Open Europe believes that if the EU is to meet the challenges of the twenty first century it needs to embrace radical and urgent reform based on economic liberalisation and more flexible institutions. Our aim, as an independent think-tank, is to promote this reform programme by providing policy-makers, business people, commentators and academics across the EU with original and research-driven ideas.
Click on the links below to view the relevant area of research:
The EU Constitution and EU politics
Trade and development
Institutional reform and transparency
Single Market and regulation
Environment and energy
Polling and public opinion
Justice, home affairs and migration
Economic reform
The EU Constitution and EU politics
The French EU Presidency 2008 - what to expect
25.03.08
Open Europe has published a briefing note looking ahead to the French Presidency of the EU, which begins in July 2008. The Presidency promises to be busy and extremely ambitious.
Nicolas Sarkozy’s top priorities for the six months include: laying the groundwork for an EU defence force and common EU defence policy; Forging a common EU immigration and asylum policy; Setting up the new institutions set out in the Lisbon Treaty – e.g. appointing a new EU Foreign Minister and a permanent EU President ready to start work in January.
The briefing can be downloaded here.
A guide to the constitutional treaty
03.02.08
Open Europe has published a side by side comparative text of the Lisbon Treaty and the EU Constitution, and has released an updated guide to what it means.
The guide gives an overview of the main changes brought about by the revised constitution, in areas ranging from foreign policy to justice and home affairs.
The comparative text can be downloaded here.
The guide to the constitutional treaty can be downloaded here .
Broken promises: Lessons from 10 years of the Blair Government in Europe
03.07.07
A new briefing from Open Europe argues that the UK Government’s apparent U-turn on the referendum on the EU constitutional treaty is the latest in a long tradition of broken promises from the Government on its EU policy. Over the last ten years the Government has broken promise after promise about the way that EU integration would develop – from insisting that the Charter of Fundamental Rights would never become legally binding, to promising that the UK would never give up its veto on immigration policy, nor give away its rebate. In a new briefing we highlight 39 of the Blair Government’s most significant broken promises and missed opportunities.
To read Open Europe's briefing click here
The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: Why a fudge won't work
21.06.07
The UK government is now briefing that it will get a “UK-specific” opt out from the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Open Europe’s legal analysis, based on interviews with judges at the European Court of Justice, shows that there is a powerful body of evidence that even with such “safeguards”, the Charter would still come to change national law.
Read the report “ The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights: Why a fudge won't work ”
The case for a referendum
20.06.07
Open Europe has published three new research notes on the new EU constitutional treaty. The notes look at: the likely contents of the new version of the constitutional treaty; the government’s arguments about why it is breaking its promise to hold a referendum; and how the original purpose of the constitutional process - to bring Europe closer to the people - has been lost sight of. Read them below:
Just how “new” is the revised constitutional treaty?
The Government's arguments examined
Crunch time for Galileo: Will the UK agree to bail out the EU’s collapsing satellite project?
21.05.07
Open Europe has published a new briefing note on the EU’s Galileo project. EU Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot last week called on taxpayers to stump up €2.4 billion to prevent the collapse of the EU’s planned satellite navigation programme, Galileo, which has been dogged by delays and ballooning costs since it was first proposed by Neil Kinnock in 1999.
As well as a question about how much money member states will pump into EU space projects, a second issue on the agenda is who will control future space projects. Insiders suggest that the Commission wants to set up a new unit in DG Enterprise to run not just Galileo, but a number of other space-based projects.
Read the briefing note “ Crunch time for Galileo: Will the UK agree to bail out the EU’s collapsing satellite project? ”
The new treaty: what will it mean, and do we need a referendum?
07.05.07
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While much still remains to be negotiated prior to the key summit on 22 June, Open Europe's pamphlet argues that the outline of the new treaty is already starting to emerge. It seems likely that EU leaders will attempt to reintroduce many of the key features of the rejected Constitution in the new treaty, including an EU President, an EU Foreign Minister with substantial new powers, and a change to the voting system which would reduce the UK’s ability to block legislation by 30%. Nicolas Sarkozy was the first EU leader to call for a “mini” treaty which could be introduced without a referendum. The pamphlet argues that if the new treaty does, as expected, reintroduce many of the significant constitutional innovations that were proposed in the EU Constitution, then voters should be consulted in a referendum. Read the pamphlet “The new treaty: what will it mean, and do we need a referendum? ” |
The Commission's Annual Policy Strategy for 2008: What is new and significant?
