New on the Open Europe Blog
Business backs Cameron's call for a mandate on Europe
Open Europe Blog
How realistic is Cameron's timetable for EU reform?
Open Europe Blog
Of all the reactions from Europe, there is one that is infinitely more important than all others…
Open Europe Blog
Open Europe Blog
How realistic is Cameron's timetable for EU reform?
Open Europe Blog
Of all the reactions from Europe, there is one that is infinitely more important than all others…
Open Europe Blog
Daily Press Summary
Business leaders endorse Cameron’s EU policy: “We need a new relationship with the EU, backed by democratic mandate”;
Miliband and Alexander: Labour “don’t want an In-Out referendum” but “have never said never”
In a letter to the Times, 56 industry and City leaders have welcomed David Cameron’s promise of a negotiation followed by an “in-out” referendum within five years. It is “good for business and good for jobs in Britain”, they say. The signatories include Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, Sir John Peace, chairman of Standard Chartered, Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo, and Lord Leach, Chairman of Open Europe. “We need a new relationship with the EU, backed by democratic mandate,” they argue.
CBI President Sir Roger Carr said, “The tone, the style and the emphasis of the speech, which was positive about European membership, was good news. But the referendum builds in a degree of uncertainty and business never welcomes uncertainty.”
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Ed Miliband said, “We don’t want an In-Out referendum”. However, Douglas Alexander, the shadow Foreign Secretary, later said that, “We have never said never.”
Open Europe Chairman Lord Leach appeared on the BBC Radio 4 World Tonight programme, concluding that the speech was a “statesmanlike identification of the correct issues.” Asked if investors would stay away from the UK, he argued, “That argument is completely nonsense. We heard the same thing over the euro…‘nobody would come here’, but they came here in floods.” Open Europe Director Mats Persson appeared on Radio Sweden, RTE’s Drivetime programme and BBC News, reacting to Cameron’s speech, while Research Analyst Pawel Swidlicki appeared on Al Jazeera.
Open Europe’s reaction to and briefing on the speech are cited by the BBC, Guardian, Sky News, WSJ live blog, USA Today, La Region, and Euractiv. Open Europe’s blog rounding-up reactions from European politicians is cited by Felix Salmon’s Reuters blog. In City AM, Open Europe’s Christopher Howarth argues, “If others propose to change the way the EU operates, the UK has the ability and the right to put forward its vision.” Christopher also wrote for Conservative Home. Open Europe’s Pawel Swidlicki was interviewed by Newsweek Polska.
Times Times: Letters Guardian Telegraph Express City AM 2 City AM 3 FT 6 WSJ 3 Guardian 2 Guardian 3Express 2 Mail Sun FT FT 2 WSJ IHT FT 3 IHT 2 Irish Independent Irish Times Telegraph Telegraph 2Guardian: Leader Guardian: Kettle Independent: Farage Independent: Leader Times: Owen, Lea, Parris and others Times: Leader Spectator: Leader Times: Charter Sun: Leader Mail Mail: Heffer Mail: Fox FT: Mandelson City AM: Heath City AM: Lilico City AM: Browne Telegraph: Reece Telegraph: Oborne FT: Editorial BBC Radio 4: The World Tonight Radio Sweden RTE: Drivetime Guardian Sky News Public Service Europe BBC News BBC Live Blog EurActiv Reuters: Felix Salmon La Region El Confidencial City AM: Howarth Conservative Home: Howarth WSJ live blog Newsweek Polska
Merkel: “We are prepared to talk about British wishes”
Hollande: “It is not possible to negotiate Europe to make that referendum”
In reaction to David Cameron’s EU speech, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that, “Europe always means that fair compromises have to be found…we are prepared to talk about British wishes. But you always have to keep in mind that other countries have different wishes too. Therefore we will talk intensively with the UK about their vision in detail.” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle stated that, “We share the vision of a ‘better Europe’: We need a renewed commitment to the principle of subsidiarity. Not everything has to be regulated in Brussels and by Brussels…Differentiation continues to be necessary, but a policy of cherry picking must not be permitted.”
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called it a “strong speech” with good reform ideas. Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans stated that the Dutch government will investigate which “policy areas” should be transferred back to the national level, but he specified that “the Cabinet doesn’t want to negiotiate any ‘opt-outs’”. Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said, “We share the view with the United Kingdom that Europe should be more flexible, more open, should strive more for confidence among its citizens.”
Meanwhile, French President François Hollande said during a visit to Grenoble that "The United Kingdom can decide perfectly well by a referendum to stay or leave the European Union, it's a decision for the leaders and the British people to make…but it is not possible to negotiate Europe to make that referendum.”
