Centre For European Reform

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Ian Bond, Director of Foreign Policy, and Luigi Scazzieri, Senior Research Fellow, sit down with podcast host, Octavia Hughes, to discuss the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. They look at Ukraine's request for NATO membership and the Alliance's response, assess whether NATO members will increase defence spending and what a Republican in the White House would mean for the war. Ian also sheds light on the state of Sino-American tensions and how these might influence the nature of discussion at Vilnius. Produced by Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast Brad Setser, senior fellow at the Council of Foreign Relations, and the CER’s Sander Tordoir and John Springford discuss green tech industrial policy and ‘de-risking’ trade with China. They discuss the growing consensus between Europe and the US on China, as well as the ‘risks of de-risking’ – how challenging China might slide into protectionism and weaken competition. John and Sander’s paper on the effects of Chinese and American green tech subsidies on Europe can be read here: https://www.cer.eu/publications/archive/policy-brief/2023/europe-american-chinese-green-tech Produced by Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week’s episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast, host Octavia Hughes speaks to the head of our Brussels office, Camino Mortera-Martínez. They discuss the results of the Spanish local and regional elections and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's decision to call a snap election. Camino explains what is at stake for Spain and Sánchez, including the rotating presidency of the council of ministers of the EU, which Madrid is due to hold between July and December. Produced by Octavia Hughes 
Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week’s episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast, we answer questions you have sent to us. Host Octavia Hughes speaks to our director Charles Grant, director of foreign policy Ian Bond, and senior fellow Luigi Scazzieri. We discuss the likelihood of a Kılıçdaroğlu victory in Turkey's presidential run-off, arguments for and against French-style industrial policy in the EU, and alternatives to NATO membership for Ukraine. Produced by Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, Senem Aydin Düzgit, Professor of International Relations at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Sabancı University and Senior Scholar and Research and Academic Affairs Coordinator at the Istanbul Policy Center, and Luigi Scazzieri, senior research fellow at the CER, join host Octavia Hughes to discuss the potential outcomes of Turkey's elections which will take place on May 14th. Senem explains why the presidential election is more significant for Turkey's future than the parliamentary one, and Luigi offers some insight as to how the country's foreign policy would change if the opposition were to win.

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, Ian Bond, director of foreign policy, joins host and head of the CER’s Brussels office, Camino Mortera-Martinez, to discuss the EU's elusive China policy. They talk about the lack of consensus among EU member-states on an effective China policy and explain why Brussel's stance on China is different from Washington's. Can Beijing be an honest broker between Moscow and Kyiv? And how will Europe’s China policy evolve over the next year? Produced by Octavia Hughes 
Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, Sander Tordoir, senior economist at the CER, joins host Octavia Hughes to discuss the EU's fiscal rules ahead of the release of his policy brief on the same subject next week. Sander explains why EU countries must have public finances that are largely aligned and the difficulties the European Commission has faced in enforcing the rules. He offers some suggestions for improving the rules and gives some insight into the proposals set out by the German government in a non-paper last week. Produced by Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, Helmi Pillai, our (2022-23) Clara Marina O'Donnell fellow, joins our director of foreign policy, Ian Bond, to discuss hybrid threats ahead of the release of her paper on the same topic. They consider the often-disputed definitions of 'hybrid threats' and 'critical infrastructure' and the evolving story of the destruction of the Nord Stream pipelines. Helmi concludes that a whole-of-society approach is crucial for the EU if member-states are to increase their resilience to Russian hybrid threats. Produced by Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast, our director Charles Grant is joined by Catherine Barnard, Professor of EU Law and Employment Law at the University of Cambridge and Deputy Director of UK in a Changing Europe, to discuss the recently agreed Windsor Framework. Together, they delve into how the new framework modifies the previous UK-EU trade deal and its implications, examine the role of the European Court of Justice in the agreement, and explore the domestic reactions to the new agreement. Produced by Helmi Pillai and Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, Dr Olesya Khromeychuk, historian, writer, and director of the Ukrainian Institute London and Sir Richard Shirreff, former NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, join our director of foreign policy, Ian Bond, to discuss the Ukraine-Russia war. They consider how to avoid 'Ukraine fatigue' in the West, what can be learnt from Ukraine's military successes and whether Western leaders' visits to Kyiv have a practical value, or risk becoming war tourism. Olesya, Richard and Ian agreed that Britain could be providing military support more effectively and that there should be no impunity for Russian war criminals. Produced by Helmi Pillai and Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week’s episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast, we answer questions you have sent to us. Clara Marina O’Donnell fellow Helmi Pillai speaks to the head of our Brussels office Camino Mortera-Martinez and senior fellows Zach Meyers and Luigi Scazzieri. They discuss the EU’s response to the Inflation Reduction Act, Brexit’s impact on UK science and technology, Qatargate, EU migration policy, Iran's nuclear programme and the prospect of sending fighter jets to Ukraine. Produced by Helmi Pillai and Octavia Hughes Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast, the CER's deputy director John Springford and professor at King's College London Jonathan Portes discuss their report 'Early impacts of the post-Brexit immigration system on the UK labour market'. The report estimates that Brexit has led to a net shortfall of 330,000 workers in the UK, concentrated in low-skilled sectors such as transportation and hospitality. They delve into the methods used to reach this figure and debate the potential benefits and drawbacks of sector-specific immigration rules to try to reduce labour shortages. Produced by Helmi Pillai Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week’s episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast Helmi Pillai interviews John Springford about his most recent cost of Brexit analysis. John shares his estimate of the damage Brexit caused to the British economy in 2022 and explains the reasons for the negative impact. John also discusses the methodology behind his findings and responds to criticisms of his analysis. Produced by Helmi Pillai Music by Edward Hipkins

