Open Europe in the news

The Sunday Telegraph cited Open Europe's research into the different options available if the EU chooses to bailout Greece and the Mail reported that non-eurozone member states could still contribute to an EU bailout of Greece, quoting Mats saying: "British taxpayers simply won't accept being forced to pay for the mistakes of a government which they could never vote out of office." Mats was also interviewed on Swedish Radio, discussing the political consequences of the crisis in Greece.

Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell was quoted by the Sunday Express saying, "Despite all of the guarantees in the EU rulebook that countries aren't allowed to bail each other out, EU member states could be set to get around that by simply advancing EU funds to those countries, like Greece, who are in trouble. UK taxpayers pay money into the EU budget, so they would effectively be on the hook for a rescue operation like this and could end up paying for the financial mistakes of governments they had no hand in electing. In fact, British taxpayers are set to subsidise Greece for years to come through the EU budget".

Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe appeared on the BBC World Service discussing the strikes against budget austerity measures in Greece.

Iceland's EU membership bid

24 February Bloomberg

Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe appeared on Bloomberg TV, discussing whether it is a good idea for Iceland to join the EU. He said: "Iceland is already in the European Economic Area, so at the moment it's enjoying quite a good deal: access to the internal market, but not suffering from the overregulation coming from Brussels." He added: "certainly the argument that Iceland would have to join the EU in order to profit from the Euro has now fallen apart."

EU Commissioners to take home more than £1 million each on leaving office

22 February Nepszabadsag 14 February Sunday Tribune

Hungarian newspaper Nepszabadsag and the Irish Sunday Tribune cited Open Europe's findings on the pensions and pay-offs of retiring EU Commissioners.

70% of Germans oppose bailing out Greece

21 February Hurriyet

Turkish daily Hurriyet cited Open Europe's poll of German voters in June 2009, which found that 70% were against using taxpayers' money to bail out countries in financial difficulties.

Is the EU a threat to civil liberties?

21 February Newstalk Radio

Open Europe's Stephen Booth appeared on Irish Newstalk radio, arguing that the EU's growing role in justice and home affairs raises serious questions about democratic oversight and safeguards for civil liberties.

MEPs' allowances

20 February Diena New Europe

New Europe reported that the European Parliament is refusing to disclose the identities of MEPs who were forced to pay back €3.4 million in "wrongly claimed" expenses and quoted Open Europe Director Mats Persson saying: "If the European Parliament was serious about cleaning up its act it would name and shame the MEPs who have misused their allowances and conned the taxpayer, just as the UK Parliament is currently doing."

Latvian newspaper Diena also cited Open Europe's research into the allowances and expenses available to MEPs.

EU moves towards economic government

17 February Associated Press Sunday Times

The Sunday Times reported that the response to Greece's economic crisis could be to further EU integration, and quoted Open Europe Director Mats Persson warning: "The danger is that a lot of people in Brussels see this [Greek crisis] as an opportunity rather than a threat...A decade ago, when the euro was founded, they said that we don't have the tools now, but when a crisis comes along we will be able to take this forward."

AP reported on an unpublished paper by EU President Herman Van Rompuy, which proposed a new regime of stronger "economic governance" at the EU level, and quoted Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell describing Van Rompuy's move as "a power grab" and a method "to push forward economic integration in a way that's not necessarily transparent."

Whitehall scheme aims to boost UK staff in EU institutions at taxpayers' expense

16 February Express

The Express reported that Whitehall plans to train more civil servants for EU jobs, with the aim of boosting UK influence in Brussels. Open Europe Researcher Sarah Gaskell was quoted saying: "The UK certainly needs to step up the fight for its interests, but this cannot be achieved only by simply sending more middle-ranking civil servants to Brussels at an additional cost to taxpayers. There urgently needs to be a change in culture at the very top - the UK needs to be confident enough to say No to the many intrusive and unwelcome EU initiatives that seem to keep on coming."

EU leaders plan bailout of Greece

12 February Mirror BBC News 24 BBC Radio Five Live Prensa 11 February NPR  Sky News  This is Money 10 February Time Informador 9 February Le Monde 8 February Trends 7 February The Observer 6 February Express 5 February L'Expansion 4 February Le Temps 29 January Telos-EU

Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was interviewed on Sky News, National Public Radio, and BBC Radio Five Live discussing the options for a Greek bailout and Open Europe Director Mats Persson appeared on BBC News 24. Mats was quoted by the Observer, arguing: “The question is whether Greece can ever compete as a middle-rank eurozone country without some proper structural reform, and whether that is possible without its own monetary policy.”

Open Europe’s briefing, on a possible Greek bailout, was covered in the Mail, This is Money, Time magazine, Belgian news site Trends and various other papers.

The Mail noted Open Europe’s finding that, based on the UK economy’s size relative to other EU member states, a bailout of Greece by the EU could cost UK taxpayers £3.5bn, if Britain would take part in a rescue operation. Open Europe was quoted in the Mirror and Time magazine saying, "A large scale bail-out would make taxpayers across Europe liable for the mistakes of a government over which they have no democratic control.  Such a policy simply isn't reasonable and lacks public support". Open Europe was also quoted in the Express.

French website Telos-EU featured an Open Europe analysis of the legal ambiguities concerning the ‘no bail-out’ clause of the EU Treaties. This analysis was cited by Le Monde’s website and L’Expansion.  Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe argued the point again in Swiss daily Le Temps.

Mandelson calls for UK to join the Euro

12 February Express BBC Radio Humberside 11 February Telegraph

Following Lord Mandelson’s comments that Britain should still join the euro, Open Europe’s Sarah Gaskell was quoted in the Express saying: “This recent crisis has proved beyond doubt that Britain was right not to join the euro. It is crazy to suggest there would ever be a good time to give up the pound, when we clearly need all the flexibility that comes with it.” Sarah was also interviewed on BBC Radio Humberside discussing whey euro membership is not right for the UK.

Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph arguing that: “This episode has really highlighted the fundamental problems with the monetary union.”

Hedge funds contributed €4bn in tax revenue to the EU in 2008

12 February WSJ: Woolmer

In a comment piece in the WSJ, Lord Woolmer cited Open Europe’s research on the AIFM Directive, which found that hedge funds contributed just over €4bn in tax revenue to the EU in 2008.

Obama “snubs” the EU

10 February National Interest 5 February Washington Times 4 February Telegraph: Persson

Following President Obama’s decision not to attend the annual EU-US summit scheduled for 2010, both the National Interest and the Washington Times cited Open Europe Director Mats Persson’s article for the Telegraph, which argued: “Until the EU comes up with something actually worth talking about, it’s not surprising that Obama thinks that it’s more important to travel to Asia, South Africa and to attend NATO summits.” 

EP refuses to name MEPs forced to repay €3m in wrongly-claimed allowances

11 February Lidovky 8 February Telegraph

The Telegraph quoted Open Europe’s Mats Persson saying; “If the European Parliament was serious about cleaning up its act it would name and shame the MEPs who have misused their allowances and conned the taxpayer, just as the UK Parliament is currently doing.” Mats was also quoted in Czech paper Lidovky.

Are EU-funded think tanks independent?

10 February Neviditelny Pes 2 February Euractiv Euro.cz Lidove Noviny 1 February Vilaggazdasag 29 January Wiener Zeitung

Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was quoted by Hungarian daily Vilaggazdasag, Euractiv, Czech dailies Lidove noviny and Neviditelný Pes, Czech newssite euro.cz and Austrian daily Wiener Zeitung questioning the independence of EU-funded think tanks: "They are setting up their own committees claiming that these are independent think tanks when, in fact, they are cheerleaders for the EU."

Affordability of MEP pensions

10 February Professional Pensions

In a Professional Pensions article looking at MEPs’ pensions, Thomas Selby wrote: “The affordability of the current system has been widely criticised, especially after research by Open Europe revealed that all MEPs receive an annual pension of £27,954 by paying nothing.”

The cost of EU regulation

7 February Vakary Ekspresas

Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted by Lithuanian newspaper Vakary Ekspresas, arguing that “not only are some EU Directives very costly, but they also risk damaging the EU’s competitiveness, as well as encouraging protectionism, provoke investment outflows and enhance unemployment”.

MEPs seek to abolish UK’s veto on new EU financial regulators

2 February Telegraph

Following MEPs’ calls for stronger powers for the EU’s proposed financial regulators, Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph saying, “If MEPs manage to win support for this plan, it will add further momentum to what is already a significant transfer of powers from national regulators to the EU level. These plans will leave the UK Government completely without safeguards against proposals which could hurt the City of London. Crucially, accountability will fall into a black hole between EU regulators and the states. If the crisis taught us anything, it is the importance of holding both regulators and finance ministers to account.”

EU propaganda

1 February Hansard

In a House of Commons debate looking back at the 2008 EU budget, Conservative MP David Gauke cited Open Europe’s research which showed that the EU spent €2.4bn in 2008 on promoting itself and its central aim of “ever closer union”.

Commissioners’ golden pay-offs

31 January Irish Sunday Tribune

The Irish Sunday Tribune looked at the retirement of Irish EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, and cited Open Europe’s findings that outgoing EU Commissioners will get a €378,288 golden pay-off in transition payments and can expect a pension of €51,068. A spokesman for the Commission confirmed the generous payout.

MEPs vote to give themselves more cash

29 January Express The Parliament Telegraph

Following the news that MEPs voted to increase their allowances, the Telegraph and The Parliament magazine quoted Open Europe's Stephen Booth saying: "The EU institutions are so out of touch with ordinary citizens that the prevailing culture in Brussels seems to be 'who cares, it's only taxpayers' money'".

Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Express arguing, "MEPs already receive more than enough cash so there's no justification for this increase. If they want to be taken seriously by European taxpayers they have to cut back on their lavish habits, particularly as people continue to feel the pinch of the recession."

EU-funded think tanks defend their credibility

29 January EUobserver

Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted by EUobserver in an article reporting that 58 think-tanks will receive €6.7 million in EU subsidies this year. Pieter said, "They [the EU] are setting up their own committees claiming that these are independent think tanks when, in fact, they are cheerleaders for the EU. They do not question the EU to the extent they would if they were not being funded by it. That's the whole point of the grants."

Lisbon Treaty's "institutional chaos" leads to fight over who is the 'real' EU President

27 January Nieuwsblad TVP 25 January CEP: Cleppe

Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was interviewed by Polish broadcaster TVP, discussing EU President Herman Van Rompuy's first weeks in office. Pieter said: "EU President Van Rompuy has not exactly been modest during his first month in office, engaging in a fight with the Spanish EU Presidency over who is the 'real' EU President, in the wake of the institutional chaos brought in by the Lisbon Treaty."

In an opinion piece for the Czech Centre for Economics and Politics think-tank, Pieter argued: "Van Rompuy doesn't want to let countries decide their own economic model. The Anglosaxon, Swedish or Eastern-European models should all disappear. In 1998, he wrote in a book: 'The Rhineland model is limited to the Benelux countries and Germany. It needs to become the model of the whole of the Union.'"

The threat to the EU's competiveness does not come from a lack of Commission powers

26 January The Parliament

Writing in The Parliament magazine, Mats Persson looked at the Spanish EU Presidency and argued: "The threat to Europe's overall competiveness arises not from a lack or binding targets or commission powers, but from over-intervention and rules that de-incentivise growth, innovation and job creation."

EU's bid to end opt-out from 48 hour week will push costs to £12bn a year

22 January Telegraph 17 January Sunday Express

Following the revelation that the European Commission is planning to revise the Working Time Directive, the Sunday Express and Telegraph both cited Open Europe's research on the Directive, which found that losing the opt-out could cost the UK economy as much as £12bn a year by 2011. Stephen Booth was quoted in the Sunday Express saying that the UK should regain control of social legislation.

The Telegraph quoted Mats Persson, warning that "Losing the opt-out would send the annual bill for this Directive through the roof...Attempts to abolish the opt-out will come back again and again until the UK has a full derogation from EU social legislation. An incoming Conservative government must make a manifesto commitment to seek a full opt-out from European employment law. Riding the fence simply won't do."

EU opens 54 embassies

22 January Telegraph

The Telegraph quoted Mats Persson saying that "Common EU embassies mean that Britain can be overruled on crucial diplomatic matters, such as on how to respond to human rights abuses in a conflict-ridden country...In order for common embassies to work, EU member states must have shared national interests. This simply isn't the case, particularly in Africa where the EU has consistently failed to act in a unified manner in the past."

'We will be followed in 100 ways'

22 January TVN24

Polish news channel TVN24 looked at the Indect project, a new surveillance technology funded by the EU, and quoted Stephen Booth describing the project as "Orwellian".

House of Commons

22 January Hansard

In a debate in the House of Commons Conservative MP for North East Bedfordshire Alistair Burt cited Open Europe's research into the cost of ten years of EU regulation, which found that the cost of regulation has tripled for the farming industry since DEFRA was formed in 2001.

Commission floats ideas for EU-wide driving tests and speeding limits

21 January Express

Open Europe was quoted in the Express following the news that the EU is planning a new 'green' campaign on motorists saying, "This illustrates that the EU simply can't stop interfering in every aspect of people's lives."

Germans say no to bailing out Greece

19 January Scotsman

An article in the Scotsman cited Open Europe's poll of German voters in June 2009, which found that 70% of Germans were against using public money to bail out other countries that have got into financial difficulties.

EU judges to benefit from 3.7% pay increase

11 January TVP 8 January Comment is Free: Booth Origo 7 January Euractiv Challenge Express 6 January Rzeczpospolita Telegraph 1 January Mail

Following the news that EU judges will benefit from the 3.7% pay increase for EU officials that they will be asked to rule on, Open Europe was quoted in the Express, the Mail, Polish daily Rzeczpospolita, and on news sites Euractiv, Challenges and Origo.

Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted by the Telegraph saying: “Only the EU could come up with a system in which judges and bureaucrats have the ultimate power to decide on whether to award themselves an inflation-busting pay rise in the middle of the worst recession for generations. It's hard to find a clearer case of an inbuilt conflict of interest.” 

Open Europe’s Stephen Booth wrote an article for the Guardian’s Comment is Free website and Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was interviewed on the Polish TVP news commenting on the potential legal case.

EU regulations to cost £184bn by 2020

7 January EUportal 30 December CNBC

Open Europe’s Sarah Gaskell appeared on CNBC discussing Open Europe’s research on the top 100 most costly EU regulations and arguing that powers over social and employment policy should be repatriated to the UK. The report was also featured on EUportal.

100 examples of EU fraud and waste

5 January ICM

An article by ICM news cited Open Europe’s 2008 research on 100 examples of EU fraud and waste.

New European Commission will treat tax harmonisation as a high priority

4 January Irish Mail

Following the news that the European Commission intends to make tax harmonisation a high priority in its next mandate, the Irish Mail quoted Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe saying: “the tax harmonisation plan will impinge on national tax sovereignty and could have severe consequences for the Irish economy.”

EU President to cost taxpayers over £20m a year

4 January Kurzy 3 January News of the World

Open Europe’s Stephen Booth was quoted in the News of the World and on Czech news site Kurzy discussing the salary and benefits of EU President Herman Van Rompuy, which he described as “outrageous”.

Lorraine Mullally: “2009 has been a disappointing year for anyone who cares about democracy in the EU”

3 January Yorkshire Post 31 December Conservative Home 

In a piece for Conservative Home, Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally argued that “2009 has been a disappointing year for anyone who cares about democracy in Europe.  It will go down in history as the year the political elite finally won the battle against the people to enforce the undemocratic EU Constitutional Treaty without their consent, or, in the case of Ireland, by bulldozing their original decision to reject it.” She was also quoted in the Yorkshire Post saying: “Failure to give British people a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is a key reason people are disillusioned with politics”.