27.04.07
Open Europe has made a submission analysing the EU Commission’s 2008 Annual Policy Strategy to the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee.
2008 will see EU intervention in a number of important areas. These include regulation of urban infrastructure and possible moves towards an EU-wide road charging scheme; reforms aimed at ‘completion’ of the Single Market which could see proposals for standardised rules on savings and investments, whilst the Commission hopes to have implemented a harmonised corporate tax base in Europe by 2010; and in justice and policing, there will be moves towards a Common European Asylum System and a central fingerprint database.
Read the submission “ The Commission's Annual Policy Strategy for 2008: What is new and significant? ”
The EU in 2007
22.12.06
Open Europe has published a pamphlet looking at the likely developments in the EU in 2007. It explores the debate about the return of the European Constitution, looks at the rising tensions within the eurozone, and examines the agenda of the incoming German Presidency of the EU.
European politicians are determined that 2007 will be the year that the European Constitution is resurrected. If they succeed, Gordon Brown’s new government could be under a lot of pressure from day one.
With tensions also building within the eurozone over the high euro, 2007 seems set to be the year that the whole issue of ‘Europe’ comes back up the political agenda.
Read the pamphlet “The EU in 2007”
A year since the no votes: Can Europe learn to listen?
29.05.06
In a new briefing, Open Europe looks at the debate surrounding the EU Constitution one year on from the no votes in France and the Netherlands, and the different plans to resurrect the Constitution. Since its rejection, the debate over the EU Constitution has not focused on whether but how to bring it back, a further six member states have ratified it, and a consensus has formed amongst EU leaders that the Constitution will have to be revisited in 2007.
Read the briefing note “A year since the no votes”
The making- and breaking- of New Labour's European policy?
02.02.06
In a speech at Oxford University on 2 February Tony Blair defended his Prime Ministerial record on Europe, arguing that he has achieved his aim of putting Britain at the heart of Europe through a policy of “positive engagement”.
In a special briefing Open Europe analyses the failure of the Government’s European strategy.
Read the briefing note “The making- and breaking- of New Labour's European policy?”
EU leaders plan return of EU Constitution
12.01.06
With the EU’s budget “crisis” and the UK’s Presidency now safely out of the way, EU leaders have begun to return their focus and energies to reviving the rejected European Constitution. The Austrian government, which holds the Presidency of the EU for the first half of 2006, has signalled that devising a strategy for bringing back the EU Constitution will be one of its top priorities.
The new German government, widely credited with having played the key role in securing a deal on the EU’s budget, has thrown its full weight behind the plan. Their traditional allies in Paris are also in favour despite the emphatic rejection of the text in their own country. Bringing back the Constitution is unlikely to be a straightforward process however, as the French and Germans disagree on strategy. In this briefing note we look at the positions of the key players in the debate and the possibilities for the eventual return of the European Constitution.
Read the briefing note “EU leaders plan return of EU Constitution”
The Austrian Presidency of the EU: the issues to watch
01.01.06
The Austrian Government took over the EU Presidency from Britain on 1 January and has already set out an agenda which runs counter to the UK’s goals.
The Austrians plan to alter the proposed Services directive, "coordinate" social security systems and tighten the working time directive further, threatening the UK’s opt-out.
EU leaders are also beginning to look at ways to resurrect the failed EU Constitution. In this briefing note we identify the key issues to watch for in the next 6 months.
Read the briefing note “The Austrian Presidency of the EU: the issues to Watch”
The UK presidency of the EU: rhetoric and reality
27.10.05
After the two ‘no’ votes in France and the Netherlands and the failure of EU leaders to agree on a budget, the EU was widely perceived to be in a state of crisis. Many commentators saw the UK’s Presidency as a golden opportunity for the freshly re-elected Labour Government to push through badly-needed reforms. Tony Blair set out an ambitious agenda in his speech to the European Parliament in the summer.