In this year’s final episode of the Centre for European Reform podcast, our researchers unpack the most significant event of the past year, Russia’s war on Ukraine. The CER’s experts analyse the impact of the war thus far and share their predictions for 2023. Ian Bond, director of foreign policy, evaluates Russia and Ukraine’s performance in the war and the Western response. Senior research fellow Luigi Scazzieri discusses the war’s impacts on European defence and enlargement. Elisabetta Cornago, senior research fellow, explains how the war has affected energy policy. Zach Meyers, senior research fellow, shares his views on the technological aspects of the war. And Charles Grant, director of the CER, gives his insights on the war’s broader geopolitical implications.

In this week’s episode of the CER podcast, Camino Mortera-Martinez, head of our Brussels office, and Sander Tordoir, senior economist at the CER, explain the escalating conflict between Hungary and the EU. They discuss the EU’s strategies for tackling democratic backsliding and corruption in Hungary, and cast light on the politics and economics of Hungary’s frozen EU funds. Produced by Helmi Pillai and Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week’s Centre for European Reform podcast, John Springford, our deputy director, and Sander Tordoir, senior economist at the CER, discuss the EU’s fiscal rules. They consider why the rules matter, what their shortcomings are, and weigh up the European Commission’s proposal for tweaking the current fiscal rulebook. Produced by Helmi Pillai and Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week’s Centre for European Reform podcast, Peter Foster, public policy editor at the Financial Times and author of the FT ‘Britain after Brexit’ newsletter, joins our director Charles Grant to consider the prospects for repairing UK-EU relations under new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. They consider the scope for compromise on both sides, particularly on the Northern Ireland Protocol, and examine two major pieces of UK legislation, the Retained EU Law Bill and the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, whose outcome will affect the relationship — for better or worse. Produced by Rosie Giorgi and Helmi Pillai Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week's Centre for European Reform podcast, CER media co-ordinator Rosie Giorgi puts our listeners' questions to senior research fellows, Elisabetta Cornago and Zach Meyers, and head of our Brussels office, Camino Mortera-Martínez. They discuss how EU policy-makers are responding to the energy crisis, why the UK should tread carefully in burning the EU rulebook, and who the most powerful European leader is right now. [01:30] Energy crisis measures: what are the measures agreed upon so far? [08:58] What were this week's new emergency proposals on natural gas? [12:59] Does the UK have a strategy for divergence from EU financial services regulation? [18:53] How will the EU tackle online abuse? [23:50] Which European leader is making the biggest mark on the EU's economic and political development?

Emmanuel Macron set out his vision for a 'European Political Community' in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on May 9th. In this Centre for European Reform podcast, head of our Brussels office, Camino Mortera-Martinez, speaks to our director, Charles Grant, about the potential shape of this new European organisation, the purpose it would serve, and which countries might be involved. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins

In this week’s Centre for European Reform podcast, Hilary Benn, Labour Member of Parliament for Leeds Central and Co-Convenor of the UK Trade and Business Commission, joins our director, Charles Grant, to discuss the stalemate between the UK and the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol. They consider how negotiations ground to a standstill, the red lines of each side and the prospects for reaching a compromise. Both Hilary and Charles argue that this is not out of reach, provided both parties are willing to work together in good faith. Produced by Rosie Giorgi Music by Edward Hipkins