The Government’s net migration target has become a quarterly symbol of failure. While EU migration makes the task harder, the reasons for failing to reduce migration are complex and involve difficult trade-offs. Ministers should be honest about that.

The post The net migration target doesn’t make sense irrespective of EU migration appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Stephen Booth

French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron is speaking openly about changing the EU Treaties to achieve further Eurozone integration. This is good news for David Cameron’s EU renegotiation push, as France has historically been wary of Treaty change – but the diverging timelines remain an issue.

The post French minister highlights that Treaty change is in the air appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Vincenzo Scarpetta

The short campaign is still several months off but the contours of the EU referendum debate are beginning to take shape. With the economic argument far from clear cut, we could be in for an unpredictable contest.

The post The EU referendum campaign is likely to be defined by shades of grey and fine margins appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Stephen Booth

With the third Greek bailout officially under way, our policy analyst Vincenzo Scarpetta looks at how the debates and votes on the rescue package in a number of national parliaments have once again highlighted the underlying tension between Eurozone membership and national democracy.

The post The third Greek bailout and the challenge to national democracy (in Athens and beyond) appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Vincenzo Scarpetta

This is the question many politicians across Europe will be asking themselves as they give the final seal of approval to the third Greek bailout this week. How much debt relief will be needed to get the IMF involved in the bailout? What options does the Eurozone have, given that it has ruled out a nominal debt cut? Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel lays out the possibilities.

The post What can the Eurozone offer to get the IMF on board with the third Greek bailout? appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Raoul Ruparel

Following Eurozone finance ministers approval of the third Greek bailout on Friday it is now down to final national approval. In some countries this means tricky parliamentary votes, including in Germany and the Netherlands. Open Europe’s Raoul Ruparel investigates how the votes might go and what the fallout could be.

The post Third Greek Bailout likely to overcome national hurdles appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Raoul Ruparel

Following former Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski’s calls for EU member states to “empower” the EU to conduct more effective foreign policy on their behalf, Open Europe’s Pawel Swidlicki argues the problem lies not with weak EU institutions, but with competing national foreign policies which cannot be easily overridden.

The post When it comes to foreign affairs EU institutions cannot replace national policies appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Pawel Swidlicki

Recent opinion polling has highlighted that there is a huge divergence of views across the EU with regards to ‘ever closer union’ but on balance there is little support for it. This could help with the UK’s EU reform push, though highlights some potential complications for the Eurozone.

The post Appeal of ending ever closer union stretches well beyond the UK appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Raoul Ruparel

After all night talks Greece looks to have reached an initial technical agreement with its creditors over the content of the third bailout package. Attention now turns to squeezing the tricky political agreement into the next week.

The post Greece reaches technical agreement with creditors appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Raoul Ruparel

It has been widely noted recently that the Irish economy is recovering strongly posting the highest growth levels in the EU. However, with an election looming in early 2016, the political environment is not as clear cut as might be expected and is beginning to reflect uncertainties in other parts of Europe.

The post Political environment not clear cut in Ireland despite economic recovery appeared first on Open Europe.

Posted by Raoul Ruparel