However, as we set out in this briefing, the reality has been quite different to the rhetoric about reform. The British Presidency of the EU has been a disappointment so far. To date there has been no progress on reform of the EU budget and the CAP, or on reform of the EU’s economic and trade policies.
Read the briefing note “The UK presidency of the EU: rhetoric and reality”
Trade and development
Economic Partnership Agreements: is the EU rushing towards disaster on 31 December? And how will we sort out the mess afterwards?
24.12.07
A briefing note from Open Europe gives an update on the stalled negotiations over the EU's Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), arguing that the situation means that developing countries face economic uncertainty and tariff rises on exports to the EU, whilst regional integration could also be damaged by the deals.
Read the briefing note “here.”
Economic Partnership Agreements: What's the best way forward?
12.10.07
A new study from Open Europe argues that the EU must adopt a more flexible approach towards Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), currently being negotiated with African, Carribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. Specifically, it concludes that the EU should take the threat of higher tariffs and reduced market access off the table, and should not make aid conditional on signing up to an EPA.
Read the report “ Economic Partnership Agreements: What's the best way forward? ”
Five ways to make trade work for development
21.05.07
A new study from Open Europe proposes five ways to make trade work for development, covering negotiations at Doha, the global trade preference system, public health policy, trade facilitation and reform of the Kyoto Protocol's carbon trading provisions.
The study argues that the multilateral trade framework is threatened by the EU's current negotiating stance at Doha, creating the risk of trade governance unravelling to produce a vastly inferior web of bilateral deals which would put developing countries at a disadvantage. The study sets out proposals for a far more ambitious European offer in order to break the deadlock.
Read the report “ Five ways to make trade work for development ”
EU aid: is it effective?
29.05.07
A new study from Open Europe finds that the EU is not spending its aid budget effectively, and concludes that the money would be more effectively spent directly through DFID.
The report argues that delivering aid through the 118 European Commission delegations represents an added cost, not a saving. Closing the Commission’s delegations and scaling back admin spending in Brussels could release huge sums for real aid - potentially over a billion euros a year.
It also argues that the wrong conditions are attached to EU aid. On the one hand the Commission has linked aid to the acceptance of new “Economic Partnership Agreements”, which are controversial because they require developing countries to bring down their trade barriers against the EU relatively rapidly. On the other the EU still gives aid to Cuba and China, and continues to run projects in Uzbekistan, despite these countries’ poor human rights records.
Read the report “ EU aid: is it effective? ”
World trade talks: how the EU is blocking progress
11.11.05
Hopes are fading fast for a successful agreement at the WTO talks in Hong Kong next month. If the talks collapse developing countries and the poorest people in the West will be the biggest losers, and the blame will rightly fall on the EU for its refusal to make significant efforts to reduce its trade barriers and subsidies.
In a briefing note we look at the claims made by EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and show how little the EU is offering in reality. A spokesman for Peter Mandelson has already made it clear that the EU will not offer to reduce its agricultural subsidies "by a single cent". And despite the EU's claim that it will cut its agricultural trade barriers in half, we find that the EU's offer amounts to a cut of just 1% in real terms. It's no coincidence that the rest of the world is now blaming the EU for undermining the talks.
Read the briefing note “World trade talks: how the EU is blocking progress”
Trade justice or free trade?
2.11.05
Trade justice campaigners are today holding a mass lobby of MPs, ahead of the key WTO meeting in Hong Kong in December. The lobby, organised by the Trade Justice Movement, aims to promote “fair trade not free trade”.
Some of the ideas of the Trade Justice Movement are excellent – such as the removal of trade barriers raised by developed countries against poor countries. However, other ideas advocated by a number of groups within the trade justice lobby are misguided, and some of the claims made about the “damaging effects” of free trade are not based on a balanced assessment or a proper economic analysis.
Read the briefing note “Trade justice or free trade?”
