Latest Blog Posts

The Wales, the United Kingdom and Europe: Europeanising Devolution conference (Cardiff, 24 May 2013) presented a paradox for Wales’s engagement with the EU; while Europe is extremely important for Wales engagement seems to be lacking. On the one hand it was recognised that the EU has the potential to offer Wales several benefits. On top […]

At yesterday’s AGM, I asked HSBC what impact the UK leaving the EU would have on the bank’s optimistic plans for the future. Their group chairman, Douglas Flint, replied, “It is important that Europe comes out stronger and Britain remains at the heart.” He added that whilst there’s uncertainty around what the trading relationship might […]

After an eventful few weeks in the life of David Cameron’s EU policy, some of the heat has gone out of matters, albeit only in the sense that the heat shifted to the question of gay marriages. Interesting then, how much more willing Cameron has been to engage backbenchers on the latter issue than the […]

The most important development as to the European Union law impact on Danish Ombudsman practice is the predominant non-impact. So far, a European influx is difficult to detect in the subareas of the broad ambit of Danish ombudsman control.

Another week, another car-crash of public policy. After last night’s vote on the amendment to the Queen’s speech – with more than half of all Tory backbenchers voting in favour of the motion – it is hard to see how today’s ballot for private member’s bills won’t result in the draft bill on a referendum […]

As you are all doubtless aware, today is Europe day, the 63rd anniversary of Robert Schuman’s declaration on the creation of a coal and steel community that was to become the precursor to the current European Union. Everyone knows that, right? That I even pose the question suggests that the answer is not in the […]

Today The Telegraph published a story about two foreign criminals, jailed for their part in the English riots, who successfully appealed against deportation because of their ‘right to family life’ under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. In response, I posted this comment: Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights […]

Today I posted pro-EU arguments under a Daily Telegraph article about the number of Romanians and Bulgarians coming to the UK.  Clearly, my comments were unwelcome by DT readers.  They called me ‘a moron’, an ‘utter idiot’ and told me ‘to get medical help.’ So much for elevated debate. This was my comment: All UK […]

As part of the Evolving Europe project, UACES asked participants at the 40 Years since the First Enlargement conference to respond to the question ‘What have been the most significant changes in the 1973 accession states as a result of EU membership?’ Following on from Thorsten Borring Olesen’s response in relation to Denmark,  Elaine Fahey (University of Amsterdam) […]

Fighting my prejudices, I went to a seminar about CFSP yesterday. In my defence, I was a) tired and b) knew that both speakers would be well worth it. And indeed they were. Just to be clear, my prejudice is that the EU’s foreign and security policy is much more an object of academic study […]