European Union
How the terms of debate on Europe changed
The website of the new Centre for British Influence through Europe reveals just how far on the back foot the pro-Europeans are. Its introductory article states: ‘It is also wrong… Continue reading
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Briefing: Immigration from Bulgaria and Romania
What’s changing? Bulgaria and Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007. This gave their citizens the freedom to travel unrestricted within the EU, but countries were allowed to… Continue reading
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The view from Davos: Boris Johnson’s economic adviser on infrastructure
As the speaker for yesterday’s Davos British business leaders’ lunch, Boris Johnson had the audience in his hand in his usual colourful way. I grabbed his very new Chief Economic… Continue reading
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The EU must change
I have been out of the country for a couple of weeks and away from the sweet furore of the internet. I’ll be posting in the coming days on some… Continue reading
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The view from Davos: Cameron’s mad to talk about leaving the EU
‘Cameron’s speech on Europe is badly timed; we must stop this endless European bickering when facing such huge worldwide political challenges’. That’s the view of Neil Selby, the London-based Director… Continue reading
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Cameron & co relieved by Merkel reaction to speech
Angela Merkel’s statement yesterday was a big fillip to David Cameron’s European strategy as it suggested renegotiation was possible. One senior government source called it ‘as good as we could… Continue reading
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David Cameron’s Europe speech: The Spectator’s verdict
Just for Coffee House readers, here is a sneak preview of the leading article from this week’s Spectator. Download our iPad and iPhone app to read the rest of the… Continue reading
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Breaking: Cameron postpones Europe speech
David Cameron has postponed his speech on the European Union because of the hostage situation in Algeria where a standoff has been taking place in a gas plant in the… Continue reading
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Fresh Start’s EU powers threat could focus the mind
It is always an understatement to say that David Cameron can’t possibly satisfy his party with his Europe speech this week: the reason being that there is no one unified… Continue reading
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No 10 has intensive work ahead to prevent Tory criticism drowning out Cameron’s EU speech
The date of David Cameron’s Europe speech has been moved yet again. But this time it has been pulled forward, to this Friday. Downing Street realised that they weren’t going… Continue reading
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What David Cameron plans to say in his Europe speech
David Cameron’s big Europe speech is now less than a fortnight away. It will be, I suspect, the most consequential speech of his premiership. When you look at the challenges… Continue reading
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In a preview of David Cameron’s 2013, Europe dominates his New Year interview
David Cameron’s New Year interview on Marr was dominated not by the economy but by Europe. In a sign of what the promise of a speech setting out his European… Continue reading
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When will the government confront the EU?
Here is a story that should have got far more attention. A story that perfectly epitomises the corruption and anti-democratic activity of the EU. In 2010 the group NGO Monitor… Continue reading
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A new EU membership for Britain: second-class or sensible?
Becoming a ‘second-class’ member of the European Union doesn’t sound awfully appealing on first glance at today’s Times story. But the ‘associate membership’ being considered by the Union of European… Continue reading
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David Cameron needn’t fear renegotiating Britain’s relationship with the EU
Nick Clegg has made a not-so-startling intervention in the debate about Britain’s relationship with Europe today, warning that Britain must avoid selling itself short in a renegotiation. His interview with… Continue reading
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Liam Fox’s attack on Foreign Office peeves former ambassador
Liam Fox sparked a row with a former diplomat today after accusing the Foreign Office of an institutional bias towards greater integration with the European Union. The former Defence Secretary… Continue reading
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Salmond caught on the rock of Europe
Europe, so often the rock on which Conservative hopes foundered, is now causing considerable trouble for Alex Salmond. The Scottish First Minister has long campaigned for Scottish separation under the… Continue reading
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Aide to Europe minister calls for Parliament to beef up its engagement with EU
Another day, another paper by a Tory MP about Britain’s relationship with Europe. Except the latest paper, by Tobias Ellwood for think tank Open Europe, is actually not so much… Continue reading
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A satisfactory outcome at the EU budget talks for David Cameron
So, the EU budget summit has — as expected — broken up without agreement. We await the date of the next discussion of the matter. But for the moment it… Continue reading
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EU budget talks end
The EU Budget discussions have ended with no agreement, as seemed inevitable after yesterday’s struggles and rows. David Cameron has been copping a lot of flak for his intransigence, particularly from… Continue reading
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