The EU in 2010 - what to expect from the Spanish EU Presidency

2 January El Pais 28 December EurActiv

Open Europe's research into the priorities of the Spanish EU Presidency was quoted in El País and EurActiv, which referred to the claim that the Presidency will press for new social legislation to create a “factory of rights”.

Taxpayers fund skiing holidays for MEPs and EU officials on £108,000 salary

1 January Express 31 December Telegraph

Following the news that the EU is to heavily subsidise a skiing holiday for MEPs’ children and European Parliament officials, Open Europe Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Express and the Telegraph saying, “It is ridiculous that, at a time when most families across Europe have to tighten their belts, the European Parliament thinks it is appropriate to subsidise holidays for the families of even its most well-paid staff. How can MEPs claim subsidised holidays for their children when many of their constituents' families are struggling through the recession?”

Back to top

2009

Brussels rules cost UK £18bn a year

22 December Telegraph ICM 20 December Sunday Times NOTW

Open Europe’s research showing that the top 100 most costly EU regulations introduced since 1998 will cost the UK £18 billion in 2010 alone was featured in the Sunday Times, the News of the World, and the Telegraph.

Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted in the Sunday Times saying, “Far too many [EU laws] are overly prescriptive and unnecessarily burdensome for business, the public sector and individuals. Seventy-two per cent of the cost of regulation in this country stems from EU laws. An incoming government must take a radical new approach to EU over-regulation and must be much tougher and smarter when negotiating in Europe.”

Key EU financial supervision project clears a major hurdle

16 December Global Risk Regulator

Open Europe’s Mats Persson was interviewed for an article in Global Risk Regulator looking at EU proposals for supervision of the financial services sector and the creation of three new EU supervisory authorities. He was quoted warning that the UK is “losing a lot of control over the regulation and supervision of its financial markets. That is, after all, the whole idea behind the proposal. It is intended to create a pan-European supervision structure. Quite clearly, it represents a transfer of power from national supervisors to the three new authorities.”

EU’s alternative investment directive to cost industry billions

16 December Reuters Global Risk Regulator

Reuters cited Open Europe’s study on the EU’s AIFM Directive, which found that the initial costs for the combined hedge fund and private equity sectors of the new rules could be between €1.3 billion and €1.9 billion. Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted in an article in Global Risk Regulator discussing the Directive’s progress through the European Parliament.

MEPs’ pay rise takes salary to £86,000

16 December Telegraph 14 December The Parliament

In an article on the controversy surrounding the proposed 3.7 percent pay rise for EU officials and MEPs, the Telegraph quoted Open Europe’s Mats Persson saying, “During the worst recession for generations, EU institutions are expecting a substantial pay increase for already well-paid MEPs and bureaucrats. In contrast, many member states are proposing pay freezes for public sector workers such as doctors and nurses in order to cope with massive public deficits.”

Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally was quoted by The Parliament saying, “EU bureaucrats in Brussels are living on another planet. Why should they get an inflation-busting pay rise while back in the real world public sector workers face pay cuts?”

Pieter Cleppe: The lack of a credible opposition in the European Parliament leaves its new powers under Lisbon unchecked

15 December Deutsche Welle

Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was interviewed by Deutsche Welle Radio looking at how the European Parliament has already become more assertive given the growth of its powers under the Lisbon Treaty. He argued “it’s not just a disgrace that the Lisbon Treaty has been passed, but also the undemocratic way this has occurred is unacceptable”. He added: “Looking at European referendums we can see that there is significant opposition to more powers for the EU in Europe. The fact that this is not sufficiently mirrored in the composition of the European Parliament shows that this institution is not democratic enough, a point made by the German Constitutional Court in its verdict on the Lisbon Treaty last June”.

'Phantom MEPs' to cost taxpayers £6m a year

14 December Telegraph 21 December Lidove Noviny

In an article looking at the 18 ‘observer’ MEPs, whose seats were created by the Lisbon Treaty, the Telegraph quoted Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally saying, “It's typical of the bloated EU institutions to pay 18 superfluous politicians to do absolutely nothing and for no good reason.  We're in the middle of the worst recession since the 1930s and yet here we are paying for nobodies to do nothing in the European Parliament. It's madness. So much for streamlining things – Lisbon just adds to the ridiculous waste and bureaucracy and taxpayers have to foot the bill."

Lorraine was also quoted in Czech daily Lidove Noviny.

EU’s chief environmental policy a failure

14 December ANSA

Italian news agency ANSA cited Open Europe’s research which found that oil and gas companies’ operations in the UK were granted a surplus of carbon permits worth €28.6m in 2008 under the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme. Open Europe’s Stephen Booth was quoted saying, “It is a perverse situation when our chief environmental policy is granting such huge benefits to companies that pose the most harm to the environment. Profits should be greasing the wheels of the emissions trading system rather than lining the pockets of the biggest polluters and carbon exchanges.”

EU civil servants to strike over pay

11 December Rzeczpospolita The Parliament

Following the news that EU civil servants are planning strikes over proposals from member states to block an inflation-busting 3.7% payrise, Open Europe’s Sarah Gaskell was quoted in Polish daily Rzeczpospolita and Lorraine Mullally was quoted by The Parliament saying: "It is unbelievable that just as millions of public sector workers in the UK get their pay frozen, thousands of out of touch EU bureaucrats demand an inflation-busting payrise."

PBR reveals UK contributions to EU are to rise by £1.2 billion next year

11 December Express 10 December Telegraph

In stories in the Telegraph and the Express on the UK Treasury’s Pre-Budget Report, and the fact that Britain’s net contributions to the EU are set to rise by £1.2 billion in 2010/11, Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson was quoted saying, “The increase in the UK’s contribution to the EU budget could hardly come at a worse time. The EU budget represents exceptionally poor value for taxpayers’ money – it’s wasteful, irrational and hopelessly out of date. British taxpayers have good reason to be angry about their money being spent on wasteful EU projects rather than on closing the budget deficit or lowering taxes at home.”

Cameron pledges clear-out of health and safety legislation

10 December New American 3 December Mail 1 December Cameron speech

In a speech on “over the top” health and safety rules and legislation, Conservative leader David Cameron highlighted Open Europe’s research that the cost of complying with EU employment, social and health and safety regulation over the last ten years has amounted to over £35 billion – 25 percent of the entire regulatory cost for that period.

The Mail and the New American magazine also reported on the briefing, which showed that the regulations will cost the UK economy £71 billion over the next ten years, even if no new legislation is adopted in that time. The Mail quoted Open Europe saying, “David Cameron is absolutely right to push for a more common sense approach to social and health and safety laws. However, any meaningful effort to tackle overly prescriptive rules must focus overwhelmingly at the EU level for the simple reason that a clear majority of our laws in this area now stem from Brussels, and without any change the cost of these laws will continue to go up.”

Sarkozy: British are the “big losers” after Michel Barnier is handed responsibility for finance

8 December World Politics Review 29 November Telegraph Mail Express

Following the news that French MEP Michel Barnier had been appointed as the EU’s next Internal Market Commissioner, with responsibility for financial services, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted in the Telegraph and Express saying, “We've missed out on all the important economic portfolios, and handed responsibility for the internal market and financial services to a French protectionist who also happens to be a committed EU federalist – which is the worst-case scenario.”

Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted by the Mail saying, “The Government has failed to fight for the City of London and the Anglo-Saxon way of doing business.” World Politics Review also quoted Open Europe saying that Barnier’s appointment was “bad news” for the City.

Lisbon Treaty Citizens’ Initiative

7 December DPA

German press agency DPA looked at the new so-called ‘Citizens’ Initiative’ in the Lisbon Treaty, and quoted Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally saying, "I don't see the citizens’ initiative even scratching the surface of the EU's problems.”  Describing the initiative as “scant compensation for the loss of powers given up with the Lisbon Treaty”, she said, "In that sense, it's worse than meaningless, because it gives the impression that they [EU leaders] are doing something when they are not.”

UK Government accused of caving in over proposals for single European financial regulator

3 December This is Money Mail

Following an agreement by EU finance ministers to create three new EU authorities with binding powers over national regulators to supervise the bloc’s financial markets, several papers reported that the UK Government gave in on some of the most controversial aspects of the proposal, including the fact that qualified majority voting, or simple majority voting, will apply to decision-making. The Mail and This is Money quoted Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson saying, “The UK has lost out badly in the negotiations. The key thing is the UK can be outvoted at any time.”

Open Europe’s “50 new examples of EU waste”

3 December La Informacion 1 December Pluska 29 November TA3

Open Europe’s “50 new examples of EU waste” continued to receive coverage across Europe, in Slovakian paper Pluska, on Spanish site La Información and from Slovakian news channel TA3.

German MEP hails “day of joy” for those who want a federal United States of Europe

2 December Express

Following the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty on 1 December, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted by the Express saying, “As of today, there is virtually no area of policy the EU cannot now touch. Unaccountable, unelected EU politicians and judges have sweeping new ­powers over everything from our criminal justice systems to asylum ­policy.”

Outgoing EU Commissioners cost taxpayers €35.6 million

30 November Sunday Times Capital

The Sunday Times and Romanian newspaper Capital reported on Open Europe’s findings that the 13 outgoing EU Commissioners have cost taxpayers €35.6 million during their tenure. Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying, “The European commission is completely out of touch. Despite the recession there has been no attempt to bring down the enormous salaries and payoffs that commissioners enjoy.”

EU officials set for inflation-busting pay rise

27 November Telegraph EUobserver Express

After discovering that European civil servants are to receive a 3.7 percent pay rise despite the fact that there is a pay freeze for British civil servants Open Europe was quoted in EUobserver, the Telegraph and the Express. Mats Persson was quoted saying that EU officials “are paid more than enough already" and need to wake up to “what's happening outside the Brussels bubble.” He said, “This is a PR disaster for the Commission. No wonder people find it hard to identify with the EU institutions.”

In the Express Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying, “How completely crazy that right in the middle of a recession taxpayers are being asked to cough up even more money for Brussels’ bureaucrats to have a pay rise.  Meanwhile, in the UK, public sector pay is being frozen for many people doing important jobs, such as NHS managers and GPs, because of lack of funds. It’s a disgrace.”

Lukewarm response to European Parliament’s first draft on AIFM Directive

26 November Telegraph

In article looking at proposals to give the EU the power to restrict shortselling and leverage for fund managers under the AIFM Directive, the Telegraph quoted Mats Persson saying “This would centralise significant supervisory powers at the EU level at the expense of national regulators. Handing over such powers raises questions about accountability, creates legal uncertainty and, in a worst case scenario, may even prove counterproductive for ensuring market stability."

Brown accused of ducking out of MPs’ questions on EU’s top jobs

23 November Telegraph

Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying, “This is a total cop-out. There are all sorts of important question marks hanging over these appointments – such as why Gordon Brown agreed to give up the influential EU trade portfolio for external relations, and why he has allowed a clear runway for the French and Germans to take the most important economic portfolios in the Commission? Gordon Brown has got an awful lot to answer for after this shoddy backroom stitch-up – he must appear in the Commons and face the music.”

Gordon Brown accused of taking 'wrong' EU job

23 November Evening Standard; 20 November Telegraph

Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph saying, “This appointment is part of a very deliberate French strategy to challenge the Anglo-Saxon model in general and the prominence of the City of London in particular.”

In a letter in the Evening Standard, Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally and Pieter Cleppe argue that, given the likelihood that France’s Michel Barnier will clinch the EU Internal Market portfolio, “It could be argued that our powers of influence in Europe have taken a step backwards with our Commission representative swapping her trade brief for a foreign affairs one.” 

EU leaders appoint EU and EU Foreign Minister in secretive backroom deal

23 November Evening Standard Telegraph; 20 November Telegraph; 19 November BBC CNBC’s Europe Today programme, CNN news, BBC News, BBC Radio 5 Live; 20 November Mirror Northern Echo Sun Mail Express  Channel 5 News, Belgian TV RTBF,  ARD, 4FM Het Laatste Nieuws; 17 November 2009 Express Zycie Warszawy  16 November Telegraph Telegraph-leader Express

The Open Europe team was widely quoted and interviewed in the European media following the appointment of the new EU President and EU Foreign Minister.

Lorraine Mullally appeared on CNBC’s Europe Today programme, CNN news, BBC News, BBC Radio 5 Live, Channel 5 News, Belgian TV RTBF, German TV ARD, and on Irish radio station 4FM criticising the secrecy surrounding the negotiations on the EU President, and the fact that neither the EU President or the Foreign Minister will have a democratic mandate. She was also quoted in many national and international papers including the: Telegraph, Mirror, Sun, Express, Mail, Northern Echo and the Express saying, "Most people in Europe have never even heard of Herman Van Rompuy or Catherine Ashton, yet here they are to represent us in the global arena. Surely Europe can do better than this?" She said: "This is an outrageous stitch-up by Europe's elite. Meeting behind closed doors, 27 people in Brussels decide on the two biggest jobs in Europe while the 500 million citizens they are supposed to represent hang on for the outcome. This is a blow to democracy - the EU should be ashamed of itself."

Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was also interviewed by Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws and was also quoted by the Express and the Zycie Warszawy.

Cathy Ashton to be paid more than British Prime Minister in charge of “biggest diplomatic service in the world”

22 November Sunday Times; 19 November Express

In the Sunday Times Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying: “This is the beginning of a European foreign service. It was unelected and is not open to democratic scrutiny. Our fear is this will develop a life of its own and come to undermine the foreign policies of European member states.”

Van Rompuy is bad for small countries

19 November De Morgen: Cleppe 

In an op-ed in Belgian daily De Morgen, Pieter Cleppe argued that “the appointment of Van Rompuy would not be a good thing for small countries”.  He said that “talk of an EU tax on financial transactions distracts from the problem that the EU’s accounts have not been signed off for 15 years in a row, while countries such as Belgium remain net contributors to the EU budget. Moreover harmonising tariffs will in practice lead to higher taxes. Just ask restaurant and bar owners. For years they were demanding a lowering of VAT from 21 percent, and despite the fact that all democratically elected Belgian politicians agreed with that, it has only become possible this year, because an EU agreement was necessary. It’s not a difficult concept: if a small country allows the EU to take more decisions, it loses a lot of power.”

Wie is die jeugdige Belgische lobbyist?

Terzake Tarzake2 18 November

Belgium’s most watch news programme Terzake  had a feature on Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe, after Pieter had briefed the British media on Herman Van Rompuy’s background and political views. Pieter said, “People in Great Britain are unhappy about the possible choice of a Belgian politician who wants to give the EU more and more power. Van Rompuy can be relied upon to quietly make sure that the EU gets more and more powers, with less and less say for voters". 

The EU’s budget is unmanageable

16 November 2009 La Voz de Galicia Gazeta Wspolczesna; 19 November Southern Star 17 November 2009 Malta Times; EUobserver 13 November

In an article for EUobserver, Mats Persson argued that “The fundamental problem of waste and mismanagement involving EU money lies primarily with the budget itself – not with the member states, although they should not entirely escape blame…Mismanagement and waste in the EU budget are two sides of the same coin. They both stem from the size, complexity and irrational nature of the EU budget. Both receive their thrust from the blurred line between spending and accountability, owing to the set-up of the EU's budget programmes. And both can be radically reduced by simplifying the budget, cutting down on the spending and by repatriating a large chunk of regional spending and the CAP to member states.”

Open Europe’s list of 50 new examples of EU waste was cited in Spanish regional paper La Voz de Galicia, Polish paper Gazeta Wspolczesna, the Irish regional paper the Southern Star and in The Malta Times.

