About: Referendum
Italy’s central bank warns against euro exit as election nears
Italy's central bank warned today (31 May) that leaving the eurozone would not solve the country's economic problems, as two major parties campaign to drop the common currency before an election that may come as soon as this autumn.
Juncker trusts EU could survive ‘President Le Pen’
Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker sees no need for “contingency planning” regarding the French presidential election, as the EU is strong enough to survive even if the Eurosceptic candidate wins, his spokesperson said today (21 April).
‘We know we will lose influence’ May tells MPs as she triggers Brexit
British Prime Minister Theresa May admitted today the UK would both lose influence and not be able to ‘cherry pick’ the advantages of EU membership, as she briefed MPs in London on the two years of unprecedented negotiations with Brussels ahead.
May to trigger Article 50 on 29 March
Theresa May will trigger Article 50 on 29 March, her office announced today (20 March), starting two-years of unprecedented negotiations for a country to leave the 28-member bloc for the first time.
May unveils UK government’s ’12 point plan’ for Brexit
Prime Minister Theresa May declared the start of two years of Brexit negotiations today (17 January) with a landmark speech setting out the UK’s 12 priorities, including leaving the single market, a new negotiation on the EU customs union and a parliament vote on any final deal.
Ukraine urges Dutch to sign EU deal
Ukraine on Friday (16 February) urged the Netherlands to ratify the EU's historic association pact with Kyiv soon, after the bloc struck a compromise deal following its rejection by Dutch voters.
The Brief: Commission in credibility crisis over Oettinger and Barroso
The European Commission is facing a credibility crisis. If it is not addressed soon, it risks confirming the worst prejudices held about EU officialdom - that it is arrogant, elitist and out of touch.
Timmermans dashes Danish hopes for ‘parallel deal’ on Europol
European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans told Denmark's leaders yesterday (27 September) that they would not get the cross-border policing deal they have been seeking since Danes voted in a referendum to quit Europol.
Aliyev says Azerbaijan stronger after referendum
The President of Azerbaijan said his country has never been stronger, more free and independent, in a speech following a referendum on constitutional reform held on Monday (26 September) and backed by over 91% of the population.
Commission deplores Swiss canton referendum
The Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino voted decisively yesterday (25 September) in favour of tougher controls on foreign workers. The European Commission deplored this development, which arrives at a time when a solution is sought to keep alive the EU-Switzerland Free Movement of Persons agreement.
Azerbaijan referendum to give more powers to Aliyev
Azerbaijanis went to the polls today (26 September) in a controversial referendum on handing extra powers to long-serving President Ilham Aliyev, with opposition and human rights groups criticising the proposed constitutional changes as undemocratic.
Bosnian Serbs vote to keep ‘national holiday’ in controversial referendum
Bosnian Serbs yesterday (25 September) voted overwhelmingly to keep their national holiday in a referendum held despite ethnically divided Bosnia's highest court ruling it illegal.
Universal basic income debate gains traction in the EU
Against the backdrop of the “fundamental transformation of the world of work”, Commissioner for Employment Marianne Thyssen is paying close attention to “free money” experiments ahead of a discussion next year with member states on how to improve social policies.
Hungarian satirists mock Orbán anti-migrant campaign ahead of referendum
Hungarian satirists are lampooning anti-immigration Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's government, less than a month before a referendum is expected to reject the EU's troubled mandatory migrant relocation scheme.
Italy’s Five Star party falters in Rome, hitting national popularity
Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) is in disarray following a disastrous start to its rule in Rome city hall, potentially denting its chances of winning power at a national level.
UK aid minister promises to keep 0.7% target post-Brexit
The UK’s new aid minister has promised to keep the country’s aid target of 0.7% of GDP, despite herself once campaigning for the Department for International Development (DfID) to be shut down.
Thailand’s referendum on constitution ‘could be delayed’
EXCLUSIVE / Thailand’s make-or-break referendum next month on a new constitution could be postponed, one of the men in charge of drafting it has admitted.
Azerbaijan calls September referendum on greater presidential powers
Ex-Soviet Azerbaijan on Tuesday (26 July) set 26 September as the date for a referendum on constitutional changes that would hand extra powers to long-running President Ilham Aliyev.
Italy’s 5 Star Movement overtakes Renzi’s Democrats in opinion polls
Fresh from its successes in last month's local ballots, the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement (M5S) is now Italy's most popular party and would easily win if a national election were held today, three opinion polls showed this week.
Hungary to hold referendum on refugee quotas on 2 October
Hungary will hold a referendum on 2 October on EU plans to relocate migrants among member states, a scheme fiercely opposed by right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the president said today (5 July).
Britain and EU facing Brexit as ‘Leave’ lead with most results in
Britain and Brussels were waking up early Friday to the likelihood of a Brexit, as UK voters appeared to have voted to leave the 28-member bloc, in a move which threw the future of both into a period of unpredcedented uncertainty.
Erdogan suggests referendum to ask Turks if they still want to join EU
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has for the first time suggested Turkey could hold a referendum over whether to continue its long-stalled bid to join the European Union.
Wall of silence from development NGOs on Brexit threat
EXCLUSIVE / Actors, scientists and now even historians have put their names forward to argue for Britain to stay in the EU. But with less than four weeks to go to the UK referendum, there has been a resounding wall of silence from key development NGOs on the dangers – or even opportunities – posed by a Brexit.
Paris and Berlin ready new EU plan for after Brexit vote
European Union heavyweights France and Germany are readying a joint plan for the future of the bloc after Britain's June 23 referendum, irrespective of whether Britons vote to remain or leave, sources said Friday.