
European Parliament



Analysis: Labour suffers from failure to learn the lesson of 2014 about constitutional politics
CommonSpace editor Ben Wray analyses the European election results, which have been a predictable disaster for Labour and the Tories
ONE look at Britain’s political map after the EU election results shows how constitutional politics has ripped it up, in a way that won’t easily - if ever - be put back to the way it was before.

EU Elections In Perspective: The need to defend 'the idea of Europe' against the far-right
CommonSpace is interviewing political commentators from different perspectives on the EU ahead of European elections on 23 May. In the fourth interview, we speak to Marta Cillero Manzano and Ana Oppenheim of European Alternatives, which campaigns for a democratic and egalitarian European Union, about what we should expect from the EU elections across Europe.
CommonSpace: What impact is Brexit likely to have on the wider European dynamics?


Analysis: European elections will indicate whether England's political revolution is for real
CommonSpace editor Ben Wray says likely European Parliamentary elections in six weeks time could be the beginning of a breach with two-party politics in England, with insurgency’s on the Remain centre and Brexit right.
WEDNESDAY’S EU Council is almost certain to grant the UK Government its extension – not the one the Prime Minister asked for, but one she’ll have to make do with.

MEPs condemn ‘unequal treatment’ as European Parliament blocks Catalan conference but allows far-right Spanish event
The far-right Spanish party Vox will accuse the Catalan independence movement of a “coup d'état" at the European Parliament in March, while an event featuring Catalan President Quim Torra and former president Carles Puigdemont has been banned

Jailed for demonstrating for indy: ´The Two Jordis' still awaiting trial 1 year on
Amnesty calls for “immediate release” of Catalan independence activists Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez
TODAY (16 October) marks one year since the arrest of the Catalan independence activists Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Cuixart – better known to the pro-independence grassroots as ‘the Two Jordis’ – who remain in prison and have yet to face trial.

Policy review: Smart Border 2.0 - New European Parliament paper
Customs expert Bill Austin reviews a new paper commissioned by the European Parliament on how to achieve a Smart Border on the island of Ireland, and finds the analysis is equally prescient for an independent Scotland’s border considerations

Gill Davies: 10 things you need to know about Ceta
Trade justice activist Gill Davies outlines the key points of the controversial trade deal MEPs will vote on tomorrow
1.) What is the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (Ceta)?
It is a treaty between the EU and Canada which focuses on non-trade barriers and opening markets. Some tariffs will also be reduced, notably on whisky, but generally they are already at historic lows.