European Politics and Institutions

For better, for worse: the European Union takes Croatia as its 28th member
12 June 2013
by: Corina Stratulat

Croatia’s entry into the European Union on 1 July 2013 is for all intents and purposes an important and timely success story, argues Corina Stratulat in this Commentary.

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Striking the right balance? An uneventful summit despite mounting socio-political uncertainties - Post-Summit Analysis
18 March 2013
by: Janis A. Emmanouilidis

The 14-15 March 2013 European Council meeting was an uneventful summit that will not enter history books, says Janis A. Emmanouilidis.

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Seeking new solution paths for the Kurdish issue
4 March 2013
by: Mehmet Özcan

It is generally acknowledged that Turkey’s Kurdish issue is inextricably intertwined with the terrorist activities of the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK). However, over the last decade Turkey’s leadership has taken steps to improve the situation, acknowledging that there is a Kurdish issue. This Commentary by Mehmet Özcan analyses the Kurdish issue, the Imrali Process and the challenges that lie ahead if the peace is to be won.

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Dangerous delusions: British expectations of the future UK-EU relationship
25 January 2013
by: Fabian Zuleeg

In this Commentary Fabian Zuleeg argues that the reactions in the UK to Prime Minister David Cameron’s long-expected confirmation that the UK Government intends to hold a referendum on EU membership illustrate just how remote and UK-centric the British public debate on the issue has become.

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Steps but no roadmap towards GEMU – the results of a disappointing summit - Post-Summit Analysis
17 December 2012
by: Janis A. Emmanouilidis

The 13-14 December European Council was disappointing as it failed to live up to the expectations raised and the objectives set earlier in the year.

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Risky tactics and bad examples: EU enlargement decisions postponed
17 December 2012
by: Rosa Balfour

EU leaders’ decisions at their summit of 13-14 December regarding the Balkan countries EU accession prospects were not the best example of peace prize winners, writes Rosa Balfour in this Commentary.

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The enlargement of the European Union
10 December 2012
by: Rosa Balfour, and Corina Stratulat

In this Discussion Paper, Rosa Balfour and Corina Stratulat focus on some of the lessons learnt and not learnt in the context of EU enlargement.

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No complete breakdown – at least not just yet
23 November 2012
by: Fabian Zuleeg

It comes as no surprise that negotiations on the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) did not produce a deal. UK Prime Minister David Cameron must either change his approach to Brussels or call an in-out referendum now, writes Fabian Zuleeg in this Commentary.

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Accommodating an independent Scotland: how a British-style constitution for the EU could secure Scotland's future
24 October 2012
by: Arno Engel, and Roderick Parkes

There is a marked wariness at EU level about the prospect of Scottish independence. But British-style constitutional thinking on flexibility could prove useful in reducing the bloc's difficulties with asymmetry that motivate its hostility towards Scottish independence, write Roderick Parkes and Arno Engel in this Discussion Paper.

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Stepping stone to an ambitious deal? – the results of an ‘intermediate summit’ - Post-Summit Analysis
22 October 2012
by: Janis A. Emmanouilidis

The October European Council was a relatively drama-free stepping stone on the way to a more decisive summit in December. The biggest risk now is complacency: EU leaders need to sign up to an ambitious and detailed agenda for a ‘Genuine Economic and Monetary Union’ at their December meeting, writes Janis A. Emmanouilidis in this Post-Summit Analysis.

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