Does anyone know anyone who is interested in the philosopher William James? Clearing out an attic I have a dozen books by him (and a few about him) - they need a home.
Charles Grant
@cergrant.bsky.social
Director, Centre for European Reform @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social. Interested in the EU, Russia and China
“Both sides would benefit from the increased competition and dynamism that closer economic ties would foster.” @cergrant.bsky.social argues that the UK & EU have a shared interest in a more ambitious economic relationship. Read here: buff.ly/HfyluK7
“I think the majority of British people certainly understand that #Brexit has been very damaging to the British economy,” @cergrant.bsky.social said in the latest CER podcast. Listen here:
Centre for European Reform: Unpacking Europe: 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum
On this week’s Unpacking Europe podcast, the CER’s director Charles Grant sat down with Catherine Day, a former Secretary-General of the European Commission, to discuss the impact the departure...
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“There has been no serious or coherent British plan for getting significantly closer to the EU.” @cergrant.bsky.social writes on how far the #UK-EU reset can go & what could make a more ambitious partnership possible, in the CER’s essay collection. buff.ly/cN3iLVB
New #CERpodcast Unpacking Europe, @cergrant.bsky.social spoke with Catherine Day about how #Brexit looks to people in the EU a decade after the referendum. Listen here: buff.ly/UG8qfsj
Centre for European Reform: Unpacking Europe: 10th anniversary of the Brexit referendum
On this week’s Unpacking Europe podcast, the CER’s director Charles Grant sat down with Catherine Day, a former Secretary-General of the European Commission, to discuss the impact the departure...
pod.fo
@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social was delighted to host Nick Thomas-Symonds today. He said Labour's red lines on EU wd remain till next election - but there was a debate to be had about what next manifesto should say abt them. In meantime they wd look at which parts of single mkt UK shd get closer to.
I remember that statement,” he says. “I saw that as veiled language. Because the whole strategy in the campaign was to avoid giving any kind of specificity about what sort of relationship they really wanted … a free trade area can mean all sorts of things.”
In a forward-looking piece, @cergrant.bsky.social looks beyond the immediate 'reset' in UK-EU relations. Can be more than a modest exercise in repair? He offers a well-informed perspective on how the relationship might evolve in the coming years and over the longer term. www.cer.eu/publications...
As the UK and EU prepare for the July 22 summit, our new publication asks how far the ‘reset’ can go. With essays by @nathalietocci.bsky.social, Catherine Day@dschwarzer.bsky.social and @cergrant.bsky.social. Read here:
Ten years after the Brexit referendum
A new CER essay collection reflects on what the past decade has meant for the UK, the EU, and the future of UK-EU relations.
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I learned a lot about what is happening with enlargement from this brilliant podcast, by @milanninberlin.bsky.social and @zecsaky.bsky.social. They are not as pessimistic as I am about the prospects of EU enlargement.
Centre for European Reform@centreeuropeanref.bsky.social · 2mo ago“I think this is crunch time on enlargement. So what is realistic? We will see after the June European Council,” @milanninberlin.bsky.social told @zecsaky.bsky.social in the latest #CERpodcast, listen here: buff.ly/TBagUtJ
Europe needs to rapidly improve its deterrence. A new @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social / Hanns Seidel Foundation paper by @armida.bsky.social outlines key steps European governments can take in the next 1-2 years to accelerate rearmament, readiness and deterrence efforts. Read here: buff.ly/rwfLU1S
In practice, says @cergrant.bsky.social of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social think-tank, the EU would want to see broad agreement across party lines in Britain before discussing re-entry terms, so that tomorrow’s ministers did not unpick a deal reached by today’s.
