The European Council should not feel obliged to choose any of the leading candidates as President of the European Commission

This year’s European Parliament election has been noteworthy both for the rise of Euroscepticism and the introduction of leading candidates for European Commission president put forward by some of the European political parties. Anthony Salamone argues that the European Council should freely choose its own nominee for Commission president in cooperation with the Parliament, rather than automatically selecting the top leading candidate. He suggests that the absence of a legal basis for the process, limited choice among the candidates, low turnout and lack of interest in both the candidates and broader European issues renders it illegitimate, and instead the Council and Parliament should work together to reach a mutual compromise

Britain’s EU membership will now be the subject of several years of negotiation and debate

Last week’s election of a Conservative majority government paves the way for a referendum on Britain’s future in the European Union. Anthony Salamone outlines some of the challenges ahead for the upcoming renegotiation and referendum

The UK government must urgently overhaul its EU engagement strategy

Britain has suffered a number of setbacks in Europe of late, from the passage of financial services regulation it opposed to the recent selection of the next European Commission President. Anthony Salamone argues that the UK’s current approach to the European Union is part of the problem. He suggests the government must develop a new comprehensive EU strategy in order to ensure that Britain’s interests are upheld and that the EU develops in a way it can accept

Germany’s drive for Eurozone political union underlines the inadequacy of culture-based conceptions of integration

Throughout the economic and financial crisis, Germany has stood by the euro, contributing the most to the EU’s bailout programmes. At the same time, the country has continued its gradual rise to power. Anthony Salamone argues that Germany’s insistence on providing financial assistance on condition of political union in the Eurozone illustrates that European integration remains a question of states’ national interests, rather than the building of a common identity. He suggests that Eurozone political integration will deepen divides between euro and non-euro states, which could pose problems for the EU as a whole

Cameron’s unilateral approach could leave the UK isolated and resented

While the UK’s draft settlement on its EU membership includes substantive changes, its symbolic value is even more important, writes Anthony Salamone. Should the draft be agreed and the UK vote to remain, it could find itself facing animosity from other Member States and less influence in the EU

Why the current UK-Scotland constitutional impasse was far from inevitable

Political deadlock between the UK and Scottish governments over Brexit might well have been avoided, if a greater sense of compromise had prevailed, writes Anthony Salamone. He argues that the incomplete embedding of devolution into the UK constitutional framework has exacerbated the Brexit-related tensions which have emerged, as the absence of avenues for resolution of multi-level political disputes lowered the threshold for return of the independence question

Why it matters if the European Commission ends up leading the Brexit negotiations

The question of which EU institution will lead the UK’s exit negotiations has important implications for how the talks will unfold, writes Anthony Salamone. He argues that, while the negotiations will have both ‘internal’ and ‘external’ dimensions, delegating the detail to the Commission seems the direction of travel at present, which could make Brexit more challenging for the UK government

What would it take for Scotland to rejoin the EU as an independent state?

If Scotland voted for independence, it would probably apply to rejoin the EU. Despite its unique history, it would have to follow the normal path to EU accession, says Anthony Salamone. Scots are not keen on the euro and fisheries would be a flashpoint. While the Scottish government would be well-advised not to seek opt-outs of the kind the UK had, Scotland would have the potential to become a successful EU member

Whoever they are, the next US president will have a major impact on US-Scotland relations.

The race for the White House has implications that extend far beyond the United States. Anthony Salamone writes that, while relatively neglected, the US-Scotland relationship is an important aspect of the latter’s growing debate on its own role in the world. He argues that, whether Scotland becomes independent or remains part of the UK, it would be prudent for the nation to invest more in US-Scotland relations

Battle of the mandate: defining the dispute over a new Scottish independence referendum

The ongoing dispute over whether a new Scottish independence referendum should take place reflects very different interpretations of Scotland's sovereignty, writes Anthony Salamone. Questions of whether Westminster or Holyrood can determine if a new referendum is held are distinct from the issue of independence itself, and will most likely continue to be contested at least until after the next Scottish parliamentary elections