Open Europe’s top 50 new examples of EU waste

12 November Gazeta Wspolczesna Magyar Nemzet 11 November Mail Express Dziennik Telegraph 10 November Mail: Synon blog

Open Europe’s top 50 new examples of EU waste was reported in the Mail, Express, Telegraph, Polish newspapers Dziennik and Gazeta Wspolczesna, and in Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet.

Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted in several papers saying, “The European Commission tries to put the blame for fraud and waste on the member states, but the real problem is the EU budget itself. Too often, EU money is wasted on inefficient projects which are based on unrealistic expectations, or for which there is no real demand. Because of the way the EU's spending schemes are set up, bizarre or wasteful projects can receive funding which never would have received money if subject only to national spending priorities. Unfortunately the focus of the EU budget is to get the money out of the door, not to spend the money wisely.”

Sweden proposes to include caps on bonuses in AIFM Directive

11 November Risk 6 November Money Marketing

Risk Magazine and Money Marketing cited Open Europe’s study on the AIFM Directive, published in September, which estimated the new Directive could cost the EU private equity and hedge fund industries between €1.3 billion and €1.9 billion in its first year, if adopted in its current form.

Blair’s decision to give up chunk of EU rebate has cost the UK £9.3bn

9 November Telegraph

In an article on the cost of the decision to give up part of the UK’s rebate from the EU budget, the Telegraph quoted Open Europe’s Mats Persson, saying, “This £10 billion would certainly have come in handy at a time when the UK is facing a massive public deficit, and every tax penny counts. Taxpayers will not be pleased at this news.” He added that Mr Blair had “naively agreed to give up large chunk of the UK’s rebate from the EU budget, in return for vague promises of a root-and-branch reform of the EU’s distorting and wasteful farm subsidy scheme”.

Stephen Booth: “The defence of our civil liberties is now a war on two fronts”

9 November Telegraph 2 November Comment is free: Booth

In a comment piece in the Telegraph, Philip Johnston looked at Open Europe’s recent research, “How the EU is watching you: the rise of Europe’s surveillance state” and quoted Open Europe’s Stephen Booth saying “We are fast approaching a situation where the EU will have the full coercive machinery of a state but without the proper democratic controls or robust checks on power that citizens should expect. How can citizens expect their fundamental rights to liberty and independence from the state to be protected by unaccountable institutions which have a vested interest in creating more laws?"

Writing for the Guardian’s Comment is Free, Stephen also argued that, “Once [the] Lisbon [Treaty] is finally ratified, it will be full steam ahead. Plans are already underway for a fledgling EU ‘Home Office’ which has been dubbed the committee on internal security. It will decide how national police, border, immigration and criminal justice authorities should deal with cross-border issues throughout the EU.”

Conservatives “must turn off every single tap from which EU social policy flows”

7 November BBC Newstalk 6 November Conservative Home: Persson 4 November BBC Breakfast Handelsblatt BBC News Telegraph: Mullally 3 November BBC Radio 5 Live Newsnight

Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally appeared on Newsnight, BBC Breakfast, BBC News and BBC Radio 5 Live discussing the Conservatives’ new policy on Europe. Lorraine argued while pledges to repatriate aspects of EU law are welcome, the Conservatives could have strengthened their hand at the negotiating table by getting a mandate for the reforms from the people through a referendum, and making a firmer commitment about using the EU budget as a negotiating tool.

She argued that it is wrong to believe that British voters are alone in wanting to see reform of the EU, and that a Conservative government could find allies for repatriating EU powers. Lorraine was also quoted by the Evening Standard and German newspaper Handelsblatt, and appeared on BBC Radio Scotland’s Newstalk programme, to debate the merits and drawbacks of the European Union.

In an article for the Telegraph, Lorraine argued that “If a Conservative government is serious about repatriating policies that have a real impact in Britain, social and employment policy is exactly the right place to start. Laws of this nature have had a massive impact on the UK economy – in fact, they are the most significant driver of regulatory costs in the UK”.

Writing on Conservative Home, Open Europe’s Mats Persson argued, “in order to give their policy real teeth, the Conservatives must pledge to turn off every single tap from which EU social policy currently flows – once and for all. In practice, this means opting out of all those articles in the Treaties which serve as basis for social legislation – whether existing or future – rather than picking and choosing individual Directives or segments of Directives, as Cameron seems to suggest”.

Open Europe demonstration against Vaclav Klaus’ signature of the Lisbon Treaty

4 November Business Times Express

The Business Times reported on Open Europe’s demonstration in Brussels on 30 October supporting friends from around Europe in urging Vaclav Klaus not to give in to pressure and to withhold his signature from the Lisbon Treaty. The Express also quoted Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally in an article on the ratification, saying: “Unelected EU judges will see their powers bolstered and more and more decisions affecting our everyday lives will be taken by bureaucrats behind closed doors in Brussels.”

The future EU President

4 November Hospodarske Noviny

Slovak newspaper Hospodarske Noviny quoted Open Europe’s Stephen Booth in an article discussing the future EU President.

Proposed EU Directive to ban money back guarantees for shoppers

2 November The Parliament 1 November Express 27 October

Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted by the Sunday Express discussing the EU’s proposed Consumer Rights Directive. He said, “This watering-down of British consumer rights laws represents a significant power grab by Brussels and British consumers will be rightly horrified that Europe wants to denude the UK’s national safeguards. Worse still, new EU rules mean the UK Government cannot continue to offer British consumers extra safeguards if it wants to. British shoppers are getting short-changed by Brussels.”

How the EU is watching you

29 October National Interest 28 October Ziua 27 October Mail Express Telegraph Ziua.net 25 October Sunday Express

Open Europe’s new report, “How the EU is watching you – the rise of Europe’s surveillance state”, was reported in the Sunday Express, News of the World, Mail, Telegraph and Express. Open Europe’s Stephen Booth was quoted in the Express saying “Ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will see powers over justice and home affairs policy almost completely shifted to the EU level. We are fast approaching a situation where the EU will have the full coercive machinery of a state, but without the proper democratic controls or robust checks on power that citizens should expect.’’

The Telegraph quoted the report saying: “In practice, the UK has often been a key driver of policy, and has in some instances even exported domestic initiatives to the rest of the EU, particularly those that increase the power of the state over the individual.”

Quoted in the Mail, Stephen said: “How can citizens expect their fundamental rights to liberty and independence from the state to be protected by unaccountable institutions which have a vested interest in creating more laws?”

Blair for EU President?

29 October HN

Open Europe’s Sarah Gaskell was quoted by Slovak paper HN on the prospect of Blair being appointed EU President.

ECB's former chief economist at Open Europe debate: “The challenges facing the ECB are tremendous”

28 October Telegraph: Evans-Pritchard 27 October Telegraph: Ambrose Evans-Pritchard's blog

Following Open Europe’s debate, “Eurozone: out of the woods, or off the cliff?” Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, writing in the Telegraph, quoted Otmar Issing, the ECB's former chief economist, who told the forum that "Nobody can be sure that we have a self-sustaining recovery. The challenges facing the ECB are tremendous." Evans-Pritchard also mentioned the event on his blog.

Plans for an EU tax would “rightly cause concern among British taxpayers”

28 October Express Leaked Commission Communication

On the front page of the Express, Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson commented on a document leaked from the European Commission which proposed that funding of the EU budget should in future be made through a direct EU tax. Mats was quoted warning that the plans for an EU tax would “rightly cause concern among British taxpayers”.

UK MEPs should take the lead on transparency

28 October Wales Online 19 October Telegraph

Following reports that British MEPs are paying relatives hundreds of thousands of pounds to work for them in the European Parliament, Open Europe’s Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph saying, “It doesn’t look good…It’s much better if MEPs do not employ family members, in terms of public perception and avoiding suspicion, whether justified or not. The British pride themselves on taking the lead in Europe but on this they are trailing far behind.”

An article on Wales Online cited Open Europe’s finding that Lord and Lady Kinnock received some £8m in salaries and allowances and another £4m in six publicly-funded pensions, worth about £150,000 a year, from their times as EU Commissioner and MEP in Brussels.

European Commission’s use of media spin

28 October Soitu

Spanish news site Soitu.es quoted Open Europe’s Stephen Booth, in an article discussing the use of the media by the EU, saying: “Instead of trying to sell ‘ever closer union’ to the media the EU would do far better to listen to citizens’ demands for a more transparent and democratic EU, and concentrate on reforming many of its failing policies.”

EU’s AIFM Directive to cost billions

26 October Sunday Telegraph 22 October Telegraph 17 October Sunday Telegraph October 15 Financial Times

Open Europe’s research on the AIFM directive continued to receive coverage. The FT quoted Open Europe’s report on the costs and impact of the Directive, noting that “The tax revenues generated over two years by AIFMs in the UK could pay for the entire 2012 London Olympics.”

The Telegraph quoted Open Europe’s findings that the Directive would cost the industries an estimated €1.3bn (£1.2bn) to €1.9bn in compliance costs in the first year alone. Open Europe was also quoted in the Sunday Telegraph, in an article looking at efforts in the European Parliament to amend the Directive, while, writing in the same paper, Matthew Elliott of the Taxpayers Alliance cited Open Europe’s recent survey which suggests the industry contributes £5.3bn to the Exchequer every year.

The cost of France’s EU Presidency

22 October La Vanguardia

Spanish daily La Vanguardia quoted Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe, in a report on the cost of last year’s French EU Presidency, saying, “the presidencies will continue to cost the same [after the Lisbon Treaty], but in most part it will only be for show. Up until now the investment was worthwhile because the country was gaining political influence, something of interest for the smallest countries”.

Czech Republic will lose out under the Lisbon Treaty

20 October MF Dnes: Cleppe

Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe had an article in Czech daily MF Dnes, in which he argued that, “The Lisbon Treaty means a critical transfer of power to the EU. It will make it easier to pass laws in Brussels rather than in national parliaments like the Parliament of the Czech Republic”. Pieter wrote that “according to a study by academics at the London School of Economics, the power of the Czech Republic to block laws it dislikes will be cut by a massive 51% under the Lisbon Treaty, compared with less than 2% for Germany”.

EU’s Constitutional Hubris

20 October Providence Journal

In an article covering the trials and tribulations of the Lisbon Treaty, an article in the  Providence Journal took up Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally’s argument that Cameron must demand reforms to the EU budget in the event that the Lisbon Treaty goes into effect before a general election in the UK.

We need to start looking at the AIFM Directive from a European point of view

16 October De Standaard11 October Sunday Telegraph Sunday Telegraph 2 9 October Telegraph 1 October First Post Bloomberg Dagens Industri-Persson

Open Europe’s research on the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive continued to receive coverage in the Sunday Telegraph, online magazine First Post and on Bloomberg, which quoted Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson saying: “It’s good to avoid mentioning London in every single sentence and start looking at this from a European point of view”, noting that three-quarters of Europe’s 1,785 private-equity firms are based outside Britain.

Mats also had an op-ed in Swedish financial daily Dagens Industri, urging the Swedish Presidency of the EU and Swedish MEPs to step up their efforts for an amended and improved AIFM Directive. Mats argued that “Europe is facing the dual challenges of huge public deficits and an ageing population. This is a terrible time to place meaningless burden on a sector that could provide the returns we need to help us cope with that challenge… So the proposal clearly needs amending.”

Open Europe also organised a roundtable discussion with MEPs in Brussels, to discuss the AIFM Directive and how it can be amended. The discussion was featured in Belgian daily De Staandard, which also cited from Open Europe’s research.

“Lord and Lady Expenses” received up to 8 million pounds in EU taxpayers' money over 15 years

14 October Borsen Berlingske Politiken Jyllands-Posten 10 October Gazeta du Sud

Several Danish papers and Romanian paper Gazeta du Sud cited Open Europe’s calculations showing that Lord and Lady Kinnock between them received around £8 million from the EU in pay and allowances during their respective tenures in Brussels.

Bryant appointed to the ‘downgraded’ job of Europe Minister

13 October Sun Telegraph

Following the news that the Europe Minister role in the Government had passed to junior minister Chris Bryant, the Telegraph quoted Open Europe saying, “After all, with Blair back ruling the country, this time from a flashy office in Brussels, what need will Labour have for a decent Europe Minister?'” The Sun also quoted Open Europe saying, “This shows scant regard for the British people. Gordon Brown might not think Europe is important, but they do.”

Ireland votes to ratify the Lisbon Treaty

12 October BBC Radio 5 Live 5 October Hospodarske Noviny Khabrein Irish Independent on Sunday Impuls Scotsman IHT EurActiv Ceske Noviny Irish Examiner Sunday Times Leitrim Observer Rzeczpospolita 2 October Der Standard 1 October LBC Radio

Following Ireland’s vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty on 2 October, Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally was quoted in several papers responding to the verdict, including the Irish Independent on Sunday, the Irish edition of the Sunday Times, the Scotsman, the IHT, the Irish Examiner, the Leitrim Observer, EurActiv, Czech daily Ceske Noviny, Czech radio Impuls and Slovak daily Hospodarske Noviny.

She said, “This is a sad day for democracy in Europe. The Lisbon Treaty transfers huge new powers to the EU and away from ordinary people and national parliaments. EU elites will be popping the champagne and slapping each other on the back for managing to bully Ireland in to reversing its first verdict on this undemocratic Treaty. But most ordinary people around Europe will not welcome this news, as they were never given a chance to have their say on the Treaty.”

Lorraine also appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss the Czech situation with regards to the Treaty, and was quoted by Polish daily Rzeczpospolita and appeared on LBC radio, suggesting that in all likelihood the Treaty will be in force by the time of the next General Election.

In an article in Der Standard about the “opinion makers on the Emerald isle”, Austrian MEP Martin Ehrenhauser, cited Open Europe as part of the “No” campaign to the Treaty in Ireland.

Regulatory reform is vital to an EU burdened by regulation costing over 160bn euros a year

12 October Europe's World: Booth

In an article for Europe’s World, Open Europe Researcher Stephen Booth argued that “Raising the political profile of regulatory issues is not just important for businesses, it is also an essential political point. Regulation is the principal method by which the EU exercises power, so there is therefore a democratic as well as an economic case for greater scrutiny of EU regulation.”

Cameron pledges to seek new deal on Europe

12 October Economist: Charlemagne's notebook 8 Oct LBC radio 6 October HNOnline 5 Oct Independent on Sunday: McMillan Scott Irish Times Mirror Mail Sunday Express American Spectator 2 October BBC

The Sunday Express quoted Open Europe’s Mats Persson, regarding the Conservatives’ position on holding a retrospective referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, saying “It’s very unlikely the Tories would hold a referendum because the treaty would already have been ratified. It [would] actually cast into doubt Britain’s entire membership of the EU if people voted no.”

The front page of the Mail, and the American Spectator reported that Open Europe has proposed a referendum on reform, rather than the Lisbon Treaty itself. The Mirror quoted Director Lorraine Mullally saying, “A way out would be to hold a 'referendum on reform'. They could ask: 'Are you in favour or against withholding agreement to the EU budget until the European Reform Package has been adopted?’” Lorraine also appeared on BBC Radio 5 to discuss a referendum on an EU reform package, and Open Europe’s Sarah Gaskell was quoted in Slovak daily Hospodarske Noviny discussing the Conservatives’ Europe policy.

Ahead of the Conservative Party Conference, the BBC reported that Open Europe had put forward the idea that a Conservative government should instead announce a referendum on a package of EU reforms. Open Europe’s event at the Conference was also mentioned, suggesting “there will be lots of talk about Europe at the party conference.” The event was also mentioned in advance by the Irish Times and Edward McMillan Scott MEP, writing in the Independent on Sunday. The Economist’s Charlemagne blog also featured a brief account of the meeting.

