The role of the European Union in the world
Despite the hopes raised by the most recent Treaties, the Lisbon Treaty in particular, the European Union has been unable to strengthen, let alone develop its role on the international […]
European Policy Briefs
Publications
A crisis of democratic legitimacy? It’s about legitimation, stupid!
Are we witnessing a crisis of democratic legitimacy? While citizens may lose trust in political authorities, democratic principles and ideals continue to exercise considerable appeal. This Policy Brief argues that […]
Is the EMU ready for future shocks? An overview of available backstops
In recent years much has been accomplished to make the EMU more resilient to banking crises, sovereign-debt crises or balance-of-payment crises. Several ‘backstops’ or financial safety nets were progressively put […]
Institutional reform in the EU
This Policy Brief discusses the potential reforms of the EU institutions that can take place during the 2014 – 2019 legislative term. It argues that negotiations on Treaty change are a […]
Contractual arrangements: the overlooked step towards a fiscal union
‘Contractual arrangements’ were proposed as an initial step towards a fiscal union that would consolidate the EMU. At this stage, the debate should be centred on the cornerstone of these […]
Banks at the service of the economy?
This Policy Brief discusses a few simple measures to improve both the commercial and investment banking landscapes, with or without formal separation. Covering deposits with quality collateral would make them […]