Official statement: Merkel Official statement: Westerwelle Handelsblatt Guardian Süddeutsche TelegraphTelegraph: Editorial Irish Times Irish Times 2 Euractiv European Voice Irish Times: Sutherland Le FigaroCityAM Irish Independent FT 4 FT 5 WSJ 2 Welt Welt 2 Welt 3 Bild Bild 2 ED
Foreign press reactions: Cameron makes the correct analysis
FAZ’s Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger argues that Cameron’s calls for EU reform cannot simply be dismissed and that “Cameron’s strategy may be risky, but his analysis is not wrong”. He also adds that “A solid [EU] framework is essential. Nonetheless this framework has to accommodate a range of traditions, mentalities and objectives. This means that without flexibility, it won’t work either”. Die Welt’s London correspondent Thomas Kielinger argues that in calling for EU reform, Cameron cannot be accused of blackmail. He adds that “It is not anti-European of Cameron to remind of the threat to the EU’s competitiveness [or] the creeping democratic deficit and the lack of public confidence in the EU and its institutions.” Süddeutsche’s Martin Winter argues that "a blunt European debate – which is not conceivable without Britain – could lead to greater clarity.”
However, Der Spiegel Online’s London Correspondent Christoph Scheuermann argues that “Cameron's vision of Europe is a free trade area with access to the beaches of the Mediterranean.” Le Figaro’s Brussels correspondent Jean-Jacques Mével argues the speech “has solved nothing and European leaders continue to scratch their heads to understand what the UK really expect.” Writing inRzeczpospolita, foreign editor Jerzy Haszczynski argues that David Cameron is correct to demand a real debate about the future of the EU.”
FAZ: Frankenberger Welt: Kielinger Welt: Bolzen & Kaiser Süddeutsche: Winter Rzeczpospolita: Haszczynski Spiegel Online: ScheuermannLe Figaro
Portugal returned to the long term debt markets yesterday for the first time since its bailout in spring 2011, through a syndicated tap (an increase in the size) of an existing bond by €2.5bn. Demand was strong, in particular from foreign investors. Separately, Eurostat reported that Portuguese public debt stood at 120.3% of GDP in September 2012.
FT
The Bank of Spain announced yesterday that Spanish GDP declined by 0.6% in the final quarter of 2012. GDP for 2012 as a whole is expected to decline by 1.3%, below the original forecast of 1.5%.
FT WSJ
Eurostat yesterday confirmed that it views the Greek deficit data from 2009 onwards as credible, despite an investigation being launched in Greece into senior officials for distorting the figures in the run up to the original Greek bailout. Kathimerini cites an unnamed official from the European Commission’s task force in Greece, criticising the recent tax law passed in Greece.
Kathimerini Kathimerini 2
The FT reports that MEPs on their agriculture committee have voted 32 to 11 to extend sugar quotas preventing plans to liberalise the EU sugar market. Under pressure from the World Trade Organisation, the EU had agreed to end production quotas by 2015.
FT
The FT reports that Michel Barnier, EU Commissioner for the single market, is preparing to consult on revising the “one-share one-vote” rule for EU companies to give some “long term investments” extra voting rights and dividends according to drafts seen by the paper.
FT
Miliband and Alexander: Labour “don’t want an In-Out referendum” but “have never said never”
In a letter to the Times, 56 industry and City leaders have welcomed David Cameron’s promise of a negotiation followed by an “in-out” referendum within five years. It is “good for business and good for jobs in Britain”, they say. The signatories include Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, Sir John Peace, chairman of Standard Chartered, Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo, and Lord Leach, Chairman of Open Europe. “We need a new relationship with the EU, backed by democratic mandate,” they argue.
CBI President Sir Roger Carr said, “The tone, the style and the emphasis of the speech, which was positive about European membership, was good news. But the referendum builds in a degree of uncertainty and business never welcomes uncertainty.”
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Ed Miliband said, “We don’t want an In-Out referendum”. However, Douglas Alexander, the shadow Foreign Secretary, later said that, “We have never said never.”
Open Europe Chairman Lord Leach appeared on the BBC Radio 4 World Tonight programme, concluding that the speech was a “statesmanlike identification of the correct issues.” Asked if investors would stay away from the UK, he argued, “That argument is completely nonsense. We heard the same thing over the euro…‘nobody would come here’, but they came here in floods.” Open Europe Director Mats Persson appeared on Radio Sweden, RTE’s Drivetime programme and BBC News, reacting to Cameron’s speech, while Research Analyst Pawel Swidlicki appeared on Al Jazeera.
Open Europe’s reaction to and briefing on the speech are cited by the BBC, Guardian, Sky News, WSJ live blog, USA Today, La Region, and Euractiv. Open Europe’s blog rounding-up reactions from European politicians is cited by Felix Salmon’s Reuters blog. In City AM, Open Europe’s Christopher Howarth argues, “If others propose to change the way the EU operates, the UK has the ability and the right to put forward its vision.” Christopher also wrote for Conservative Home. Open Europe’s Pawel Swidlicki was interviewed by Newsweek Polska.