Open up: why the EU must reform to survive
20.10.05
To conincide with our launch, Open Europe has commissioned a study by Oxford Economic Forecasting (OEF), which analyses the potential benefits of removing the EU’s trade barriers and reforming the Common Agricultural Policy. The report demonstrates that economic liberalization would benefit the EU and the developing world. A short factsheet summarising the findings is also available.
A separate report examines the implications of OEF’s findings: what strategy should supporters of trade reform advocate? And why have attempts at reform had so little impact to date? What lessons should we learn?
Read the factsheet, “Open Up” (4 pages)
Read the full report by Oxford Economic Forecasting,
“Trade liberalisation and CAP reform in the EU” (78 pages)
Read the report on how to bring down Europe's trade barriers,
“Why the EU must reform to survive” (69 pages)
To view the presentation used at the launch, please click
“here”
Institutional reform and transparency
Getting a grip: reforming EU scrutiny at Westminster
07.04.06
Open Europe has released a new pamphlet calling for radical changes in the way that the House of Commons scrutinises EU legislation.
The pamphlet - Getting a grip: Reforming EU Scrutiny at Westminster - argues that Westminster MPs should have the same powers enjoyed by MPs in Denmark and Sweden to control what the Government can and can’t sign up to in Brussels.
Read the report “Getting a grip: reforming EU scrutiny at Westminster”
Single Market and regulation
The EU and You: How the EU affects everyday life in the UK
04.03.08
A new paper reviews a selection of the everyday effects of EU law, noting that the EU is responsible for such diverse things as fortnightly bin collections, higher electricity bills, home information packs and rules on children of twelve having to sit in car booster seats.
Read the briefing note “The EU and You: How the EU affects everyday life in the UK”
The Health Services Directive: what will it mean for the NHS?
20.12.07
A briefing note from Open Europe argues that while quasi-markets in healthcare are a good thing, the specific proposals in the Health Directive are not the right way to go about introducing greater choice. The paper notes that particular features of the Directive - at least as currently drafted - are problematic and would potentially favour higher income groups.
Read the briefing note “The Health Services Directive”
How big is the acquis communautaire?
02.01.07
The EU Commission has long claimed that the acquis communautaire – the body of EU legislation which European companies, charities and individuals have to comply with - is roughly 80,000 pages long. However, research by Open Europe suggests that such estimates are seriously out of date.
A huge increase in the burden of EU regulation over the last ten years is now visible even in the physical volume of EU legislation. We found that the EU has passed a staggering 666,879 pages of law since its inception in 1957, 26% of which are still active. Thus we calculate that the true size of the active acquis communautaire is over 170,000 pages long - more than double the number of pages that is normally claimed by the EU Commission and other commentators.
Read the briefing note “How big is the acquis communautaire?”
Selling the City short? A review of the EU's Financial Services Action Plan
04.12.06
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Open Europe has released the first comprehensive economic study of the EU’s Financial Services Action Plan (FSAP) – a programme of legislation initiated in 1999 which is intended to create a single market in financial services. Working with official regulatory impact assessments, consultancy reports, investment bank equity research and estimates given to us during our consultations for this report, the study finds that the FSAP will cost the UK industry up to £23.5 billion by 2010. The study argues that due to heavy-handed regulation, many of the 42 measures in the FSAP are likely to lead to greater costs than benefits. Read the pamphlet “Selling the City short? A review of the EU's Financial Services Action Plan” |
The decline of the single market?
08.03.06
In a new briefing Open Europe looks at Europe’s drift towards protectionism and whether the single market is in decline. The EU is supposed to mean free movement of goods, services, labour and capital. But with takeovers blocked, the services directive undermined, and free movement of workers denied to new member states, the reality is falling short of the vision.
Read the briefing note “The decline of the single market”
The Services Directive-can Europe Deliver?
