24th December 2013 London, UK
A little over a year ago, the Economist wrote a piece analysing Britain’s place in Europe. There wasn’t a lot of good news. Efforts to reform the way Brussels works were simply “making things worse” as “other countries are tiring of British demands”. The best we could hope for, it was argued, was to “rediscover […]
10th December 2013 London, UK
As we mark Human Rights Day and celebrate the UK’s re-election to the UN Human Rights Council, it is worth reflecting upon how regional organisations can reinforce and complement the UN’s role in promoting and protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Last week I attended the annual Ministerial Council of the Organisation […]
29th November 2013 London, UK
The EU’s eastern neighbours are an integral part of Europe. They share our European history and culture, and seek to build an independent and prosperous future as sovereign nations free from outside pressure and influence. Their importance to the EU is unmistakable. Eastern Europe has seen many fundamental shifts since 1991. The spread of democracy, […]
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5th November 2013 London, UK
I recently launched the third round of consultations in the Balance of Competences Review, the most extensive analysis of our relationship with the EU ever undertaken. The first six reports were published in July this year, with the next nine due this winter. Marking the launch, I spoke to businesses and civil society organisations about the contribution the reports are making to the wider debate on European reform.
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22nd July 2013 London, UK
The Government today announced the publication of the first six reports of the Balance of Competences Review. They cover an overview of the single market, health, development co-operation and humanitarian aid, foreign policy, animal health and welfare and food safety, and taxation. They will be followed by another 26 reports between now and the end […]
15th July 2013 London, UK
It is now a fortnight since Croatia was officially welcomed into the European Union. The cafes are back to normal in Ban Jelacic Square, the firework smoke is long gone, and from now on I will be sitting down alongside twenty-seven, not twenty-six, other member states at the General Affairs Council.
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1st July 2013 London, UK
Ten years ago, the world was a very different place. No one had heard of Twitter and there was no Facebook. Ten years before that, we didn’t even have the World Wide Web. Given the pace of change, what will the world look like in ten years’ time, and what does this mean for Europe?
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21st June 2013 London, UK
“The time of an ‘ever closer union’ in every possible policy area is behind us”. So say the Dutch Government in their review of subsidiarity published today, a really important contribution to the debate on the future of Europe. You can find a press release in English here. Over the last few months, Dutch experts […]
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21st June 2013 London, UK
It has been over five years since Kosovo’s Assembly declared independence. Since 17 February 2008 many diverse countries, from Pakistan to Panama, from Swaziland to Sweden, have recognised Kosovo’s independence. And, this year, Guyana, Tanzania and Yemen have decided to join that number. Significantly, this means Kosovo is now recognised as an independent state by […]
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14th May 2013 London, UK
A startling statistic – over half the businesses that get help from UK Trade & Investment go on to win additional sales of over £600,000 within two years. The UK’s trade performance is often discussed in the abstract, or at the macroeconomic level. People look at the effect on UK GDP or the balance of […]