In the acronym-filled debate about the European Union’s trade policies, the mood has taken a decidedly anti-free trade turn in recent years. CETA and TTIP both incited large-scale protests in major European cities. The question, then, is: who is fuelling the anti-free trade spirit that has taken hold? The answer might surprise you.
When EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker mentioned in his state of the union address to the European Parliament that it is unacceptable that some member states get lower quality products in their supermarket than others, many Central and European citizens must have felt relief.
Poland’s Law and Justice party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość – PiS) has made international headlines due to its radical reform policy regarding the country’s judiciary system. These reforms are problematic, but they are not the only reason to be concerned about the future of freedom in the Central European state.
In September 16, I was extensively featured in an article in the Czech daily newspaper Lidove noviny. The article references my CityAM op-ed Robert Schuman would be eurosceptic if he could see the protectionist EU racket today in order to illustrate widespread European euroscepticism. The full article (in Czech) can be read here.
While the European Union, with its surrounding institutions, steadily accumulates more political power, the call for transparency has rightfully increased as well. The EU heavily watches all forms of corporate lobbying, yet has created its very own branch of lobbyists which turn out to be untransparent and biased.
D’après une initiative récente de quatre États membres de l’UE, l’Union européenne a abordé la question de la fiscalité numérique en suggérant que les services en ligne devraient être taxés sur le chiffre d’affaires et non sur les bénéfices. Les ministres des finances de la France, de l’Allemagne, de l’Italie et de l’Espagne exigent une […]
Die britischen Schlagzeilen der letzten Woche hatten wieder einmal nur ein Thema: Es ging um die Worte zweier Männer, nämlich die des Brexit-Verhandlungsführers der EU, Michel Barnier, und die des Brexit-Beauftragten der britischen Regierung, David Davies.
Last week’s headlines in the United Kingdom focused once again on the words of two men: the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and Brexit secretary for the UK government, David Davies. They have every interest in making the Brexit situation a deterrent for large eurosceptic movements in other European countries.
В опит да продадат идеята за Европейския съюз като една нововъзникаща супер-държава, подръжниците на тази теза, започват да приемат един език, който изглежда обявява прехода на ЕС от икономически съюз към федерална държава. Част от въпросната реторика е и описанието на личности като Жан Моне, Алтиро Спинели и Робер Шуман като „бащите-основатели на ЕС“.
Last Wednesday, I purposefully moved into the lion’s den.As someone who is used to ask all the tough questions about the EU,I expected to manifestly throw myself into quite an adventure when I decided to cover a ‘Stop Brexit’ march in Luxembourg-City. Little did I know that the excitement to stop this democratic vote wasn’t […]
Bill Wirtz 