Conservatives vow to stop Blair becoming EU President

8 October Hospodarske Noviny 4 October Scotsman 3 October Mail

The Mail reported that Tony Blair may be deterred from accepting the job of permanent EU President if it were to hit his other money-making activities. The article quoted Open Europe’s Mats Persson saying, “If he takes up the position, Tony Blair must make sure that the many political and commercial interests that he's currently entwined in are not allowed to shape his agenda as EU president. He must stay well clear of all types of conflicts of interest.”

The Sunday’s Scotsman quoted Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally saying, “The problem is that the Lisbon Treaty doesn't say what the role is really about.”

Slovak daily Hospodarske Noviny quoted Open Europe’s Sarah Gaskell talking about the support that Tony Blair would receive from which EU member states.

EU funding 'Orwellian' plan to monitor public for “abnormal behaviour”

7 October Publico 6 October El Pais

Open Europe’s Stephen Booth was quoted in Portuguese newspaper Publico and Spanish newspaper El Pais discussing the EU’s funding for “Orwellian” surveillance projects.

EU drawing up plans to allow it to negotiate treaties and open embassies around world

7 October Telegraph 5 October CNBC

The Telegraph reported that the EU is drawing up secret plans on how to implement the Lisbon Treaty, which have produced proposals to allow the EU to negotiate treaties and even open embassies across the world. Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted describing the move as “a huge transfer of power which makes the EU look more like a country than an international agreement. Giving the EU legal personality means that the EU, rather than member states, will be able to sign all kinds of international agreements – on foreign policy, defence, crime and judicial issues – for the first time”.

Lorraine also appeared on CNBC’s Europe Tonight programme, discussing the wider implications of the Lisbon Treaty.

EU’s alternative investment directive to raise costs, hit tax revenues

30 September The Deal 28 September Irish Independent RTE NRC Handelsblad 25 September Guardian Cincodias Boerse 24 September Telegraph Nepszabadsag Foonds 23 September Bloomberg Le Temps Hedge Co Net 22 September Telegraph Bloomberg TV City AM Wall Street Journal blog Reuters Hedge Fund Net The Hedge Fund Journal HFM Week Dow Jones eFinancial News Global Pensions Global Investor Népszabadság Valori 21 September FT FT: Alphaville blog Bloomberg FinAlternatives

The FT featured the findings of Open Europe’s study of the EU's proposed Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive. The article noted that Open Europe’s survey of fund mangers revealed that “The directive will cost the private equity and hedge fund industries in the EU between €1.3bn and €1.9bn (£1.17bn, $2.8bn) in the first year. The annual recurring cost is estimated at between €689m and €985m.”

Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson was quoted by the Telegraph saying, “The proposal will hurt the EU's competitiveness, lead to more protectionism and mean less investment in European firms, at a time when more is desperately needed…In a worst-case scenario, thousands of jobs and millions in tax revenues could be at stake.”

Bloomberg also reported the study’s findings and cited extensively from a recent event organised by Open Europe and Policy Exchange where European Socialist Party President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen addressed hedge fund and private equity managers in London’s Guildhall. The study was also reported by Irish broadcaster RTE, the Guardian, Irish Independent and Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad.

Pieter Cleppe: “Liberal parties betray their liberal democratic principles at the EU level”

30 September EUobserver

In a comment piece for EUobserver, Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe criticised Europe’s liberal parties for betraying their liberal democratic principles at the EU level or when they are forced to confront EU issues, especially when it comes to denying voters referendums on the Lisbon Treaty.

Open Europe: David Cameron should promise a referendum on reforming the EU

29 September Times: Aaronovitch 27 September Independent on Sunday Observer Conservative Home

Writing in the Times, David Aaronovitch noted that given that the Lisbon Treaty is likely to be ratified by the time the Conservatives come to power, “Open Europe suggests that the new government should indeed hold a referendum not on Lisbon, but on something else – a ‘reform package’ – threatening to veto the EU budget if we don’t get our way.”

The Independent on Sunday quoted Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally saying, that, given a ‘yes’ is predicted in Ireland’s referendum, “all eyes will be on the Conservatives and what they are going to do about it....There is a strong public desire to be consulted on Europe one way or another. So if Cameron doesn't promise a referendum on Lisbon he should hold a vote on an EU reform package, promising to veto EU budget negotiations if he doesn't get his way.”

In an article looking ahead to the Conservative Party conference, the Observer reported that Open Europe’s event on the Conservatives’ EU policy “looks certain to be one of the biggest crowd pullers of the Manchester gathering.”

75% of EU citizens wanted a referendum on EU treaty

29 September Mayo News

An article in Irish regional paper the Mayo News cited Open Europe’s poll which found that 75% of citizens across Europe want a referendum on any treaty which gives more power to the EU.

Derek Scott: A ‘No’ vote on the Lisbon Treaty will not harm Ireland’s economy

28 September WSJ

Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Derek Scott, former Economic Advisor to Tony Blair, advisory board member of Vestra Wealth LLP and Vice-Chairman of Open Europe, argued that “Ireland should have the confidence to challenge the prevailing consensus that a No vote would be bad for the economy, because it's bunk.”

European Commission attacked for “illegal interference” in Lisbon treaty referendum

27 September Sunday Telegraph: Booker

In the Sunday Telegraph, Christopher Booker looked at double standards in the Irish referendum campaign, pointing out that the European Commission has spent millions on a Yes vote but when Open Europe organised an event in Dublin “their ‘foreign intervention’ was greeted by orchestrated howls of abuse.”

Irish ‘yes’ could see Tony Blair become EU President within weeks

27 September NOTW

The News of the World reported that Tony Blair could become EU President within weeks if Ireland votes Yes in its Lisbon Treaty referendum. Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying, “Brits didn’t get a say on the Treaty and we won’t get a say on who becomes President.”

Lisbon would see more power given to the unelected ECJ

27 September Sunday Express

The Sunday Express reported that if Ireland votes Yes to the Treaty then judges at the European Court of Justice will get sweeping new powers over Britain’s criminal justice, immigration and asylum policies. Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying, “This is a serious threat to our democracy. The Treaty will hand huge new powers to unknown, unelected and unsackable judges in Luxembourg.”

EU farmers hose away 25 million gallons of milk

27 September Sunday Express

The Sunday Express looked at the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and the recent protests by EU milk farmers at falling prices. Open Europe was quoted saying, “This is a direct consequence of the EU’s flawed agricultural policy which has caused the dairy market to become too skewed.”

EU funding ‘Orwellian’ artificial intelligence plan to monitor public for “abnormal behaviour”

25 September Zeit Neowin 24 September Interia Short News EU portal Lupa 23 September The Register 22 September Webwereld 21 September Inquisitr 20 September Sunday Telegraph

The Sunday Telegraph reported on Open Europe research which found that the EU is spending millions of pounds developing “Orwellian” technologies designed to scour the internet and CCTV images for “abnormal behaviour”. The article quoted Open Europe’s Stephen Booth saying “This is all pretty scary stuff in my book. These projects would involve a huge invasion of privacy and citizens need to ask themselves whether the EU should be spending their taxes on them.” Stephen was also quoted in German weekly Zeit.

Sweeping new powers could see Brussels seize control of the City

24 September Telegraph

In an article looking at the European Commission’s proposals for a pan-European financial supervisor and three new European regulatory authorities the Telegraph quoted Open Europe’s Mats Persson saying, “Key decisions will be taken on a ‘one-state, one-vote basis', meaning that the UK will have the same influence as countries which have barely any financial sector at all.”

How you are paying for the Irish ‘Yes’ Campaign

24 September FT: Brussels blog

The FT’s Brussels blog suggested an Open Europe blog piece on how taxpayers are funding the Yes campaign in Ireland’s referendum on the Lisbon Treaty as one for further reading.

The cost of doing business in the EU

22 September Telegraph Telegraph: Tyler

In a feature looking at business leaders’ opinions on the costs and benefits of EU membership, the Telegraph quoted Lord Leach of Fairford, a Director of Jardine Matheson, and Chairman of Open Europe, saying, “Britain is so constrained by regulations that we are being dragged down into the least competitive sector of the world. It is very strange that we, as a great champion of the free market, should find our relations with China, India and Brazil projected through an introspective, protectionist, anti-free market prism.”

The article also featured Simon Wolfson, Chief Executive of Next and Open Europe Advisory Board Member, who said that: “I think that the big benefit of the EU is the free movement of goods and the free movement of labour, and this becomes more important as the EU expands east. But the costs of what started as a free trade agreement and the burdens of regulation and bureaucracy are increasing every year.”

Also in the Telegraph, Richard Tyler looked at the cost of doing business in the EU writing that “Open Europe estimates that 70 per cent of the additional cost to business of new UK legislation originates from the EU.”

The impact of EU membership on Estonia’s economy

21 September Telegraph: Evans-Pritchard

In an article in the Telegraph Ambrose Evans-Pritchard looked at the impact of EU membership on Estonia’s economy, which featured comments made at a debate held by Open Europe and The Educational Initiative for Central and Eastern Europe.

Commission President earns the same as Obama

18 September HBVL

Belgium’s Het Belang van Limburg cited Open Europe’s calculation that EU Commission President Jose Barroso earns roughly the same basic salary as the President of the United States.

Is Britain still a sovereign state?

17 September Telegraph

In an article looking at the impact of EU membership on the UK, the Telegraph extensively featured Open Europe’s research on the cost of EU regulation, published in February this year, which found that 72 percent of the cost of regulation introduced in the past ten years is derived from the EU. The article quoted Open Europe’s conclusion that “In terms of absolute proportion, we estimate the figure to be around 50 percent. This means that the EU now has huge regulatory powers. What’s more, in terms of relative impact – which is what matters – its powers over regulation exceed that of the UK government”.

ECJ rules that workers can claim back holidays ruined by illness

15 September Mail

In an article looking at the recent ECJ ruling, the Mail quoted Open Europe’s Stephen Booth saying, “Yet again the ECJ has extended the EU's power over employment policy. This case illustrates what can happen when the UK signs up to EU laws without considering the potential consequences. This is the sixth or seventh time the EU's unelected judges have extended the reach of the original directive and increased costs for businesses.”

Barroso to appoint EU Immigration and Human Rights Commissioners

14 September Telegraph

The front page of the Telegraph reported that the next European Commission is expected to contain a new portfolio for fundamental rights and social rights.

The article quoted Open Europe saying, “This new post was proposed by Barroso to buy off the socialists which gives you some indication of what is to come. In the past, when the EU has tried to legislate in this area it hasn’t turned out well, the working time directive being the most conspicuous example.”

EU budget used to finance puppet theatre, promote Finnish tango, and a crocodile zoo

13 September Sunday Telegraph

In an article on EU spending, the Sunday Telegraph cited from Open Europe’s research that the EU has spent £93,000 on a puppet theatre, £6,165 to a former Miss Seville to kick-start her event organising company, more than £87,000 on a fake silkworm-breeding business and £750,000 on a crocodile zoo from the EU budget.

Ireland lost out in negotiations on the original text of the Lisbon Treaty

7 September Irish Mail: Synon 12 September Irish Independent 13 September Sunday Tribune News of the World

In the Irish Independent, Bruce Arnold reported on Open Europe’s research which found that during negotiations on the original text of the Lisbon Treaty, the Irish government lost out on 113 proposals for amendments out of a total of 149.

The Irish edition of the News of the World also reported on Open Europe’s research. Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying, “The Lisbon Treaty is a bad deal for Europe and a bad deal for Ireland.  Why should Irish voters feel comfortable with this Treaty when not so long ago the Government itself had such important reservations?”

Responding to the research, Irish Defence Minister Willie O’Dea said Open Europe should “butt out” of the Lisbon debate.  Mary Ellen Synon noted in the Irish edition of the Mail: “Note first of course that Mr O’Dea did not dispute the findings of the Open Europe research, all of which show how absurd it is for the Government to pretend we have some great influence in shaping the future of the EU. We don’t. All Mr O’Dea offered by way of reply to the research was an attempt to paint Miss Mullally and her work as ‘British’ and therefore be ignored. Yet of course Miss Mullally is Irish, with family in Dublin. And Open Europe itself is full of people from different European nationalities.”

Diarmuid Doyle, writing in the Sunday Tribune, also covered the story and argued: “in the world populated by the 'Yes' campaign, anybody opposed to the Lisbon treaty is a liar or a Brit interloper or a halfwit. It's not exactly the civilised debate Dick Roche asked for a few weeks ago.”

Open Europe event on alternative investment fund regulation

11 September FT Reuters Reuters blog: Hedge Hub City AM Telegraph Times Bloomberg Forexpros Financial News WSJ 14 September HedgeWorld

The FT, Reuters, City AM, Times, and Telegraph all reported on Open Europe’s debate on the EU’s proposed AIFM directive, featuring Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the European Socialists’ Party, and City Minister Lord Myners.

Vincent Browne hosts debate on Lisbon Treaty on TV3

7 September Near FM 8 September – TV3

Open Europe's Lorraine Mullally appeared live on Vincent Browne's debate on the Lisbon Treaty on Irish channel TV3, alongside MEPs Joe Higgins and Susan O’Keeffe, and Professor Brigid Laffan, Chairwoman of the Ireland for Europe campaign.

Lorraine argued that the Treaty should be rejected on the grounds of democracy and trust – explaining that in spring and summer last year Europe Minister Dick Roche repeatedly insisted that Ireland would not hold a second referendum, but had gone back on his word.

Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally also appeared on Irish radio station NearFM to discuss Open Europe’s Dublin event.

Commission proposes joint EU resettlement programme for refugees

3 September Mail

In an article discussing the EU Commission’s proposals for a joint EU resettlement programme for refugees, the Mail quoted Open Europe’s Stephen Booth saying, “Asylum policy is a sensitive issue for the public and national governments therefore need to be clear and open about where EU asylum policy is heading in order to avoid a backlash from their citizens.”

The Irish referendum

3 September Ekonom 28 August Washington Examiner 24 August National Interest

An Open Europe poll, which found that 75 percent of all Europeans, including a majority in every country, wanted a referendum on any new Treaty transferring powers to the EU from member states, was cited in an op-ed in the Washington Examiner by Doug Bandow. Concerning the second Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying, “Despite lengthy negotiations and lots of superficial statements about 'respecting' the Irish 'no' vote, not a single comma has changed.”

An article in the National Interest looked at the German Constitutional Court’s decision on the Lisbon Treaty and quoted Open Europe, saying, “British MPs need to wake up-and demand the same powers”. It also referred to a recent Open Europe poll which found that 70 percent of Germans oppose bailing out other EU member states.

The Czech Ekonom magazine referred to Open Europe’s research in an article looking at Ireland’s current economic situation.

France and Germany’s agreement over economic stimulus ‘exit strategy’ and bankers’ bonuses

2 September CNBC

Open Europe’s Sarah Gaskell was interviewed on CNBC’s Europe Tonight programme, discussing the meeting of EU finance ministers ahead of the G20 summit and the possibilities for finding a consensus on legislation to cap bankers’ bonuses.

Commissioners to retire with millions

1 September ABCNyheter 26 August The Parliament

The Parliament magazine reported on Open Europe’s findings that EU Commissioners retiring this year will leave with over £1 million each in pension, transition and resettlement payments. The article quoted Open Europe’s Sarah Gaskell saying, “Taxpayers around Europe, whose pensions have been swallowed up in the recession, will rightly question why they are footing such an enormous bill for a handful of remote officials who they never voted for in the first place.”

The research was also quoted by Norwegian news site ABCNyheter.

EU to shelve budget review promised to the UK

30 August LBC Radio 24 August Express Suntalk Radio 23 August NOTW

Following the news that the UK contribution to the budget is set to increase by 60 percent, Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally was quoted by the News of the World and the Express saying “With the popularity of the EU at an all-time low in Britain, it is complete madness that we are paying more than ever into its coffers. The EU budget is riddled with fraud and waste – it hasn’t had its accounts signed off in 14 years. And despite this British taxpayers are being asked to cough up more and more every single year.”

