EU – Dr Oliver Hartwich

The EU’s reverse Annie Hall problem

“I’d never join a club that would accept me as a member,” says Woody Allen’s character in Annie Hall. With the European Union, it is the other way around: The EU would reject new members as anti-democratic as itself. [...]

Trump and other hypocrites

When discussing free trade, most governments sit in their own glasshouses. Trump’s protectionism deserves a response. But it should be an even greater commitment to free trade, not retaliation. [...]

Belgium proves Brexiteers right

The CETA fiasco has seriously diminished the EU’s reputation as an organisation to do business with. Any other country thinking about doing trade deals with the EU will now think twice. [...]

Brexit: Keep calm and carry on

There is no need to panic over Brexit. [...]

Brexit is a question of liberty

The referendum’s real question is whether in its current state the EU is a club that freedom-loving democrats happily want to belong to. Next week we will find out the answer. [...]

Brexit’s history lessons

A British withdrawal from the emerging EU superstate would be a strong move toward a more competitive Europe. It would be a Europe returning to the strengths of its diversity. Even if Niall Ferguson does not agree. [...]

Should they stay or should they go?

Britain and Europe have always been an uneasy match, but without Britain the EU would be a very different organisation. [...]

Cameron’s gamble could destroy his premiership — and the EU

The coming months until the June referendum will be a crucial time for Britain and Europe. Neither of which will be the same any more irrespective of the result. [...]

A mess of Merkel’s own making

The German Chancellor may not politically survive the disaster she has created — and that would be well deserved. The collateral damage of her failing would be a Europe that sees the resurrection of nationalism, borders and political extremism. [...]

The divisions thwarting a united Europe

As ironic as it seems, it is the EU’s overreach that could turn out to be its own undoing. And it could be the failure of the EU’s supranationalism that will trigger a widespread return of the nation-state. [...]