13.02.06
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A study by Open Europe on the Services Directive examines how the EU’s attempt to open up its internal market for services is running into the sand, and calls for pro-reform Governments to fight back against attempts to use the directive to impose greater regulation on business. Read the report “The services directive-can Europe deliver?” |
EU red tape costs UK £30 billion
28.11.05
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A study by Open Europe finds that EU legislation has been responsible for 77% of the cost of regulation on businesses since 1998. The study calculates that EU-derived legislation has cost the UK economy £30 billion since 1998 alone. The report also finds that despite repeated promises by the European Commission that it will reduce red tape, the burden of EU regulation on the economy is still rising sharply. The report proposes four ways to reduce the cost of regulation, drawing on the experiences of other EU member states. Read the report “Less regulation: 4 ways to cut the burden of EU red tape” |
Environment and energy
What works? How to reduce emissions at the lowest cost
22.01.08
Open Europe has published an in-depth analysis of climate change policy in Europe, conducted in collaboration with Europe Economics. The study finds that the EU's binding targets for biofuels and renewables are not the most effective way of fighting climate change, and suggests that absolute emissions reduction targets and carbon pricing through tax would be better solutions.
Read Open Europe's report “What works? How to reduce emissions at the lowest cost”.
Read Europe Economics' report “A Comparison of the Costs of Alternative Policies for Reducing UK Carbon Emissions”.
Open Europe has also published a briefing discussing the implications for the UK of the Commission's proposals for renewables and biofuels targets. Read “EU renewable energy and biofuel targets – what will they mean?”.
Constitution's new energy powers could cost the UK £6bn
09.08.07
An Open Europe briefing note focuses on the new energy powers in the treaty. The study notes that the UK Government made a good argument against giving the EU more powers in this area when the original Constitution was being drawn up, but then later gave in. It argues that the move to majority voting in this area could prevent the UK from blocking a costly proposal to increase oil reserves, which could cost the UK £6bn.
The research also notes that the Government is now advancing a dishonest argument to cover up its failure in this area, claiming that the new power is needed to break up energy monopolies, when this is already covered by majority voting under the Internal Market.
Read the briefing note “What the Constitutional Treaty means in practice: Energy as a case study”
Europe’s Dirty Secret: Why the EU Emissions Trading Scheme isn’t working
09.08.07
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A new report from Open Europe argues that the first phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) was a failure, and the second phase (which begins in 2008) will see important new problems emerging. It notes that the ETS is unlikely to reduce emissions or spur low carbon investment, as the scheme will be heavily reliant on the 'import' of vast numbers of what are essentially carbon offsets from developing countries, rather than enforcing real reductions in emissions in Europe. It argues that these offsets are often not reducing emissions, and in some cases are even subsidising polluters. Read the report “ Europe’s Dirty Secret: Why the EU Emissions Trading Scheme isn’t working ” |
Home Information Packs: expensive and inneffective
16.05.07
A new study on Home Information Packs (HIPs) from Open Europe argues that the costs of the packs will be greater than the Government has admitted, and the benefits far smaller.
HIPs are being introduced mainly to comply with an EU directive from 2002 which requires all homes to have an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The study by Open Europe reveals that the cost of the EPCs to UK households will now be around £337 million a year rather than the £112 million predicted in the Government’s Regulatory Impact Assessment. By 2020, EPCs will have cost the UK £4.7 billion.
The study also calculates that over 12 million tonnes of carbon could be saved every year if the money being spent on EPCs were spent instead on real emissions reducing investments.
Read the pamphlet “ Home Information Packs: expensive and inneffective ”
Keeping the home fires burning? The Energy Plan for Europe and Britain's energy security
21.07.06
In a pamphlet for Open Europe Wayne Ives from Civitas looks at the EU’s Energy Plan for Europe (EPE). With energy security high on the agenda of European governments, the plan aims to create a common European energy strategy encompassing areas such as market liberalisation, diversification of supply, interconnection between EU states, environmental commitments and plans for technological innovation.
This initiative has won broad support from many commentators, but, while the EU may require a common approach to energy policy, signing up to the EPE would not be in Britain’s interests, neither for industry nor consumers.