Lorraine also appeared on Suntalk radio and Andrew Pierce’s show on LBC Radio to discuss the EU budget and Britain’s increasing contributions.

Irish MEPs to receive two EU pensions on top of two national pensions

23 August Sunday Times

In an article about Irish MPs Jim Higgins and Liam Aylward receiving a total of 4 pensions each, the Irish edition of the Sunday Times noted that Open Europe has criticised the Parliament’s voluntary pension scheme as unacceptable because there are no checks to ensure that MEPs repay the contributions made towards their pension, which is two-thirds funded by taxpayers.

Commission developing strategy to impose road tolls across Europe

21 August Newcastle Journal

The Newcastle Journal quoted Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally in an article reporting plans being developed by the European Commission to impose road tolls across Europe. Lorraine said, “If Ireland votes Yes to the Lisbon Treaty in its second referendum in early October, the UK Government will lose its ability to veto any proposals it doesn’t like the sound of [in transport policy]. Congestion charges and road tolls should be decided regionally or locally and as close as possible to the people who will have to pay them, not by the unelected European Commission in Brussels.”

Open Europe: EU’s hedge fund directive is “politically driven Directive, carrying all the attributes of bad business law.”

20 August HFM Week

Open Europe’s Mats Persson wrote a comment piece in hedge fund industry magazine HFM Week, arguing that the EU’s AIFM Directive is a “politically driven Directive, carrying all the attributes of bad business law.”

Brezhnev in Dublin

American Spectator 18 August

In an article looking at the upcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum in Ireland, the American Spectator quoted Open Europe's Lorraine Mullally saying, “Despite lengthy negotiations and lots of superficial statements about 'respecting' the Irish 'no' vote, not a single comma has changed – If there were any changes at all to the Treaty, then all the other member states would have to re-ratify it. None of the statements made [at the EU summit] are binding in EU law. But even if they were, they do nothing to address Irish concerns.”

The article also cited an Open Europe poll which found that 75 percent of Europeans wanted to vote on any new treaty transferring more power to the EU.

What percentage of law comes from the EU?

17 August BBC Radio 4 8 August Grimsby Evening Telegraph

Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally appeared on Radio 4’s More or Less programme, arguing that, according to Open Europe’s study of 2,000 Government Impact Assessments, 72 percent of the cost of UK regulation introduced in the last ten years emanated from the EU.

The Grimsby Evening Telegraph looked at the question of what proportion of laws in Britain come from the EU and concluded that there is no simple or straightforward answer, citing Open Europe’s research.

Commission funded ‘information’ stifles debate about the EU

10 August Aftonbladet

Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally and Mats Persson had an op-ed in Sweden’s biggest paper Aftonbladet, arguing that the European Commission – led by Communications Commissioner Margot Wallstrom – spends an estimated €2.4 billion each year on various projects and campaigns which intentionally confuse propaganda with information, in order to promote further European integration. The article noted that the Commission is “increasingly looking like a political lobby group with its own agenda” and that EU communication officials have admitted in internal documents that “factual information isn’t enough”.

The article concluded that “None of these examples can be seen as attempts to inform the general public about EU affairs…instead of contributing to a diversified debate, the Commission is instead stifling the debate. This does not fare well for the democracy in the EU.”

EU extradition treaty means British law no longer protects us

10 August Sunday Telegraph: Booker

Christopher Booker’s column in the Sunday Telegraph cited Open Europe in its discussion of the use of the European Arrest Warrant in the case of Andrew Symeou, who has been extradited to Greece and could be in jail for up to 18 months awaiting trial because he cannot be bailed, as a non-resident of Greece.

UK Government confirms there will be no Impact Assessment for the EU AIFM Directive

5 August City AM 4 August Global Pensions 29 July CityAM

City AM cited Open Europe’s Freedom of Information request which revealed that the Government will not conduct an Impact Assessment into the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive. It quoted Open Europe’s Mats Persson, referring to the lack of Impact Assessment, saying, “The UK government is behind the curve on this and they are breaking their own principles on better regulation.”

Global Pensions also quoted Mats saying, “This is quite extraordinary given the impact the directive will have both on the financial sector and the wider economy. We support more transparency for this industry, but we believe the directive is miss-targeted, poorly drafted, inconsistent with previous EU law and quite protectionist."

EU’s Climate and Energy package will cost the UK £9bn a year

4 August American Thinker

American Thinker cited Open Europe’s research that the EU’s Climate and Energy package will cost the UK £9bn a year and leave an extra 1 million people in fuel poverty by 2020.

EU’s cap on junior doctors’ working hours to cost NHS the equivalent of 5,400 new doctors

1 August Independent 2 August  Sunday Mirror Scotland on Sunday Channel4 News Sky News MSN News ITN Yorkshire Post PA Coventry Telegraph  Grantham Journal CityTalk Key 103 Manchester Hinckley Times Loughborough Echo Ormskirk & Skelmersdale Advertiser Southport Visitor Holyhead and Anglesey Mail Staines News Journal Live Midulster today Liverpool Echo Maghull & Aintree Star Formby Times ic NorthWales St. Helens Star Bridlington Today Buckinghamshire Advertiser Lytham Today Motherwell Today Guide and Gazette Mail on Sunday Politics.co.uk

Open Europe’s findings on the costs to the NHS of the EU’s cap on junior doctors’ hours received widespread coverage.

Open Europe’s Mats Person was quoted in several papers saying, "Smack in the middle of a swine flu pandemic, not to mention a recession, these stringent new rules could not come at a worse time.”

“This scenario was unforeseeable when EU ministers rubber-stamped these rules in Brussels almost a decade ago, but underlines precisely the reason why governments must be extremely careful when signing up to laws in Europe.”

Commission allocates €885m to promote a "common European identity" among young people

30 July EUobserver International News Service

New Lisbon Treaty ‘Yes’ group launches

27 July  Sunday Business Post

The Irish Sunday Business Post cited Open Europe’s press summary covering Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin’s comments that democracies are “complex”, sarcastically adding, “Would a dictatorship not be delightfully simple?”

Open Europe’s league table of MEPs

24 July Hungarian News Agency

An article for Hungarian News Agency MTI cited Open Europe's league table of MEPs, which can be seen here:

http://www.openeurope.org.uk/media-centre/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=110

€2.4bn spent on promoting the EU in 2008

24 July Elsevier

An article in Dutch magazine Elsevier cited Open Europe's research on EU communication policy, which found that the EU spent €2.4bn on promoting itself in 2008 alone. The study can be found here:

http://www.openeurope.org.uk/research/hardsell.pdf

70% of Germans against bailing out Ireland

23 July Europe's World 21 July Irish Daily Mail Ef-magazin 20 July Irish Times

Open Europe’s survey of German voters, which found that 70 percent are against bailing out other struggling EU economies, such as Ireland was reported in the Irish Times, in the Irish edition of the Sun, in Mary Ellen Synon’s column for the Irish Daily Mail, and in German magazine EF-online.

In an article for Europe's World, Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe highlighted Open Europe's poll, writing, “Any financial help flowing across EU borders depends entirely on the willingness of taxpayers - particularly German ones - to cough up, and the clear public opposition to the idea makes it politically unfeasible."

UK 'backs Blair for EU president'

21 July New Statesman: Best of the politics blog 19 July LBC Radio 16 July BBC Press and Journal Independent

Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally appeared on Andrew Pierce’s show on LBC radio discussing Tony Blair’s candidature for EU President. She argued that the creation of a permanent EU President, as proposed by the Lisbon Treaty, would be a step backwards for democracy, since it will end the current system of rotating presidencies, whereby democratically-elected prime ministers and presidents who have a mandate to rule get to set the agenda in Europe for six months at a time.

Lorraine was quoted by the BBC saying, “Tony Blair may well be a respected politician around the world, but he is also yesterday's news. The problem with creating a post of EU president is that it would inevitably go to an ex-leader who has lost the support of his or her own electorate.”  The comments were featured in the Independent as one of the paper’s ‘Quotes of the day’, and also in Scottish paper Press and Journal.

The New Statesman’s Best of the Politics Blogs quoted from Open Europe’s blog on Blair’s candidacy.

German judges call EU treaty an illegal power grab

14 July Sun

Open Europe was quoted in an article in the Sun on the German Constitutional Court’s decision on the Lisbon Treaty, which ruled that the German parliament should have more oversight of EU decision making. Open Europe said, “British MPs need to wake up – and demand the same powers”.

Developing countries resist pressure for firm climate change targets

10 July WSJ 7 July WSJ: Editorial

An article and a separate editorial in the WSJ cited Open Europe's research on the EU's climate change package, which found that it could cost governments, businesses and householders in the EU more than €73 billion a year until 2020.

Cowen names 2 October as second referendum date

9 July Mail

After the date for the Irish second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty was revealed to be 2 October, the Mail quoted Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell saying, "It is completely unjustified that Irish voters are being asked to vote again on the very same Lisbon treaty that they rejected last year. Despite assurances to respect the Irish no vote and the concerns of the Irish people, not a single comma in the treaty has changed. Meanwhile, British voters have not been given a chance to have a say on this treaty, despite promises from all of the major parties in their last election manifestos to hold a referendum."

Evaluation of Czech Presidency

7 July Onet.pl

Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted on Polish news site Onet.pl in an article evaluating the Czech Presidency of the EU.

Green MEPs are most transparent

2 July News and Star

A letter to the Cumbrian News and Star cited Open Europe's transparency initiative, in which Green MEPs came top with 100 percent.

German Court decision provokes calls for other member states to strengthen parliamentary powers

1 July Il Velino Telegraph

Following the decision on the Lisbon Treaty by the German Constitutional Court, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted in the Telegraph saying, "Nobody realistically expected the court to rule against Lisbon, but it is hugely significant that judges have delayed ratification until the German Parliament is given greater powers to influence EU law-making. The judges have ruled that the transfer of powers to the EU level leaves a gap between citizens and the EU."

77% of German voters want a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty

2 July Irish Times: Letters 29 June EurActiv

After the publication of a poll showing that 77% of German voters want a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted on Euractiv saying "This poll clearly shows that it is not only the Irish who want to be consulted on the Lisbon Treaty. This treaty transfers significant powers from the national to the EU level, and German voters want to be given a say". 

"Politicians claim they want to see more debate about the EU at national level, and yet they have conspired to deny voters a say on the Lisbon Treaty. Research shows that referendums on European issues significantly improve the public's interest in and knowledge of the EU - so referendums should be encouraged, not avoided at all costs." 

"If politicians want people to connect with the EU, they should give them a say on the big issues like treaty change. The public are crying out to be consulted - it is time to stop pretending that politicians know best, and inject some democracy into EU politics". 

Open Europe's poll was also featured in a letter to the Irish Times. The letter said that the poll "highlights the democratic deficit currently at play in the EU, which will be exacerbated by a 'self-amending' treaty". 

McCreevy: 95% of countries would probably have voted No in Lisbon Treaty referendums

29 June EurActiv

After EU Internal Markets Commissioner Charlie McCreevy revealed that he thought "95% of countries would probably have voted No in Lisbon Treaty referendums", EurActiv quoted Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally saying that the Irish Commissioner's "honesty" had "touched a nerve" and that his statement "probably reflects what most other EU leaders think themselves". 

Many areas of foreign policy will be affected by Lisbon Treaty

25 June Conservative Home

An article by Sally McNamara for the Conservative Home blog cited Open Europe's findings that "12 areas of foreign policy, including the election of the EU foreign minister and proposals emanating from the foreign minister will move from unanimity voting to a qualified majority under the Lisbon Treaty."

"Lord and Lady Expenses" received up to £8 million in EU taxpayers' money over 15 years

20 June Sunday Telegraph 15 June Sunday Times Mail on Sunday Wales Online Telegraph Sun United Press International Mail: Leader Mail Mail 2 Express Sunday Express LBC Radio

The front page of the Sunday Times reported on Open Europe's findings that the new Europe Minister and outgoing MEP Glenys Kinnock, and her husband, the former EU Commissioner Neil Kinnock, have received up to £8m of taxpayers' money in pay and allowances from the EU since 1994. 

Open Europe's Mats Persson was quoted in The Sunday Times, saying "The Kinnocks are Brussels' very own Lord and Lady expenses".

The findings were reported by Christopher Booker in the Sunday Telegraph, and received coverage in the Sunday Express, News of the World, Telegraph, Sun, Mail, Express, United Press International, Wales Online and the Western Mail. Mats also appeared on LBC Radio discussing the findings.

Irish guarantees on Lisbon Treaty are an "elaborate charade"

19 June Irish Independent Irish Times

Open Europe's debate held at The Centre in Brussels on 18 June was reported in both the Irish Independent and the Irish Times. Irish MEP Joe Higgins said "What we will witness at the European Council today is an elaborate charade. The so-called guarantees are simply designed to throw dust in the eyes of ordinary people in Ireland to give them the impression that something fundamental has been changed in the Lisbon Treaty compared to 12 months ago. It is exactly the same text, word by word, not even a comma has been changed".

MEPs take legal action to block reform of their pensions

17 June Global Pensions

Following news that MEPs are taking legal action to block steps by the European Parliament Bureau to reform their controversial second pension scheme, Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell was quoted by Global Pensions magazine saying, "This pension scheme has already been shown to be an unacceptable waste of taxpayers' money and now some MEPs are trying to protect their golden payouts through a legal challenge shrouded in secrecy."

Cost of MEPs is five times higher than MPs

16 June Hansard

In a debate in the Public Bill Committee in the House of Commons Conservative MP Greg Hands cited Open Europe's findings that the cost of the European Parliament is five times higher than the UK Parliament and quoted an Open Europe briefing which said, "The huge gaps in pay will tempt the most talented people away from national politics."

EU commissioners leaving office this year will receive £1 million in pensions and pay offs

16 June Dziennik

Polish paper Dziennik quoted Open Europe's findings that EU Commissioners leaving office this year can expect to receive £1 million in pensions and transitional payments.

A Conservative government and the Lisbon Treaty

14 June Politics Show

Lorraine Mullally appeared on the BBC's Politics show, discussing the future of the Lisbon Treaty and the possibilities for a Conservative government.

Eurozone membership is not the answer to beating the recession

13 June Express

The front page of the Express quoted Open Europe's Vice Chairman, and former economic advisor to Tony Blair, Derek Scott, reacting to Lord Mandelson's comments that Britain should join the Euro to help beat the recession. Scott said, "We're seeing German output falling by six per cent and Spain's unemployment heading for 25 per cent - definitely not success stories."

Commissioners to take home more than £1 million each on retirement

12 June CT 24 

An article on Czech newsite CT 24 cited Open Europe's findings that retiring EU Commissioners can expect to receive more than £1 million each in pension payments, transitional and resettlement allowances.

Glenys Kinnock appointed UK Europe Minister

10 June Mail 9 June Mail

The Mail quoted Open Europe saying that "The appointment of Glenys Kinnock is quickly turning into a shambles. The Government is all over the place on Europe. Yesterday's election results show it needs to get its act together sooner rather than later." 

A separate article also quoted Open Europe saying, "In a vote in the European Parliament in February last year, Glenys voted against an amendment which asked that the European Parliament "undertake to respect the outcome of the referendum in Ireland" on the Lisbon Treaty.' She was also among those MEPs that vetoed a proposal which would have ensured that MEPs' contributions to the second pension scheme could no longer be paid out of MEPs' allowances, but would have had to come out of their own pockets."

