In 100 days, citizens in Ireland and across Europe head to the polls to elect a new European Parliament. However, “Brussels” can seem very far away to many voters, and European elections are often understood to be much less important than national votes. As Tip O’Neill, the great Irish-American politician used to say: “all politics…
On 1 January, Romania took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Austria, marking the first time Romania has held the Presidency since joining the EU in 2007. In 2009, the Lisbon Treaty established a system whereby a trio of Member States consecutively hold the Presidency, working together on long-term…
Nothing has changed “We can choose to leave with no deal, risk no Brexit at all or choose to unite and support the best deal that could be negotiated”, UK Prime Minister Theresa May told the House of Commons on 15 November 2018. That was just before the special summit where, after 18 months of…
EU leaders met in Brussels on 13-14 December for the final European Council Summit of the year to discuss a wide range of issues including: the Multiannual Financial Framework; the Single Market; migration; and external relations. On Thursday, EU leaders met in EU27 format to discuss Brexit, following an address given by UK Prime Minister,…
The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) sets out the long-term budget of the European Union (EU). Policy priorities are outlined for a minimum period of five years, with recent MFFs covering seven years, and under each policy priority heading, spending ‘ceilings’, maximum annual amounts that can be spent, are agreed. The current MFF covers the period…
The term ‘Norway Plus’ has recently entered the discussion on Brexit, with advocates of this proposal suggesting it as a model for the UK’s future relationship with the EU. In our latest ‘All EU Need to Know’ we explain what the European Free Trade Association and the EEA Agreement are, as well as what ‘Norway…
What is meant by a ‘meaningful vote’? Under the EU Withdrawal Act 2018, the UK House of Commons is legally entitled to have a vote on the Withdrawal Agreement reached by UK and EU negotiators, and its accompanying political declaration on the framework for a future relationship between the UK and EU. Since October 2016,…
On Sunday, 25 November, EU27 leaders met in Brussels for a special meeting of the European Council to endorse the draft withdrawal agreement reached between EU and UK negotiators on 14 November. EU27 leaders also approved the political declaration setting out the framework for the future relationship between the EU and the UK. Background On…
On 14 November 2018, it was announced that EU and UK negotiators had reached decisive progress on the text of the draft withdrawal agreement, which was resultantly published by both sides. The draft withdrawal agreement outlines the terms by which the UK will leave the EU. What is it? The withdrawal agreement sets out the…
The College of Europe is an independent university institute of postgraduate European studies with campuses in Bruges and Natolin. Online applications for the 2019-2020 academic year are now being invited. If you wish to apply, submit your complete application before the deadline of Wednesday, 16 January 2019. History The College of Europe was the world’s…