Read the pamphlet “Keeping the home fires burning? The Energy Plan for Europe and Britain's energy security”
The high price of hot air: Why the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is an environmental and economic failure
02.07.06
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In a new pamphlet Open Europe looks at the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. In its first year of operation, the scheme has raised serious questions about its organisation and effectiveness in reducing carbon dioxide emissions. The UK has set a tough target, while other member states have set very loose targets. This means that the ETS will cost UK firms about £1.5 billion over the first three years, while firms in Germany will make just under a billion selling off their surplus permits. Read the pamphlet “The high price of hot air: Why the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is an environmental and economic failure” |
Polling and public opinion
Scottish voters back referendum in Scotland
23.10.07
A new ICM poll for Open Europe finds that 77% of Scottish voters are in favour of a referendum on the revised EU Constitution. It also finds a big majority in favour of the Scottish Parliament calling a referendum in Scotland if the Government in Westminster refuses to allow one for the UK. Overall 70% would back a Scottish vote, with only 25% against. 91% of SNP voters backed a Scottish vote, compared to 65% of Labour voters and 70% of Conservatives.
Read the full presentation of our results here
Refusing a referendum will hurt Brown in the polls
21.06.07
An ICM poll for Open Europe has found that 86% of UK voters want a referendum. 83% of Labour voters want a vote to be held on the text, as do 88% of Lib-Dem and Tory voters. 88% of trade union members want a referendum.
43% of Labour voters say they will be “definitely less likely” to vote for Brown if he does not hold a referendum.
65% of voters said that they would vote against a new treaty giving power to the EU. Labour voters are also roughly two-to-one against the new treaty, with 58% saying they would vote against it, and 33% in favour.
Read the full presentation of our results here
Public attitudes to the EU
23.03.07
Open Europe has published the first independent poll on the future of the European Union to be carried out in all 27 EU member states.
The poll finds that 75% of people in the EU want a referendum on any new treaty which gives more powers to the EU. In the UK, 83% would want a vote to be held. A majority in all 27 countries would want a referendum.
Across the EU as a whole, 28% think the EU should have more powers than it has now and that more decisions should be taken at the European level. 23% think the EU should keep the powers it has now, but should not be given any more. 41% think the EU should have less powers than it has now and that more decisions should be taken at a national or local level.
Read the full presentation of our results here
Business attitudes to the EU
22.09.06
An ICM poll of UK chief executives conducted for Open Europe has found that 54% of businesses feel that the costs of EU regulation outweigh the benefits of the Single Market.
There is also a perception that the regulatory burden is rising - 59% think the burden of EU regulation is increasing, 35% think it is staying the same and just 4% think it is decreasing. This is even more pronounced among the largest businesses, 70% of whom believe that regulation is increasing.
Business thinks the EU is “failing.” 52% agreed with the statement that “The EU is failing. Britain will be more prosperous and secure if we keep the Pound and take back powers from the EU”. Just 36% agreed with the statement that “The EU is a success. Britain will be more prosperous and secure if we join the Euro and give more powers to the EU”.
Read the full presentation of our results here
Justice, home affairs and migration
A bridge too far? Giving up the veto on crime, justice and policing
21.09.06
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In a new pamphlet, Open Europe discusses the implications of proposals to give up national vetos on justice and home affairs. The Foreign Office has argued that Britain’s so-called “opt-in” arrangements in this area are effectively like a “second veto”. Based on interviews with experts in European law, including the Government’s own legal representative, we find that the FCO’s claim that the ‘opt in’ is ‘as good as a veto’ does not stack up. Read the pamphlet “A bridge too far? Giving up the veto on justice and policing” |
Migration from Bulgaria and Romania: Lessons from the most recent enlargement
22.08.06
A new briefing note released by Open Europe today argues that the UK should allow free movement of workers from Bulgaria and Romania – but that the UK must repeal the EU legislation which limits the government’s ability to control the movement of criminals and the rights of non-workers to access benefits.
We project that if the current policies remain in place then the UK should expect around 450,000 people from Romania and around 170,000 people from Bulgaria to come to the UK to work over the first two years after their accession. Making a success of such a large movement of people will require a new and better system than the Government’s current Worker Registration Scheme.
Read the pamphlet “Migration from Bulgaria and Romania: Lessons from the most recent enlargement”
Giving up the veto over home affairs- will it threaten the UK's legal system?
14.06.06
In a new briefing, Open Europe looks at how the proposal to abolish the veto over criminal justice and police co-operation would increase the powers of the ECJ and EU Commission. The House of Lords has warned that if EU proposals for criminal justice harmonisation are passed it could lead to the "incremental unification of criminal procedure throughout the EU."