The EU's "gravy plane"

9 June El Confidencial 3 June Express 31 May Sunday Times News of the World

The Sunday Times, the News of the World, the Express and El Confidencial reported on Open Europe's findings that in the past year, Britain's MEPs flew 363,990 air miles on foreign trips.  It also reported that Glenys Kinnock is the most widely-travelled, clocking up 127,465 miles over the past five years, equivalent to flying around the world more than five times.

The Sunday Times quoted Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally saying, "Never mind the gravy train, the European parliament is more like the gravy plane. MEPs are clocking up thousands of miles on dubious 'fact-finding' trips to luxurious locations like Miami while the rest of us scale down our travel plans in the recession."

Implication of centre-right victory

9 June BBC World Business Report        

Open Europe's Mats Persson appeared on BBC World's Business Report, discussing the success of the centre-right parties in the European elections, and the implications for the reduction of regulation.

BNP could pocket £5.2 million in EU funds

9 June Mail

The Mail cited Open Europe's research that, over the next five years, the British National Party could pocket £5.2 million of EU taxpayers' money to spread its message across Europe.

How many of the UK's laws emanate from Brussels?

9 June Private Eye

Private Eye's Brussels Sprouts column asked "how many of the UK's laws emanate from Brussels?" and quoted Lord Trimble speaking at last month's Open Europe debate saying, "Since national parliaments don't get the possibility to scrutinise, things are getting worse."                                                                                             

MEPs' pay rise to have big impact in poorer countries

9 June Express

The Express reported that new rules for MEPs' pay, coming into effect next month, will have most impact in poorer countries such as Bulgaria where MEPs will earn around 50 times more than the average salary. Open Europe was quoted saying, "The huge gaps in pay will tempt the most talented people away from national politics."

MEPs cost taxpayer £1.8 million a year

7 June Andrew Pierce on LBC 5 June Professional Pensions Przekroj 4 June Guardian: White South Wales Evening Post 3 June Western Morning news

On live BBC coverage of the European elections, presenter Emily Maitlis cited Open Europe's figures, which showed that each MEP costs the European taxpayer £1.8 million per year, compared to £364,000 for each Member of the House of Commons. The findings also received coverage on Michael White's Guardian blog.

Open Europe's Lorraine Mullally appeared live on GMTV and Andrew Pierce's show on LBC radio to discuss Open Europe's findings about MEPs' expenses and the annual cost of a single Member of the European Parliament.

The South Wales Evening Post reported that retiring Welsh MEPs Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan are set to receive hundreds of thousands of pounds in pensions and benefits as part of a £20 million pay-off for UK MEPs who retire this week, and quoted Open Europe's Mats Persson saying, "It is scandalous that MEPs are receiving this level of pay-off."

Open Europe's findings on MEPs' pensions also received coverage in Polish magazine Przekroj and in Professional Pensions magazine, which quoted Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell saying, "At a time when everyone else is seeing their pension pots dwindle in the recession, MEPs have ensured themselves a gold-standard pension under new rules in the new parliamentary session, which they will pay nothing into themselves."

MEP league table coverage

5 June Novinite Nepsava Irish News 4 June Sydsvenskan Fejer Megyei Hirlap Corriere della Serra 3 June MR1 Info Radio

Open Europe's league table of MEPs continued to receive coverage across Europe, in Swedish daily Sydsvenskan, Italian newspaper Corriere della Serra, Hungarian paper Nepsava, Bulgarian news agency Novinite and in the Irish News.

European voters suffer from apathy

5 June Hospodárske noviny   

Slovak paper Hospodárske Noviny featured an article looking at voter apathy in the European elections, and quoted Open Europe's Mats Persson.

MEPs vote to keep expenses secret

4 June iDNES 3 June Irish Times: Smyth

The Irish Times reported that almost all Irish MEPs voted for an amendment to the so-called 'Cashman report' this year, to ensure that MEPs' expenses claim remained secret.  The vote was featured in Open Europe's league table of MEPs. Open Europe's Mats Persson was quoted in the article saying, "No matter how MEPs present it, this amendment is a way to keep their expense receipts secret. It will prevent people from using the Cashman provisions to ask about expenses".

Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted in Czech daily iDNES reacting to claims from MEPs that they don't have the time to scrutinise all votes in the European Parliament.

170,000 bureaucrats for the EU

4 June NRC Handelsblad      

Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad reported on Open Europe's figure that the EU employs 170,000 bureaucrats.

Cameron pledges to use EU budget talks to negotiate return of powers to the UK                  

3 June De Pers          

Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted in Dutch daily De Pers, commenting on the plan to form a European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Parliament.

Shamed MEPs take share of £20m 'farewell' payout

2 June Times Australian BBC Radio 5

Reacting to the news that 22 British MEPs, retiring after the European elections, will receive a £20 million payoff in pensions and benefits, the Times quoted Open Europe’s Mats Persson saying, “It is scandalous that MEPs are receiving this level of pay-offs. If you go into public office you should not be there for making money.” Mats also appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live, discussing the pensions and payoffs for MEPs, saying there are “no sanctions in place for MEPs who are found guilty of wrongdoing involving taxpayers’ money.”

Scrutinising MEPs’ records in office

1 June Daily Politics

Open Europe’s Mats Persson appeared on the BBC Daily Politics show, discussing Open Europe’s transparency league table of MEPs.

A third of British MEPs employ family members on expenses

29 May Times

Open Europe's Research Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Times arguing that even though there is no suggestion of wrongdoing the employment of relatives reinforces the public perception of the European Parliament as a "gravy train". He said, "It is not acceptable for any MEP to continue employing members of their family."

Open Europe publishes league table of all 785 MEPs, based on transparency, accountability, democracy and waste

29 May WSJ 28 May Evening Standard  Limerick Leader 27 May CNBC Berlingske Yle Svenska YLE Helsing Sanomat Jyllands-Posten Dagens Nyheter Scotsman

26 May Sun Sun 2 EUobserver Kilmarnock Standard Conservative Home NRC Handelsblad Standaard STA Galloway Gazette PA Denik Svenska Dagbladet FT Trumpet ADN RP Newsdesk.se Folket

Open Europe’s league table was covered on the front page of the FT, in the Sun, the Mail, the Scotsman, on the BBC Breakfast Show, on the Conservative Home website and in several regional newspapers, including the Kilmarnock Standard, the Argus and the Galloway Gazette. It also received coverage around Europe, appearing in Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad Standaard, Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet, on EUobserver and several other papers in Denmark, Finland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia.

Open Europe’s Mats Persson appeared on CNBC’s Europe Tonight show, discussing the findings of the report, and Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally appeared on BBC Radio 4’s the World at One. Mats was also interviewed on Irish radio stations RTE, Shannonside FM, Northern Sound and Ross FM.

Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted in the Wall Street Journal arguing, "There's a slow realisation that the parliament has to become more accountable and transparent."

MEPs’ expenses: the real expenses scandal is in Brussels

29 May BBC World Service  27 May Comment Is Free: Persson 26 May FT FT 2

22 May Rochdale News  21 May Daily Politics

Open Europe's Director Lorraine Mullally appeared live on the BBC's Question Time Extra, commenting on the special 'European elections' edition of Question Time. Lorraine described the huge expenses pot available to Members of the European Parliament, who, unlike British MPs, do not have to produce receipts to claim their expenses, calling on the parties to commit to change.

Lorraine also appeared on More 4 News and live on the BBC Daily Politics show, discussing the need for MEPs to publish their expenses. The FT quoted Open Europe saying, “There’s no obligation on MEPs to produce receipts for any of the money they claim [apart from travel], so it’s impossible for us to see if they are spending public money in an acceptable way.  The new rules coming into force after the elections do not address this fundamental shortcoming.” Another FT article quoted Open Europe on Labour’s decision to make their MEPs publish receipts.

In a piece on the Guardian’s Comment is Free page, Mats Persson argued “the real expenses scandal is in Brussels”. Mats also appeared on BBC World Service’s Europe Today.

EU referendums encourage voter engagement with the EU

29 May FT: Letters

In a letter to the FT, Open Europe's Lorraine Mullally argued that referendums on the EU stoke public interest and debate and that “national referendums on EU treaties should be encouraged, not avoided at all costs, as is the current consensus in Brussels”.

How does the European Parliament impact on business?

27 May BBC Breakfast Show

Open Europe’s Mats Persson appeared on the BBC Breakfast Show discussing how the European Parliament impacts on business.

Communication Commissioner’s £1.8m pension

26 May Aftonbladet

Open Europe’s findings that Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström will receive a £1.8 million pension when she leaves the Commission were reported by Swedish daily Aftonbladet.

100 examples of EU fraud and waste

26 May Varlden Idag

Swedish paper Varlden Idag cited Open Europe’s research on ‘100 examples of EU fraud and waste”.

18 ‘ghost’ MEPs to board the EU gravy train

24 May Mail

The Mail quoted Open Europe’s Stephen Booth saying “It is scandalous that the European Parliament could even consider paying MEPs who cannot legally do their job. Taxpayers are forking out enough on MEPs as it is – now we find out we’re paying money for nothing.”

The cost of EU regulation

22 May Times: Cavendish 18 May Kurier

In the Times, Camilla Cavendish questioned what MPs are paid for, given that Westminster has ceded so much power to Europe. The article cited Open Europe’s research into the cost of EU regulation, which shows that EU regulation has cost the UK economy £106bn since 1998.

How the European Parliament influences your daily life

18 May Sunday Business Post

The Irish Sunday Business Post had a feature on MEPs based on Open Europe’s recent briefing on the European Parliament. 

Open Europe seminar in Sweden on EU reform

18 May Kristianstadsbladet 

The seminar organised by Open Europe in Sweden received coverage in Swedish daily Kristianstadsbladet. Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally was also interviewed by Swedish Radio.

MEPs’ lucrative second pensions

1 May Southern Star

Irish regional weekly, the Southern Star looked at the issue of MEPs’ expenses and quoted Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe on the issue of the controversial second pension scheme.

Deconstructing the EU budget

30 April Ekonom Parkiet

Open Europe’s research on the EU’s budget was cited on Czech website Ekonom and Polish website Parkiet.

The EU needs reform

29 April BBC Northern Ireland

Open Europe’s Mats Persson appeared on BBC Northern Ireland’s Talk Back show, discussing the need for reform of the EU.

The cost of EU regulation to the UK

28 April 2009 Mail: Synon blog

Mary Ellen Synon’s Mail blog looked at the cost of EU membership to Britain and cited figures from Open Europe’s recent research on the cost of regulation.

The never ending Acquis Communautaire

22 April Derby Evening Telegraph

The Derby Evening Telegraph cited Open Europe’s research into the size of the Acquis Communautaire.

Three quarters of Irish MEPs refuse to publish expenses

20 April Mail Telegraph: Bruno Waterfield blog Finanzas ABhaber Sunday Times

Open Europe’s findings about the number of MEPs signed up to the controversial second pension fund were reported on page two of the Sun, in the Mail, the Irish Sunday Times, and on Bruno Waterfield’s Telegraph blog.  Open Europe’s Lorraine Mullally was interviewed on BBC Five Live. Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted in an article on Spanish news site finanzas.com, saying, “The legality of this highly controversial fund has been repeatedly questioned over the last ten years by the European Court of Auditors”.

The growing acquis and burden of red tape

17 April Conservative Home

Conservative Home referenced Open Europe’s research into the acquis communautaire and its recent report on the costs of EU regulation.

Examples of fraud and waste

15 April Expressen

In an op-ed in Swedish daily Expressen, Swedish MEP Eva-Britt Svensson looked at the problems with waste and fraud involving EU funds, and cited several examples from Open Europe's top 100 list of EU fraud and waste.

Open Europe: The EU must listen to its critics

14 April Yorkshire Post

In response to an article in the Yorkshire Post by Richard Corbett MEP, Open Europe’s Sarah Gaskell wrote to the paper arguing, “Despite claims to the contrary by Richard Corbett MEP (‘Why EU rules can be a good thing for Britain’, Yorkshire Post, April 8), Open Europe is not an ‘anti-Europe campaign group’, but very much in favour of the Single Market and the benefits it offers businesses and consumers, not just in Yorkshire...If we want the EU to survive and to work well for Europe's citizens, then politicians like Mr Corbett must sit up and listen to the critics – not dismiss them as ‘anti-Europeans’ and carry on legislating with their fingers in their ears.”

EU free movement regulations enable convicted criminals to enter the UK

9 Aprill Herald 14 April Glasgow Evening Times

Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was quoted in the Herald warning that the lack of clarity over EU free movement rules means that the Government lacks power over the entry of convicted criminals into the UK. Pieter argued "European laws are not clear, as they say that convicted criminals have to present a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat in order to be refused access. This leaves room for European judges to transfer power away from the UK so that these issues are decided at EU level. This is dangerous because there are no sufficient guarantees."

EU Commissioners receive lucrative pensions and pay-offs

14 April Malta Independent 6 April Euronews 3 April Pardon Politique

Open Europe’s findings on European Commissioners’ pay-off packages continued to receive coverage on French and Polish news sites Politique and Pardon, and in the Malta Independent. Euronews cited Open Europe in a discussion piece on excessive pensions for EU Commissioners.

Construction industry awaits outcome of EU negotiations on working time

9 April  Construction News

Construction News reported on the ongoing negotiations in Brussels on the UK's opt-out from the EU's 48-hour week, noting that a decision could be reached at the end of the month.  Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying: "It's really hard to call. On the one hand, the Council has the upper hand as the Parliament wants a deal rather than for the talks to fail.  But on the other hand, some members will be willing to trade-off the opt-out in order to sort out issues with on-call time."

MEP Jim Nicholson criticised for luxurious travels at taxpayer expense

6 April Belfast Telegraph

The Belfast Telegraph reported that MEP Jim Nicholson has been criticised for his globe-hopping trips and wrote, “Information published by Open Europe, an independent think-tank, says that on a recent trip to Australia, Mr Nicholson enjoyed La Traviata at the Sydney Opera House followed by a cruise around Sydney Bay on a luxury catamaran to watch the sun go down over dinner.”

Wallstrom claims Open Europe’s findings on Commission payouts and pensions are “twisted and exaggerated data”

6 April Focus

In an interview with Focus Information Agency, EU Communications Commissioner Margot Wallstrom responded to research published by Open Europe which found that Commissioners leaving office this year will earn over £1 million in pensions and payoffs, claiming the figures were “twisted and exaggerated”.      

Open Europe Director responds to Caroline Flint’s admission that she has not read the Lisbon Treaty

6 April Conservative Home

On Conservative Home, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally argued that Europe Minister Caroline Flint’s recent admission that she had not ready the Lisbon Treaty in full made a referendum all the more urgent.

Lorraine said, “For a Minister paid to discuss EU issues, it’s unbelievable and unacceptable that she hasn’t read – let alone tried to understand – the most important document to come out of the EU in years, and one which will have profound consequences for Europe and the UK’s place in it.”

“Flint’s admission betrays an alarming complacency.  Having so far got away with forcing the Treaty through Parliament, despite polls suggesting that as many as 88% of people wanted a referendum, and wanted to vote no, the Government wants to quietly bury the issue and move on.”

