Working Group on the EU's External Policy

The Federal Trust is a think tank that studies the interactions between regional, national, European and global levels of government. Founded in 1945 on the initiative of Sir William Beveridge, it has long made a powerful contribution to the study of federalism and federal systems. It has always had a particular interest in the European Union and Britain's place in it. The Federal Trust has no allegiance to any political party. It is registered as a charity for the purposes of education and research.

EUROPE : VALUES AND IDENTITY

The Federal Trust's President Peter Sutherland KCMG gave the annual Cardinal Newman Lecture at St John's College, Oxford, in May this year. 'Europe: Values and Identity' discusses the fundamental values behind the founding of the European Union (please click here to download the document)

FINANCIAL REGULATION: BRITAIN’S NEXT EUROPEAN CHALLENGE?

In a report published in March 2010, the Federal Trust has called upon the British government elected in the forthcoming General Election to take a positive and constructive attitude towards the current European negotiations on financial regulation.

Commenting on ‘Financial Regulation : Britain’s next European Challenge’ (please click here to download document) the report’s joint authors Sir Brian Unwin and Graham Bishop said “We see the European Commission’s current proposals for European regulation and supervision of the financial services industry as an important opportunity to create a more stable and integrated European financial sector. The pre-eminent position of the City in the provision of financial services means that the British government, whatever its political colour, will always have an interest in being at the centre of that debate, rather than on the sidelines.”

Latest News

NEW ESSAY: A pro-European Platform for a pan-European Party
Alan Lamond, March 2010 ( --> PDF)

NEW REPORT: Financial regulation: Britain's next European Challenge
Sir Brian Unwin and Graham Bishop, March 2010 ( --> PDF)

NEW ESSAY: A Europe of hope Democratic and Effective
Keith Richardson & Gerard Montassier, February 2010( --> PDF)

NEW ESSAY: The Stockholm Programme: More than just a five-year itch?
Roderick Parkes, November 2009( --> PDF)

NEW PAMPHLET: Devolution and regional administration: A federal UK in embryo?
Dr Andrew Blick, November 2009( --> PDF)

NEW REPORT: The Reform of Financial Regulation in Europe
Sir Brian Unwin and Graham Bishop, June 2009( --> PDF)
Click here for the Appendix: European Financial Supervision: Summary of key elements in the Commission Communication

NEW POLICY BRIEF: Testing the Limits of European Citizenship
Anja Lansbergen, May 2009( --> PDF)

NEW POLICY BRIEF: EU military and civilian crisis management operations: the first six years
Jeannette Ladzik, April 2009( --> PDF)

NEW REPORT: A More Coherent and Effective European Foreign Policy?
A Federal Trust Working Group Report, February 2009( --> PDF)