Times Times: Letters Guardian Telegraph Express City AM 2 City AM 3 FT 6 WSJ 3 Guardian 2 Guardian 3Express 2 Mail Sun FT FT 2 WSJ IHT FT 3 IHT 2 Irish Independent Irish Times Telegraph Telegraph 2Guardian: Leader Guardian: Kettle Independent: Farage Independent: Leader Times: Owen, Lea, Parris and others Times: Leader Spectator: Leader Times: Charter Sun: Leader Mail Mail: Heffer Mail: Fox FT: Mandelson City AM: Heath City AM: Lilico City AM: Browne Telegraph: Reece Telegraph: Oborne FT: Editorial BBC Radio 4: The World Tonight Radio Sweden RTE: Drivetime Guardian Sky News Public Service Europe BBC News BBC Live Blog EurActiv Reuters: Felix Salmon La Region El Confidencial City AM: Howarth Conservative Home: Howarth WSJ live blog Newsweek Polska
Merkel: “We are prepared to talk about British wishes”
Hollande: “It is not possible to negotiate Europe to make that referendum”
In reaction to David Cameron’s EU speech, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that, “Europe always means that fair compromises have to be found…we are prepared to talk about British wishes. But you always have to keep in mind that other countries have different wishes too. Therefore we will talk intensively with the UK about their vision in detail.” German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle stated that, “We share the vision of a ‘better Europe’: We need a renewed commitment to the principle of subsidiarity. Not everything has to be regulated in Brussels and by Brussels…Differentiation continues to be necessary, but a policy of cherry picking must not be permitted.”
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called it a “strong speech” with good reform ideas. Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans stated that the Dutch government will investigate which “policy areas” should be transferred back to the national level, but he specified that “the Cabinet doesn’t want to negiotiate any ‘opt-outs’”. Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said, “We share the view with the United Kingdom that Europe should be more flexible, more open, should strive more for confidence among its citizens.”
Meanwhile, French President François Hollande said during a visit to Grenoble that "The United Kingdom can decide perfectly well by a referendum to stay or leave the European Union, it's a decision for the leaders and the British people to make…but it is not possible to negotiate Europe to make that referendum.”
Official statement: Merkel Official statement: Westerwelle Handelsblatt Guardian Süddeutsche TelegraphTelegraph: Editorial Irish Times Irish Times 2 Euractiv European Voice Irish Times: Sutherland Le FigaroCityAM Irish Independent FT 4 FT 5 WSJ 2 Welt Welt 2 Welt 3 Bild Bild 2 ED
Foreign press reactions: Cameron makes the correct analysis
FAZ’s Klaus-Dieter Frankenberger argues that Cameron’s calls for EU reform cannot simply be dismissed and that “Cameron’s strategy may be risky, but his analysis is not wrong”. He also adds that “A solid [EU] framework is essential. Nonetheless this framework has to accommodate a range of traditions, mentalities and objectives. This means that without flexibility, it won’t work either”. Die Welt’s London correspondent Thomas Kielinger argues that in calling for EU reform, Cameron cannot be accused of blackmail. He adds that “It is not anti-European of Cameron to remind of the threat to the EU’s competitiveness [or] the creeping democratic deficit and the lack of public confidence in the EU and its institutions.” Süddeutsche’s Martin Winter argues that "a blunt European debate – which is not conceivable without Britain – could lead to greater clarity.”
However, Der Spiegel Online’s London Correspondent Christoph Scheuermann argues that “Cameron's vision of Europe is a free trade area with access to the beaches of the Mediterranean.” Le Figaro’s Brussels correspondent Jean-Jacques Mével argues the speech “has solved nothing and European leaders continue to scratch their heads to understand what the UK really expect.” Writing inRzeczpospolita, foreign editor Jerzy Haszczynski argues that David Cameron is correct to demand a real debate about the future of the EU.”
FAZ: Frankenberger Welt: Kielinger Welt: Bolzen & Kaiser Süddeutsche: Winter Rzeczpospolita: Haszczynski Spiegel Online: ScheuermannLe Figaro
Portugal returned to the long term debt markets yesterday for the first time since its bailout in spring 2011, through a syndicated tap (an increase in the size) of an existing bond by €2.5bn. Demand was strong, in particular from foreign investors. Separately, Eurostat reported that Portuguese public debt stood at 120.3% of GDP in September 2012.
FT
The Bank of Spain announced yesterday that Spanish GDP declined by 0.6% in the final quarter of 2012. GDP for 2012 as a whole is expected to decline by 1.3%, below the original forecast of 1.5%.
FT WSJ
Eurostat yesterday confirmed that it views the Greek deficit data from 2009 onwards as credible, despite an investigation being launched in Greece into senior officials for distorting the figures in the run up to the original Greek bailout. Kathimerini cites an unnamed official from the European Commission’s task force in Greece, criticising the recent tax law passed in Greece.
Kathimerini Kathimerini 2
The FT reports that MEPs on their agriculture committee have voted 32 to 11 to extend sugar quotas preventing plans to liberalise the EU sugar market. Under pressure from the World Trade Organisation, the EU had agreed to end production quotas by 2015.
FT
The FT reports that Michel Barnier, EU Commissioner for the single market, is preparing to consult on revising the “one-share one-vote” rule for EU companies to give some “long term investments” extra voting rights and dividends according to drafts seen by the paper.
FT
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