Across The EUniverse – Number Ten

The shadow of Brexit
Number 10 makes us think of Downing Street, Brexit and the old saying in Brussels that the EU grows on the basis of crises. After 30 years in Brussels we can guarantee that during each crisis there is the worry that this will be the time when the old saying doesn’t hold true. There are two big institutional issues facing the EU: Brexit and the end of Shengen. And overshadowing both institutional problems is the issue of migration.
Brexit is what makes us think of No 10. The crisis has pitched the UK Prime Minister David Cameron into the role of a champion for Europe. Who could have thought that even six months ago?
While these big issues capture the headlines Brussels goes on doing what Brussels does best and that it to try and find solutions to allow for functioning markets in a modern globalised word.

In this issue our partner Rocco Panetta talks of the need to have EU wide rules to deal with the potential conflict between privacy and security. This is not an issue for single countries because the information is in the data bases of multinationals. Simone Gaggero tackles the question of state aids on European Ports; Lorenzo Attolico talks about the proposal for the modernisation and harmonisation of copyright law; Francesca Angelilli tells us how the new Online Dispute Resolution platform works. In light of Bernard’s participation to U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission in Washington, we are pleased to count with his testimony regarding China MES as well.