The Government has previously argued that an extension of majority voting over criminal procedural law "could change fundamental principles of our legal system, such as habeas corpus, which we are nor prepared to accept". But the Government is now "considering" an idea that would do just that.
Read the briefing note “will giving up the UK's veto over Home Affairs threaten the UK's legal system?”
The EU Free Movement Directive: "less control over crime, borders, and social security"
04.05.06
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Open Europe has released a new pamphlet on the implications of the EU Free Movement Directive. The directive – which was agreed in 2004 - will have serious implications for the UK’s ability to control its borders, social security and crime. Crucially the UK was overruled at a number of key points during the drawing up of the directive. Read the report “The EU Free Movement Directive: "less control over crime, borders, and social security"” |
Economic reform
EU regional policy failing
21.12.07
Open Europe has published an in-depth report on the EU's Structural and Cohesion Funds (SCF). The SCF are worth a significant sum of money - £7.2 billion will be spent in the UK over the current funding period (2007-2013). The report argues that much of this money will be wasted, because of the EU's failing approach.
Undertaking the most detailed analysis to date, we find that as little as 10% of the funds are spent in the poorest fifth of areas. The report also notes that the highly bureaucratic way in which the funds are administered by the EU leads to huge administrative costs. Simply running the funds costs the UK £670 million a year. Because of EU rules which say that regional authorities must spend money or lose it, the focus is very much on "getting the money out of the door". This and other factors lead to the commissioning of wasteful projects which do not boost growth or employment.
Download the report “Why the EU should not run regional policy”
UK contribution to EU budget rises to £71 billion
16.11.07
Open Europe finds that under the 2007-13 Financial Perspective the UK’s contribution, after the reduced rebate, will be £10.2 billion a year. Britain’s total gross contribution for the period is £71 billion. Britain will receive only €770 per person in EU spending - the lowest of any member state. To put the scale of expenditure into context, this money could alternatively be used to cut council tax by nearly 50%, employ an extra 320,000 nurses each year or pay the total bill for the London Olympics in less than one year.
Open Europe argues that the EU budget is a prime example of the failure of the EU to reform. It is irrational both in terms of what the money is spent on and also in terms of where the money is spent and raised.
Read the briefing note “here”
Beyond the European Social Model
29.03.06
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Open Europe has released a new book of essays by leading thinkers from across the EU. Beyond the European Social Model argues that the high-tax and highly regulated “social model” is not working, and that the time has come for the EU and its member states to take a different approach. The authors look at both success stories and failures from around Europe and paint a picture of how reforms might work. Read the full book “Beyond the Social Model” To read individual chapters please click here |
EU budget: bad for Britain, bad for Europe
20.12.05
EU heads of state and government have reached agreement on the EU budget for the period 2007-2013. Under the new deal Britain will give up £6.8 billion of its rebate. This means that the UK will pay £6 billion a year more into the EU than it receives back - an increase of two thirds. The deal represents a historic missed opportunity for the UK, as Tony Blair has agreed to give up a large part of the budget in return for nothing more than vague commitments to review EU spending in 2008. The EU budget will continue unreformed, with no change to the CAP, and Britain will get back less in EU spending than any other member state.
The EU budget is unfair because there is almost no link between spending and need, and ineffective because the EU continues to waste money on farm subsidies and failing “structural” policies which do nothing to prepare the EU economy for the 21st century.
Read the briefing note “The EU budget: a historic missed opportunity”
Government giving way on EU budget?
8.11.05
On 7 November EU budget discussions ended without resolution but the UK Government hinted that it was preparing to increase the amount it pays in to the EU’s budget.
Jack Straw said that the Government is now negotiating the size of the increase in UK contributions to the EU, not whether there should be an increase. It has been suggested that a likely deal might involve leaving the rebate formally unchanged but increasing the UK’s net contribution through other channels. Even under the existing rules, the UK expects to pay £155 billion more into the budget than it receives back.
Read the briefing note “EU budget/ rebate briefing”
