fact that the Germans are not acting like this is 'business as usual' just isn't serious."
Van Rompuy admits citizens were misled about the euro 28 May Express 27 May Telegraph
Both the Telegraph and Express featured Open Europe's new briefing, "They said it: How the EU elite got it wrong on the euro". Open Europe analyst Vincenzo Scarpetta was quoted in the articles saying: "The euro zone crisis is not simply about economic failure but also a breakdown in trust between the political class and European citizens. The EU elite simply got it wrong on the euro."
ECB starts work on new £730m HQ 29 May Hospodarske Noviny 24 May Property Week 23 May Sunday Times Corriere della Sera
In an article looking at the construction of the European Central Bank's new headquarters in Frankfurt, the Sunday Times quoted Open Europe Director Mats Persson saying: "It's mind-boggling that the ECB is going ahead with such a grand project only weeks after taxpayers were asked to cough up €500 billion to save the eurozone." Mats was also quoted in Italian paper Corriere della Sera, Property Week, and in Slovakian newspaper Hospodarske Noviny.
Divisions emerge on EU approach to banking levy 27 May Mail This is Money
Following the publication of new proposals from the Commission for an EU-wide tax on banks to set up 'resolution funds' to manage future bank failures in a structured way, Open Europe was quoted in the Mail and This is Money saying: "The Government must resist any moves by the Commission towards anything which looks like an EU-wide tax".
Cameron rules out any EU Treaty change which affects UK 26 May Telegraph 25 May Economist: Charlemagne notebook 22 May Conservative Home:Persson Mail This is Money
The Mail quoted Open Europe Director Mats Persson saying: "If this ends up involving any transfer of powers to Brussels then the coalition has to call a referendum. The crisis has already sucked us into the bailout package and there is a clear drive to put new controls in place, some of which will include the UK." Mats was also quoted in This is Money.
In an article for Conservative Home, Mats argued that this "is also a once-in-a-decade opportunity for Cameron... Treaty changes - or any substantial changes that require unanimity in the EU - could actually be good news for the UK. It would finally present a British Government with real leverage in negotiations with EU partners: in return for allowing the eurozone to integrate further, the UK should ask for any of a number of things in return, including the repatriation of powers and a more sensible EU budget." The article was cited on the Economist's Charlemagne blog, looking at the reaction of the British media to potential Treaty change.
Mats was also quoted in the Telegraph, saying that Conservative MPs may rebel if David Cameron did not use the "ideal opportunity" for Britain to repatriate powers: "Cameron will come under massive pressure from his own ranks but he should not fear going down this road. If successful, Cameron would set an important precedent for Europe by which powers can be brought back to member states as well as handed over to the EU."
Germany backs tax on financial transactions 23 May Sunday Telegraph: Booker
In his Sunday Telegraph column, Christopher Booker cited Open Europe's press summary which revealed that Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a "global" tax on financial transactions.
Alistair Darling agrees to help the eurozone 21 May BBC World Service 18 May EUobserver blogs 11 May Sky News Mail Yorkshire Post This is Money Sky News 2 Telegraph
Open Europe Director Mats Persson appeared on the BBC World Service discussing the future of the eurozone.
Sky News, The Sunday Telegraph, Sun, Express, Mail, Yorkshire Post, This is Money and The Scotsman quoted Mats saying "While it is in everyone's interest for Europe's economy to stabilise, this deal could easily spiral out of control and see UK and European taxpayers becoming exposed to ever growing debt burdens of governments over which they have no democratic control whatsoever. This is simply unsustainable - both from a democratic and an economic point of view."
Mats also examined the recent eurozone events on his EUobserver blog.
Regional 'stars' rewarded for innovative projects 12 May EurActiv
In an article looking at an awards ceremony for EU-funded regional projects, Euractiv quoted Open Europe's Mats Persson saying, "While more effective targeting of cohesion funds certainly should be encouraged, you would think that the EU had bigger things on its plate at the moment than engaging in self-congratulatory ceremonies at the taxpayers' expense."
New UK coalition should have the courage to pursue EU reform 20 May The Parliament 18 May Telegraph: Persson> 17 May EurActiv
Following the coalition agreement between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, EurActiv cited Open Europe welcoming the commitment to hold a referendum on any future Treaty changes. Mats was quoted saying: "What cannot happen is for the new government to adopt the calculating, spinning, referendum-dodging approach of its predecessor in order to avoid facing up to the electorate and honouring its pledges, particularly on the transfer of powers to Brussels."
The Parliament quoted Open Europe saying, "We encourage the new UK government to push for genuine EU reform, including repatriating powers from Brussels. Most importantly, the coalition must break with the Labour government's record, and be fully honest with voters about when powers are being transferred from Westminster to Brussels - and take the voters' side in opposing such moves."
Writing for the Telegraph, Mats argued: "It's clear that the EU's flagship project, the eurozone, was built on an unsustainable political and economic model, and that people across the continent are becoming increasingly fed-up with the entire European project. This gives the Conservatives the backdrop they need to push for long overdue changes in Europe."
European Commission proposes to oversee member states' budgets 19 May Full Fact 16 May Sunday Express
The Sunday Express quoted Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell saying, "Any suggestion that budgets should be more tailored towards the EU is undemocratic and a huge encroachment on member states' powers."
The fact-check website Full Fact also quoted Sarah saying, "While it remains to be seen whether or not these proposals will elicit the required level of support - it is important that the UK Government does not sit back and allow proposals to take shape without their input, or they may find EU economic cooperation moving further than they expect or want."
