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Grant, Charles
Director of the Centre for European reform, which recently published his pamphlet "Europe's blurred boundaries: rethinking enlargement and neighbourhood policy”
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3 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Who is likely to become president of the EU?
Charles Grant, director of the think-tank Centre for European Reform points out that the votes of EU small member states will be decisive in deciding who becomes president of the EU. "Twenty-one of the 27 are states with 25 million or fewer people. And among the governments of the small countries, there is widespread resentment of the influence wielded by the 'big six'. ... Two likely candidates are Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Jean-Claude Juncker, the prime ministers of Denmark and Luxembourg respectively. Another possible candidate is Bertie Ahern, the Irish taoiseach, ... . No female, leftwing or east European candidate has yet emerged. ... My guess is that a coalition of socialists, opponents of the Iraq war and Britophobes (who argue that politicians from a country that opts out of so many EU policies should be barred from top jobs) will thwart the campaign for President Blair."
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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe
Britain needs clear policy on EU treaty
Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform (CER), voices arguments in favour of Britain accepting the German package to salvage large parts of the constitutional treaty, as London is still undecided on its ratification. "Suppose that Britain alone, or with one or two allies, vetoed the deal that most others want. Being blamed for the ensuing rancour, Britain would lose influence across a swath of policy areas. … A less influential Britain would find it hard to win the arguments, starting next year, over reshaping the EU's budget and farm policy. And its voice would count for less in areas such as economic reform and climate change. … It should therefore strive to find a compromise with its partners and be willing to accept much of Merkel's package. But she should remove the provisions that transfer new powers to the EU, since they would oblige Britain to hold a referendum"
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More from the press review on the subject » EU Constitution, » United Kingdom, » Europe
EU needs to rethink its neighbourhood policy
"Germany, which takes over the EU presidency next month, has promised that a new 'European neighbourhood policy' will be a priority. Such a policy is urgently needed. A key challenge for the EU next year will be to build stronger ties with neighbours that are not on the road to membership", writes Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform (CER). "Unless the EU takes responsibility for steering its neighbourhood towards prosperity and good governance, it risks paying a heavy price. Political instability, religious extremism, ethnic conflict, organised crime and illegal immigration could all spill over from the neighbourhood to the union and in some cases already are. The EU's current neighbourhood policy, in place since 2004, is proving inadequate. ... It must offer them a more attractive package."
» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » EU Policy, » Europe
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