EU chiefs' £1million pay-off

March 21 Telegraph March 22 News of the World March 23 N24 Dagens Nyheter Swedish Television March 24 Telegraph: Waterfield EUobserver Politiken Swedish Radio Svenska Dagbladet Expressen DELFI European Voice Kauppalehti March 25 HBVL Politics.be SDP Noticias TVP Brux Info Ceske Noviny GVA Blesk SP.nl NTR Zacatecas Dziennik Delfi March 26 Politiken Politiken2 Danish Radio Journal Chretien March 27 Standaard March 30 France 2 - 09.12 minutes in March 31 AFP Le Vif Challenges Echos ASCA France24 EU Business Euronews SDP Noticias Malta Today De Morgen Trouw Gulf Times April 1 Le Monde Gazeta Wyborcza Elsevier Economiste DELFI Standaard Pardon Politique.net LCI (6.45 min in) April 2 Magyar Hirlap

Open Europe's findings that EU Commissioners leaving office will receive more than £1 million in pension payments and so-called 'transitional' and 'resettlement' allowances received wide coverage in both print and broadcast media all over Europe. Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted by News of the World arguing that, "While taxpayers struggle in the recession and worry about losing jobs, their money is going to pamper grossly overpaid eurocrats with eye-watering salaries." An article in the Telegraph quoted Open Europe's Sarah Gaskell saying that, "Even Sir Fred Goodwin would be impressed at the size of the pensions that Commissioners are walking away with" Open Europe was interviewed by TV stations in Poland, France, the Czech Republic and Denmark and many other European media sources cited the findings.

Huge costs for Britain if Working Time Directive opt-out is lost
March 20 El Confidencial March 21 Sunday Telegraph Shift Magazine: Persson March 31 Guardian-Cohen April 2 BBC

In the Sunday Times, Christopher Booker questioned why there was no outrage in Britain over the potential end of the opt-out to the EU's 48 work week, legislation that, "as the think tank Open Europe has been trying to highlight in an admirable analysis...threatens to be by far the most costly law ever imposed on Britain".

In an article for Shift Magazine, a Brussels based publication, Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson argued that "scrapping the opt-out from the 48 hour working week would land yet another blow to the EU economy".  There was further coverage of Open Europe's findings appeared on the BBC website, Spanish news site El Confidencial, and on the Guardian's Comment is Free website.

Europe Minister has not read the Lisbon Treaty
April 1 Mail Telegraph

The Mail and the Telegraph reported on Europe Minister Caroline Flint's admission in Parliament on Monday that she has not read the Lisbon Treaty.  Open Europe's Lorraine Mullally was quoted in the Telegraph and the Mail saying "This is an unbelievable admission. It is extremely worrying that the minister responsible for promoting the treaty in this country has no idea what it actually says.  Perhaps this explains why she is against giving the British people the vote on it they were promised - she simply has no idea how important it is." 

Czech EU Presidency in disarray as government collapses

March 25 Mail

In a report on the Czech government's collapse and the impact this could have, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted in the Mail arguing that the news gives hope to those opposing ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Britons convicted in absentia could face deportation to other EU states

March 20 Telegraph

An article in the Telegraph about how a new EU regulation will leave courts compelled for the first time to order the extradition of British citizens to any EU countries that want them quoted Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe, who warned that "This could open the door to serious miscarriages of justice and ministers should not be supporting it. One British man only found out that he had been tried and convicted of grievous bodily harm in Germany when he was later subjected to a Criminal Records Bureau check by a new employer."

EU access to medical records

19 March Mail: Synon blog

On her Mail blog, Mary Ellen Synon noted that Open Europe unearthed a warning that the EU’s Inspire Directive could seriously threaten the privacy of health records, requiring authorities to make private health information available to the general public.

Cutting back our working hours will put lives in danger

March 18 Western Daily Press Mail Mail 2 BBC 17 March Guardian: Comment is Free 11 March Hansard

The Mail and the BBC both referenced Open Europe’s report published this week, which noted that losing the opt-out from the EU’s 48 working week will cost the UK £8bn. Open Europe’s Research Director, Mats Persson, was also quoted in the Western Daily Press, saying, “The decision whether or not to work flexible hours should rest with individuals and families - not remote politicians in Brussels.”

Mats set out the reasons for keeping the opt-out on the Guardian’s Comment is Free, arguing, “No-one is opposing safeguards to ensure that people enjoy fair and decent working conditions. However, the WTD is arguably one of the worst laws ever to come out of Brussels. It's hugely burdensome for business and the public sector alike; it's prescriptive in the extreme; and it takes no account of individual countries, sectors or circumstances.”

Shadow Europe Minister Mark Francois referred to an Open Europe briefing in a Parliamentary debate on the opt-out.

The EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy: How It Threatens Transatlantic Security

March 17 Heritage Foundation

An article for the Heritage Foundation regarding the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy quoted an Open Europe briefing that details the UK’s current military situation and how a CFSP would further overstretch UK forces.

Lisbon Treaty does Europe no good

March 13 Independent March 6 BBC

In a letter to the Independent, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally argued that “If Europe really does want to be relevant, it must abandon its never-ending obsession with internal institutional detail, which baffles its own citizens, let alone the rest of the world, and wake up to the real and far more pressing problems we face.”

As part of a BBC online series of viewpoints on EU issues, Lorraine argued that the Lisbon Treaty “is bad news for Europe”. She noted that, “It is a myth that the EU Lisbon Treaty will strengthen democracy in Europe”, arguing that “The Lisbon Treaty will make it even more difficult to reform the EU in the long run, by ignoring the problems with waste, the lack of transparency and accountability.”

EU’s emissions trading scheme a disaster

March 13 Conservative Home

In an article on Conservative Home Roger Helmer MEP cited Open Europe’s research when criticising the EU’s carbon emissions trading scheme.

Darling’s big bailout plan for Europe

March 11 Daily Express

In an article addressing Alistair Darling’s call for British taxpayers to bail out eastern European countries in trouble, the Daily Express quoted Open Europe’s Stephen Booth saying, “while Mr Darling’s desire to bail out struggling member states is noble, taxpayers will be outraged to hear that the Government is planning to spend even more of their money at a time when everyone is struggling to cope with the recession.”

New battle for Britain

March 10 Washington Times: Rahn

In an article in the Washington Times, Richard Rahn cited Open Europe’s recent report on the cost of EU regulation to the UK.

5.2m pounds to renovate EU's new London offices

1 March News of the World ANSA

Reacting to the news that the European Parliament and the Commission are planning to spend 5.2 million pounds on renovating their new offices in London, Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson was quoted in the News of the World, saying, "In the middle of a recession, taxpayers will not be pleased to hear that they are forking out for more lavish office space for EU bureaucrats."

Maybe EU elite will listen now

1 March Sunday Express

In an article discussing the EU's diminishing popularity across Europe, the Sunday Express noted Open Europe's recent calculation that EU regulation has cost the UK more than 100bn pounds over the past decade.

EU's financial supervisory scheme will be against UK interests

27 February FT: Letters Times: Letters

In letters to both the FT and the Times, Bill Cash MP argued that the de Larosiere report calling for a European supervisory scheme for banks and financial institutions is "potentially disastrous" for the City of London.  He cited Open Europe's report, "Selling the City short" which indicates that the EU's existing Financial Services Action Plan may cost the City up to 23.5 billion pounds.

Lisbon Treaty

26 February Daily Reckoning

In an article for the Australian financial paper The Daily Reckoning, William Rees-Mogg quoted from Open Europe's bulletin on the German Constitutional Court's hearings on the compatibility of the Lisbon Treaty with the German constitution.

EU propaganda

26 February AgoraVox

An article on the AgoraVox Italia website cited Open Europe's recent publication on EU communication policy.

Counting the cost of losing the UK opt-out from the EU's 48-hour working week

24 February Conservative Home

On Conservative Home, MEP candidate Zehra Zaidi looked at the potential end of the UK's opt-out from the EU's 48-hour working week, citing Open Europe's estimate that ending the opt-out would cost the UK economy between 47.74 billion pounds and 66.45 billion pounds by 2020.

What can April's G20 summit achieve?

22 February BBC Radio 4: The World This Weekend

Open Europe Vice-Chairman Derek Scott appeared on BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend programme discussing the potential outcomes from April's G20 summit in London.

EU bid for sweeping control of UK banks

22 February News of the World

Reacting to speculation that the Commission is seeking to establish an EU regulator with the authority to control all multi-national banks, Open Europe was quoted by the News of the World, saying, "The last thing the UK needs is to have its hands tied by unelected bureaucrats."

Brussels talk goes over top

16 February NOTW

Reacting to the news that the Swedish EU Presidency plans to hold 6,000 ‘working group’ meetings throughout its term, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted in the News of the World saying, “These secret meetings of bureaucrats will be costing taxpayers millions of pounds a year.  What possible justification can there be for this enormous waste of time and money?”

A United States of Africa?

15 February VoxAfrica

Open Europe’s Stephen Booth appeared on the VoxAfrica television channel discussing the potential for the African Union to increase cooperation across the continent and what could be learnt from the experience of the EU.

Keep European workers moving

12 February Comment is Free: Persson

In an article on the Guardian’s Comment is Free website, Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson argued that “free movement has on balance been hugely beneficial for Europe. The UK government should have the courage to strongly defend it, even at a time of recession.”

EU regulation has cost the UK 107bn pounds since 1998

13 February House Magazine 10 February Conservative Home 8 February Sunday Express 7 February Telegraph: Letters

In a letter to the Telegraph, 15 business leaders, including Tim Martin and Julian Blackwell, called on the Government to “adopt an uncompromising stand against regulatory overkill.” Citing Open Europe’s report on the cost of regulation to the UK, they argued, “Without fundamental reform, the regulation factories in Whitehall and Brussels will produce still further red tape, at a time when businesses are struggling to cope with their cost base or even, in some cases, to survive.”

Open Europe’s report was covered in detail in a report in the Sunday Express. Research Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Sunday Express saying, “The Government has simply lost control. We need a tough new approach to negotiations in the EU. A good place to start would be refusing to accept an end to the UK’s opt-out from the 48-hour week, currently under negotiation.”

Mats also had an op-ed article in House Magazine arguing that, “In these times of economic turmoil and uncertainty, the public rightly expects politicians to have both their hands on the levers of power.”

Union européenne: l’argent de la propagande

9 February Marianne

Open Europe’s recent research on the EU’s communication policy was mentioned in French weekly newspaper Marianne.

Open Europe research on the cost of EU regulation

BBC Politics Show FT Reuters Telegraph: Hannan blog 2 February Malta Independent 4 February Conservative Home 5 February

Open Europe’s research entitled “Out of control? Measuring a decade of EU regulation” was featured on the BBC’s Politics Show, with Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson appearing on the show to present the findings. The front page of the Financial Times featured the story, which detailed the findings of the report and quoted Next Chief Executive Simon Wolfson, who wrote the foreword to the research, saying “Over the past 10 years, the government has paid lip service to the idea of regulatory reform ... Despite the rhetoric, this report shows the annual cost of regulation has skyrocketed.”

Mats also presented the findings in a piece on Conservative Home.

Expensive EU climate package

Washington Times 3 February

An article in the Washington Times on Sunday cited Open Europe’s research on the EU’s Climate Action and Renewable Energy Package, and its conclusions that the scheme has accrued major costs to public service facilities such as schools and hospitals.

Open Europe’s transparency initiative for MEPs

Mail on Sunday 2 February

Reporting on the publication of Conservative MEPs’ expenses, the Mail on Sunday reported that "Analysis by think-tank Open Europe also shows that between September and December, 26 of the Tory MEPs claimed an average of £36,303 on all travel, office expenses and allowances."

Open Europe clashes with Commission in Brussels over EU propaganda

Publico 26 January Belgian Radio 1 28 January Mail: Synon blog  Euractiv 29 January

Open Europe's recent research on the EU’s communication policy as well as our debate on the policy held in Brussels were covered in detail on Euractiv, Spanish daily Publico and by Mary Ellen Synon on her Daily Mail blog. Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe debated the publication on Belgium’s Radio 1 with Willy Hélin, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium.

Only one EU leader respecting Irish No vote

News of the World 26 January

Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted by the News of the World, welcoming Czech President Vaclav Klaus’ vow that during its EU Presidency “The Czech government will not lead Europe to an ever-closer union. She said: “Out of 27 EU leaders he was the only one to respect the Irish ‘no’ vote.  Gordon Brown and the others could do with taking a leaf out of his book.”

Britain has lost control over regulating sick leave

Mail 22 January

In a piece in the Mail, relating to a ruling by the European Court of Justice which said that employees on long-term sick leave are entitled to paid holidays no matter how long they are off work, Open Europe was quoted saying the ruling “shows how once Britain has lost control over a policy area to the EU, the European court can really go to town with it.”

The cost of selling the EU

City Wire 21 January Conservative Home 19 January New Europe 12 January Spectator 9 January Elsevier 22 January

Conservative Home featured Open Europe’s recent research on the EU’s communication policy. The research also featured on the Spectator’s Coffee-House blog, in Dutch magazine Elsevier, and the news website City Wire’s blog.

ECJ rules that employees on long term sick leave are entitled to full holiday pay

Mail 22 January

Reacting to the European Court of Justice’s ruling that employees on long-term sick leave are still entitled to paid holiday, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted by the Mail arguing the ruling “shows how once Britain has lost control over a policy area to the EU, the European court can really go to town with it.”

MEPs fail to back end to European Parliament’s second seat in Strasbourg

DNES 19 January Private Eye 21 January The Parliament Sky News 13 January

Open Europe’s Pieter Cleppe was quoted by Czech daily DNES speaking about the campaign to end the two-seat ‘travelling circus’ of the European Parliament. Private Eye, The Parliament, and Sky News all featured Open Europe’s attempts to persuade MEPs to back the ‘one seat’ campaign.

Lord Malloch-Brown questions the legitimacy of Irish ‘No’ vote on Lisbon Treaty

Mail 14 January

Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted in the Mail in response to Lord Malloch-Brown’s comments questioning the right of Ireland to block the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Lorraine said that, “maybe he should start by remembering that the British people were promised a referendum on this Treaty - but Gordon Brown’s Government failed to give us one.” She added that, “Unelected British politicians have no right to dismiss the democratic will of the Irish people…Ireland was the only country allowed a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty - it said no, and now it is going to be asked to vote again on the exact same text. Surely, even Lord Malloch Brown doesn't honestly believe that this is democratic?”

Czech art installation revealed as a hoax

Mail 14 January

Open Europe was quoted in the Mail reacting to the provocative sculpture commissioned by the Czech EU Presidency saying, “This is a bit of harmless fun and exactly what the EU needs. It makes a nice change from the usual boring EU posters you see hanging off the buildings in Brussels.  Well done to the Czechs for shaking things up a bit – they hold the Presidency right now so why shouldn’t they make their mark?”  Lorraine was also interviewed on Australian national radio.

Back to top

2008

EU spending 2.4 billion euros a year on propaganda

Der Standard 26 December Telegraph Mail General-Anzeiger ANSA Focus News 27 December Sunday Times 28 December Elsevier Open Market Courrier International 29 December Penzcentrum 7 January

Open Europe's research on EU propaganda was covered in the Telegraph, the Mail, the Sunday Times, Austrian daily Der Standard, Dutch magazine Elsevier, Bulgarian news site Focus News, German daily General-Anzeiger, ANSA and Hungarian news site Penzcentrum.

Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted saying, "Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for vain PR exercises to make us love the EU. The EU needs urgent and radical reform, not expensive campaigns to improve its image. People certainly need to know more about the EU, but the EU has proved unable and unwilling to provide neutral, factual information. This senseless spending on dubious PR projects has got to stop." 

Sarko's Folly
National Interest 24 December

In an article in US magazine the National Interest, which looked at the attempts to push through the Lisbon Treaty despite the Irish No vote, Open Europe's Mats Persson was quoted saying that "It's a sad day for democracy when Europe's politicians gang up on their citizens, rather than trying to win over their trust."

UK to lose opt-out from EU's 48 hours working week

Guardian 19 December

Ireland to hold second referendum on Lisbon Treaty as questions remain on legal status of "concessions"

Telegraph Express Mail EurActiv 12 December Mail 7 December

Reacting to the outcome of the European Summit on 11 December, Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted in the Telegraph, the Express and the Mail, and on Euractiv, saying that the draft conclusions say nothing about legally-binding guarantees, and that the Irish 'no' vote is being ignored.