George Osborne forced to accept EU hedge funds regulation 19 May TAZ Mail Sueddeutsche 18 May Guardian EUobserver Europolitics EUobserver: blog
The Guardian, Sueddeutsche and Tageszeitung cited Open Europe's research into the AIFM Directive. The Guardian, EUobserver and Europolitics quoted Open Europe Director Mats Persson saying, "Forcing through the directive could cause serious damage to the UK's economy and jeopardise billions in funding to developing countries...The decision is being taken by the bloc's finance ministers only one week after the new UK government has taken office, leaving it virtually no room to prepare for the negotiations."
The Mail quoted Mats saying, "The current UK Government was landed in a real mess by its predecessor and should be given credit for trying to make the best of a bad situation. The attempts to remove the most protectionist (hedge fund) rules are clearly welcome...The last thing the EU needs is the City of London and the British Government feeling like victims of a political point-scoring exercise in Europe. Constructive relationships have to work both ways."
Nick Clegg made €362,550 profit on his Brussels home while receiving Brussels accommodation allowances 30 April Nieuwsblad 29 April Express 28 April Times FT Guardian Sun Express Mail 27 April Sky News BBC London
Open Europe's findings that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg made a profit of €362,550 on the sale of his home in Brussels he bought while receiving thousands of pounds in accommodation allowances as an MEP received coverage in the Times, Express, Guardian, Sun, Mail, page 2 of the FT, in Belgian daily Het Nieuwsblad and was featured on Sky News and BBC London.
Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Sun saying: "Nick Clegg has taken the moral high ground in this campaign. But now he needs to come clean on whether he used taxpayers' money in any way to make a huge personal profit on his house in Brussels. Failure to do so would amount to extraordinary hypocrisy as he's been the most outspoken against MPs who have used public money to make personal gains in the property market."
Open Europe was also quoted in the Mail saying: "It is unacceptable to simply hide behind the opaque EU allowances system, which doesn't require MEPs or officials to provide receipts for their allowances."
Greece wouldn't find it easy to leave the euro 30 April Guardian: Elliott BBC Oxford
Writing in the Guardian Larry Elliot looked at whether Greece could or should leave the eurozone, and quoted Open Europe Director Mats Persson saying: "There is no mechanism on the table [for leaving the euro] at all. They haven't thought about it." He added that, in the long-term "an alternative would be for the eurozone to split into a German-led inner core and an outer core made of a weaker group of countries, which would not include Greece."
Mats also appeared on BBC Oxford radio, arguing that the case for the UK joining the euro was "getting weaker by the day".
British policy towards the EU needs a "healthy dose of realism" 26 April FT: Letters
In a letter to the FT, Open Europe Chairman Lord Leach of Fairford argued that the "mantra of the importance of being at 'the top table', working 'in the mainstream' of Europe...is too vague to be of value in shaping British policy towards the European Union. What is needed is a healthy dose of friendly realism and reform of an EU that is failing on many fronts."
He added, "A thoughtful British administration would recognise that the robust defence of our own interests, far from marginalising us, would put us in the same camp as France, Spain and many other member states, including (as the Greek crisis is making clear) the hitherto self-denying Germany - that is, at the heart of Europe."
EU declares 'tourism is a right' with holiday subsidies for poorer citizens 26 April Lidovky 18 April NOTW National Post
In its report that the EU is drawing up plans to subsidise holidays around the EU for poorer citizens, pensioners and students, the News of the World quoted Open Europe's Mats Persson saying, "The commission is literally considering paying people to go on holiday. In this economic climate, it's astonishing that the EU wants to bribe people with cheap holidays." Mats was also quoted in the Canadian paper National Post and in Czech paper Lidovky.
Clegg the 'political outsider' received £2.5m in taxpayers' money over ten years in Brussels 24 April Mail 23 April Mail 22 April Sun Times Telegraph
The Sun, Times, Mail and the Telegraph all featured calculations by Open Europe that Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg received an estimated £1.6 million in salaries and allowances and £1 million in staff allowances over ten years working in the EU institutions.
Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Sun saying, "He's been part of the privileged political class for years." The Times quoted Mats saying, "By no definition can he be considered a political outsider and his claims to being one are simply not credible. For ten years he was on the EU's generous payroll, so it is no surprise that he is out of step with the British public on Europe, including on his insistence that the UK should still join the euro, which is a ludicrous idea in light of recent events."
AIFM Directive 24 April E24 18 March FT Deutschland
Scandinavia's largest financial news site E24 cited Open Europe research on the impact of the AIFM Directive. The report was also cited in FT Deutschland.
Open Europe spells out the choices voters face on Europe 24 April ARD 22 April WSJ blog Bloomberg Independent:Hamilton
Open Europe's new briefing detailing the UK's main parties' positions on the EU, published ahead of the second leaders' debate, was cited on the WSJ's Brussels blog, which described the briefing as a "tip sheet that could prove useful". The briefing was also suggested as further reading in Adrian Hamilton's column in the Independent. Open Europe Director Mats Persson also appeared on Bloomberg discussing the debate and on German television ARD discussing the EU and the UK General Election.
Committee of Regions defends regional policy status quo
Open Europe's Mats Persson was quoted by EurActiv criticising the recent Committee of the Regions' report, which called to preserve current EU regional policy structures, saying: "the EU's regional spending is off-target, inflexible, wasteful and out of sync with the current economic climate. It's extraordinary that the CoR continues to defend a system which sees some of the richest EU member states recycling money via Brussels at a huge deadweight cost to the European taxpayer - smack in the middle of the worst recession in a generation. A more common sense approach would clearly be to restrict funding to the genuinely poor regions and countries, and so make the EU's regional spending far more focused and cost-effective."
Mats was also interviewed on the Italian television channel RAI Tre, discussing the ineffectiveness and wastefulness of the EU's distribution of regional |