Bre-entry may be the next drama to grip the European Union
An old friend comes knocking
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@cergrant.bsky.social spoke on the Pacific Council on International Policy's webinar on 'Europe's future in focus: Security, growth, and the challenge of unity', watch here:
Europe's Future in Focus: Security, Growth, and the Challenge of Unity | Webinar
On May 6, 2026, the Pacific Council hosted a webinar on the challenges and prospects shaping Europe's future. Drawing on CER's 2025 Annual Report, Europe's Future: Grounds for Hope?, the conversation…
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Keir Starmer multiplie les mesures pour rapprocher son pays de Bruxelles, par «intérêt national» pour contrer les effets désastreux du #Brexit. Mais la question européenne reste ultrasensible outre-Manche. L'analyse de @cergrant.bsky.social directeur du @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social buff.ly/LlrYQhz
«Un retour à court terme du Royaume-Uni dans l’UE n’est politiquement pas réaliste» - Le Temps
Le premier ministre britannique, Keir Starmer, multiplie les mesures pour rapprocher son pays de Bruxelles, par «intérêt national» pour contrer les effets désastreux du Brexit. Mais la question…
letemps.ch
@cergrant.bsky.social, director of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social think-tank, said that while the EU was keen on greater security and defence co-operation with the UK there were some countries, including France, that were “much less keen on extending economic co-operation”. buff.ly/nFSttlj
thetimes.com
@cergrant.bsky.social, director of the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social think-tank, is sceptical of a movement to rejoin the EU, arguing that Brussels would not embrace the idea without clear political consensus within the UK. For now, that looks far off. 🇪🇺 🇬🇧 buff.ly/dQlTLsS
Good column by Janan Ganesh: UK needs a centre-left foreign policy (cos right is anti-EU, pro-US and says don't talk to China); but a centre-right economic policy (cos left is for high tax and welfare spending, and anti-business). @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social www.ft.com/content/8868...
Britain’s desperate need for Keir Badenoch
The country requires centre-left foreign policy and centre-right reform at home
ft.com
🎙️Listen to our new #CERpodcast ‘Unpacking Europe’ discussing Hungary's landslide election outcome, @zecsaky.bsky.social spoke with Zsuzsanna Szelényi🎙️ Listen here:
Centre for European Reform: CER podcast: Unpacking Europe: Hungary's landslide election outcome
On this week’s Unpacking Europe podcast, CER’s senior research fellow Zselyke Csaky sat down with Zsuzsanna Szelényi, director of the Democracy Institute's Leadership Academy, a founding membe...
pod.fo
If the #Hormuz strait remains closed, European governments should avoid the huge fossil fuel subsidies they provided in 2022, argue @elisabettaco.bsky.social and @johnspringford.bsky.social in their new @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social insight. Read here: buff.ly/7gKy4VB
I think all we can say re: Iran is that Trump pretty clearly wants it to go away without being humiliated. But as that can't happen it's not at all clear what will.
We continue to watch and analyse Greenland risks closely. No officials in Copenhagen, Brussels or EU capitals think they've gone away - indeed most think they're rising.
Missed this report the other day. Elbridge Colby told Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s US representative: “The US has the military power to do whatever it wants in the world. The Catholic Church had better take its side.”
Pentagon Threatened the Pope After He Criticized Trump
It was so bad that Pope Leo changed his plans to travel to the U.S.
newrepublic.com
For over a year, Tisza has led the polls. But when asked who will win the elections, the public has always said Fidesz. This changed in the last 6-8 weeks. In March, Median found 47% who think Tisza will win vs 35% for Fidesz. Publicus measured a similar trend. This is massive
@cergrant.bsky.social from the @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social joins James Heale to reflect on the rumours about Britain’s latest set of negotiations with the European Union in the Spectator's Coffee House Shots podcast.
EU déjà vu: the emergency brake is back!
Charles Grant from the Centre for European Reform and Tim Shipman join James Heale to reflect on the rumours about Britain's latest set of negotiations with the European Union. There are reports that…
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Here are 10 consequences of the US-Israel attack on Iran - a thread. US soft power is damaged. To launch an attack without clear aims or an exit strategy has upset allies - in Europe, Gulf & Asia - who must bear the economic, political and military consequences. /1
Why does the EU dislike Starmer's plan to rejoin bits of the single market, sector by sector? I explain on this @thespectator1828.bsky.social podcast, to @shippersunbound.bsky.social and @jaheale.bsky.social. spectator.com/podcast/eu-d... @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social
EU déjà vu: the emergency brake is back!
Charles Grant from the Centre for European Reform and Tim Shipman join James Heale to reflect on the rumours about Britain's latest set of negotiations with the European Union. There are reports that ...
spectator.com
“Excluding Türkiye from SAFE means that there is ultimately going to be a mismatch between the European threat map and its institutional map,” @senemaydndzgit.bsky.social told the #CERpodcast. Listen here: buff.ly/MEKSCri
LAST WEEK TO APPLY for the 13th Clara Marina O’Donnell #fellowship. Start date: October 2026 for six months Pay: London Living Wage Applications in by: 09/04/26 @centreeuropeanref.bsky.social @brookings.edu @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social @campolis.bsky.social buff.ly/3vV64SZ