The Mail quoted Open Europe's Mats Persson as saying "Ever since the Irish voted No to the Lisbon Treaty in June, politicians in Ireland and across Europe have tried to find ways to force this unwanted document through - against the clear will of the people. It's a sad day for democracy when Europe's politicians gang up on their citizens, rather than trying to win over their trust". He added that should the Irish reverse their decision, "Britain will be forced to accept a Treaty that will weaken the power of ordinary voters in this country and across Europe."

Open Europe campaigns in Brussels for respect of Irish no vote

Mail Irish Times BBC: Newsnight 12 December

There was broad coverage of Open Europe's protest in Brussels. The Irish Times and the Mail carried a photo of Open Europe campaigners wearing masks depicting EU leaders and carrying banners calling for the 'no' vote to be ignored.

Open Europe's protest was featured on the BBC's Newsnight and on several European television and radio stations, including RTE, Danish TV2, France 2, Swiss TV, Luxembourg radio and Czech TV. Open Europe was interviewed on many of these, in addition to BBC Radio Scotland, CNBC, and the BBC World Service.

EU stimulus package agreed amid uncertainties

Bloomberg TV 12 December

Open Europe's Mats Persson appeared on Bloomberg Television, discussing what the hand-over of the EU's rotating Presidency to the Czech Republic may mean for the EU's financial stimulus package.

Rumours over Britain joining euro membership
Daily Express 2 December

Open Europe's Director Lorraine Mullally was quoted in the Daily Express, saying "there is nothing to suggest that we would be better off in the euro. If the last few months have taught us anything, it's that we need as much flexibility and as many tools as we can get."

UK Europe Minister accused of "patronising" the Irish

Telegraph Irish Times Belfast Telegraph Morning Star 14 December

Lorraine Mullally reacted to comments from the UK Minister for Europe, Caroline Flint, claiming that Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty because they did not understand it. Lorraine described her words as "extremely patronising...For Caroline Flint to stand up and say that voters were wrong to feel they would be losing control is extraordinary. Either she has no idea what is in the Treaty, or she is being deliberately misleading... It is not for British politicians to casually dismiss legitimate Irish concerns about a loss of power to Brussels."

European Parliament rejects opt-out on Working Time Directive, costing UK up to £66.45 billion by 2020

BBC: WATO 16 December 2008 BBC BBC Today (2.06 minutes in) BBC-Mardell 17 December  Mail Mail-Leader Euractiv Telegraph Belfast Telegraph Guardian Express BBC Wales Radio 18 December

In a feature on the European Parliament's vote on the British opt-out of the Working Time Directive, Radio 4's World At One programme quoted from Open Europe's debate on the issue, and interviewed several of the panellists. Open Europe's estimates that the loss of the opt-out would cost up to £66.45 billion by 2020 were mentioned on the BBC Today programme, the BBC website, in the Mail, Guardian, Express, Belfast Telegraph, and on Euractiv.

After the vote, a leader in the Mail cited Open Europe's cost estimate, while Mats Persson was quoted in the Telegraph, arguing that "The real losers from this deal will be ordinary workers and taxpayers. Politicians should be focusing on how to cut taxes and create jobs to boost the economy, not forcing through expensive new EU rules." Mats was also interviewed on BBC Wales Radio.

EU response to the financial crisis

LBC 27 November Financiarul

Open Europe's Lorraine Mullally was interviewed on LBC Radio to discuss the EU's proposed economic stimulus plan. She argued that since much of the proposed spending had already been announced by national governments, the main purpose of the plan seemed to be the EU Commission trying to appear relevant in the crisis.

Open Europe's recent event in Brussels to debate the EU's response to the financial crisis was covered in Romanian paper Financiarul.

Lisbon Treaty and the Irish media

Sunday Times 23 November Mail 17 November

Frank Fitzgibbon, Editor of the Irish edition of the Sunday Times, mentioned Open Europe in a comment piece on 23 November about his paper's support for a No vote to the Lisbon Treaty. He noted: "Having digested a guide to the constitutional treaty published by the Open Europe think tank, it was clear that Lisbon contained all sorts of booby traps for unsuspecting voters. It was our job to bring these to the attention of readers since no other Irish media outlet seemed interested in doing so".

Meanwhile, the Irish edition of the Mail criticised the Irish government for attacking Open Europe.

Irrégularités et fraudes en tous genres dans la maison Europe

La Depeche Accountancy Age ZDF Kurier Postimees DW France2 (26 minutes in)

Open Europe's briefing "100 examples of EU fraud and waste" continued to receive wide coverage across Europe.

The Sunday Telegraph had a feature on EU waste, noting that more than 10p in every £1 handed to Europe by British taxpayers was spent on controversial regional projects, and cited examples contained in Open Europe's briefing note. Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe appeared on German national television channel ZDF criticising EU spending on wasteful German projects, in a feature based on the research. TV channel France 2 also covered Open Europe's briefing extensively.

The briefing also formed the basis of articles in French daily La Depeche, Austrian daily Kurier, Deutsche Welle and Estonia's Postimees. An article in Accountancy Age cited the report.

EU elections in 2009 an opportunity for "power to be taken back from Europe"

Conservative Home 14 November

Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally wrote a piece for the Conservative Home website arguing that June 2009's European elections represent an opportunity for the Conservative Party. She argued that "the public hungers for power to be taken back from Europe" and that to represent change in Europe, MEPs need to show that they are having some effect on the "fraud, waste and lack of accountability they see coming from Brussels and Strasbourg."

Conservative MEP expelled from party after expenses scandal

LBC - No link 13 November

Open Europe's Hugo Robinson appeared on LBC's 'Drivetime' programme, arguing that it was right for Den Dover MEP to be expelled from the Conservative Party and face criminal investigation after channeling around £750,000 of taxpayers' money to a family owned company.

Open Europe exposes 100 examples of EU fraud and waste as report on EU budget published

Mail on Sunday Telegraph BBC Les Echos Times BBC-Mardell Stuttgarter Nachrichten La Depeche BBC Tyden 10-12 November

Open Europe's briefing note, '100 examples of EU fraud and waste', received widespread coverage across the continent. Open Europe was quoted in the News of the World, arguing that taxpayers struggling against recession will be angered to see their money being wasted.

Mats Persson argued that mismanagement of the EU budget will continue until "Byzantine spending schemes" such as the Common Agricultural Policy and Structural Funds are fundamentally reformed. Mats was quoted in the Telegraph, the Mail, BBC online, French daily Les Echos, the Irish edition of the Mail, the Times, the Sun, Agence France Presse, La Depeche, Dutch daily Algemeen Dagblad, German daily Stuttgarter Nachrichten, Czech weekly Tyden and on Hungarian state radio.

MEPs vote to end the UK's Working Time Directive opt-out

Express 6 November

Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson was quoted in the Daily Express arguing that the vote in the European Parliament to end the UK's opt-out from parts of the Working Time Directive is an "embarrassment" to the UK Government, and that "Introducing such laws at a time of recession would be madness."

EU green package to cost $100bn a year by 2020

Time 3 November

In an article discussing the impact of the financial crisis on European climate change proposals, Time magazine referred to Open Europe's research on the cost of the EU's proposed targets for cutting carbon emissions: "Europe is simply coming to grips with the potential cost of its green dreams -- up to $100 billion a year by 2020, according to a study by the think tank Open Europe".

The EU response to the financial crisis

BBC Westminster Hour 9 November

Contributing to a debate about the EU's response to the financial crisis Open Europe's Hugo Robinson appeared on BBC Westminster Hour arguing that there was no political or democratic legitimacy for the large-cross border transfers and more centralised European economic governance envisaged by Nicolas Sarkozy, which explains why there is resistance to such measures from many member states.

EU climate package talks deadlocked following widespread concern over costs

Corriere della Serra Time Financni Noviny OJE Guardian Polska Times Conservative Home Robinson

Open Europe's recent report on EU climate change targets was featured in various papers across Europe.  Research Director Hugo Robinson was quoted in Time magazine, arguing that the package "comes at exactly the wrong time for hard-pressed families all around Europe," and "will channel money towards very expensive and inefficient means of reducing CO2 emissions, imposing unnecessarily high costs on people struggling through already tough economic conditions." Hugo also authored comment pieces which were featured on the Guardian's Comment is Free and Conservative Home.

The study was also cited by Italian Europe Minister Andrea Ronchi, in an interview with Corriere della Serra, arguing that concerns over the EU climate and energy package have been raised across Europe.

Motorists fined under EU law for displaying national flags on number plates

Telegraph 24 October

The Telegraph quoted Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally following reports that motorists displaying national flags on their number plates had been fined, as EU rules permit only the display of the European Union symbol of 12 yellow stars on a blue background.  Lorraine said that the use of EU symbols, instead of national ones, was part of a wider attempt to promote the idea of a common European citizenship.

EU passes new laws for temporary workers

Birmingham Post BBC 23 October

Both the Birmingham Post and the BBC quoted Open Europe Research Director Mats Persson as saying, "On the brink of a recession, MEPs have done exactly the wrong thing: they've passed a law that will lead to fewer jobs and make life even harder for small businesses...this is bad news for the UK and for Europe".

Sarkozy calls for European "economic government" and sovereign wealth fund

LA Times 22 October

The LA Times ran a story on European anger at Gordon Brown receiving so much media attention following his financial rescue plan. The piece quoted Open Europe saying that, "Sarkozy didn't like that [the 'Brown plan'] and he's been referring to it consistently as the 'European plan'".

Juncker: Britain should join the euro

Express 20 October

Following comments by Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who said that Gordon Brown had to "beg" to be let into the meeting of eurozone ministers last weekend, Lorraine Mullally was quoted arguing that last week's intervention by Gordon Brown showed Britain had maintained significant influence in Europe by staying out of the euro.

EU climate change targets will cost Britons £150 a year

Euractiv Telegraph Shropshire Star Point Carbon Guardian Robinson La Tribune Pravo 14 October

Various papers featured Open Europe's new report on EU climate change targets. The Telegraph and carbon industry website Point Carbon quoted Open Europe's Research Director Hugo Robinson as saying, "it is wrong for the Commission to micro-manage national energy planning by setting binding targets for renewables and biofuels. This will artificially drive investment towards very high-cost methods of cutting carbon."

Hugo authored a piece on the Guardian's Comment is Free site, arguing that "It should now be more obvious than ever that the elderly and the fuel-poor literally cannot afford the indulgence of irrational and wasteful policies that will be locked in under this reckless plan."

The report also received coverage across Europe, including French daily La Tribune and Czech daily Pravo.

Bury Lisbon Treaty for good, EU's leaders told

Daily Express 15 October

The Express quoted Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally staying that EU leaders had formed a coherent plan without the need of the Lisbon Treaty, which illustrated how unnecessary it was: "With financial markets in meltdown, EU leaders should not be wasting any time at all trying to breathe life back into the Lisbon Treaty. The Treaty would have done nothing to help the EU deal with the crisis. Why are they even discussing it? It was rejected by Irish voters months ago. It should be dead, and definitely not on the agenda. The recent coordination between EU leaders on the financial crisis shows they don't need a complicated new EU treaty to work together. In fact, it is the last thing the EU needs right now."

Mandelson set for £1million payout

Daily Express 13 October

Hugo Robinson was quoted in the Express after news that Mandelson was set to receive £1million after leaving his post as EU Trade Commissioner. He said, "Hard-pressed taxpayers will be angered to hear their money is being spent keeping Peter Mandelson in the luxury he grew accustomed to."

Open Europe's former Director to lead Policy Exchange

Le Monde 03 October

Le Monde reported the news that Open Europe's former director Neil O'Brien is to lead Policy Exchange.

Green Party MEPs top in transparency league

News and Star October 1

The Cumbria News and Star quoted Peter Cranie, an MEP candidate for the Green Party in the North West, as saying "Open Europe recently conducted a survey on parliamentary transparency on expenses and pay. The Green Party scored highest, with 100 per cent for transparency."

EU to unveil proposals for maternity leave to be fully paid

Politics Show  September 28

The BBC Politics Show ran a feature on the new EU Commission proposals to extend maternity leave and introduce full pay for the entire maternity period, which have been criticised by some small businesses.  Open Europe Director Lorraine Mullally was interviewed, warning that once the proposals have been decided - by majority vote - at EU level, it will be impossible for future UK governments to reverse them should they decide they need to.

Government unveils first UK ID cards - with EU design

Telegraph Rzeczpospolita September 26

There was wide coverage of the unveiling of Britain's first ID card, which will be issued to foreigners from outside the EU. Open Europe's Lorraine Mullally was quoted in the Telegraph saying, "The use of EU symbols, instead of national ones, is part of a wider attempt to promote the idea of a common European citizenship, which EU federalists have been pushing for some time. The Government seems happy to buy into this." Open Europe was also mentioned in Polish daily Rzeczpospolita in an article on the same subject.

EU extradition law faces legal challenge

Telegraph September 21

The Sunday Telegraph reported that civil rights groups Liberty and Fair Trials International are considering a legal challenge to new EU laws that would allow citizens to be extradited automatically if they are convicted in their absence by foreign courts. Open Europe's Pieter Cleppe was quoted in the article, saying "the new law is a pretext for making it easier to extradite people". 

Extent of EU bureaucracy revealed
Telegraph Daily Mail Politics.co.uk Dan Hannan's blog BBC Today De Telegraaf RTL Rzeczpospolita Rzeczpospolita Scruton 11/12 August

Open Europe's research into the number of EU bureaucrats in the EU's legislative process was reported across Europe. Open Europe analyst Nick Cosgrove was quoted as saying, "'The Commission desperately tries to play down just how many people are now working for the EU... They are extremely secretive about the number of people who are working to churn out regulations". Open Europe's Hugo Robinson was also quoted in Polish paper Rzeczpospolita criticising the poor transparency of the EU's legislative process.

Open Europe's Director Neil O'Brien appeared on the BBC Today programme to discuss the findings. He said, "It's not a very transparent system... This huge figure [170,000] is commensurate with the huge influence that Brussels now has over everything in our daily lives".

EU paying farmers not to farm
BBC Radio 4 11 August

Open Europe's Mats Persson appeared on BBC Radio 4 discussing the flaws of the EU's farm subsidies. 

Creation of a European Intelligence Centre
Daily Mail 8 August

Neil O'Brien was quoted in the Mail arguing that, "Moves towards a Euro CIA are not a good idea... The US will not share intelligence with us if we are going to pass it on to an organisation which leaks like a sieve. We could find ourselves putting a lot into such an organisation and getting very little back".  

European energy firms 'picking our pockets'
Telegraph 8 August

Neil O'Brien was quoted in the Telegraph discussing the problem of British energy customers subsidising their European counterparts. Neil argues, "People in Britain are paying more because other EU countries are rigging the market".

Britain and Ireland could share a Commissioner
Mail on Sunday 10 August

Neil O'Brien was quoted in the Mail on Sunday commenting on France's proposals that countries could share an EU Commissioner. He said, "The Irish don't want to have Peter Mandelson as their commissioner any more than most people in Britain do".

Collapse of Doha Round
Sydsvenskan 1 August

Mats Persson had an op-ed in Swedish daily Sydsvenska Dagbladet, arguing that the global food crisis illustrates the need for freeing up trade in agricultural products and that the EU must bear part of the blame for the break down of the Doha talks.

Continued coverage of Open Europe's poll on the Irish Referendum
FT BBC Mardell Irish Independent AFP Sunday Business Post National Interest 29 July, 3 August, 5 August

Open Europe's poll, which found that 71 per cent of Irish voters were against a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, has continued to receive coverage.