Economic and Social Research Council
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New senior research fellows to analyse the UK-EU relationship

The ESRC has appointed seven new senior research fellows to its ground-breaking initiative on UK-EU relations ahead of the country’s referendum on membership of the European Union – The UK in a Changing Europe.

The new fellows are some of the world’s leading authorities on Britain’s relationship with Europe. They include London School of Economics’ (LSE) Professor Damien Chalmers, one of the world’s leading scholars on EU law; University of Cambridge’s Professor Catherine Barnard who advised the British government on its review of the balance of competences between the UK and the EU; and Dr Angus Armstrong, director of macroeconomic research at leading independent think-tank the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR).

The new fellows will join the nine senior fellows who are already part of project, bringing the total to 16. They will work closely with initiative director, Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at Kings College London, across a wide range of projects.

“Since its launch, The UK in a Changing Europe initiative has established itself as the leading source of impartial analysis on the UK’s relationship with the EU. The appointment of seven more leading scholars will allow us to build on our reputation and to contribute to, and help inform, the debate on British membership in the run-up to the referendum,” Professor Menon said.

The fellows will provide evidence and analysis across a wide range of issues facing the UK and EU, such as foreign and security policy; banking and financial services; social policies; and the impact of EU law.

The seven new fellows are:

  • Dr Angus Armstrong of NIESR, who is running the project ‘EU membership and the “British dilemma”’
  • Professor Catherine Barnard of the University of Cambridge, for the project ‘“Honeypot Britain”: The lived experience of working as an EU migrant in the UK’
  • Professor Damien Chalmers, London School of Economics (LSE), for the ‘Resituating EU Law’ project
  • Dr Sara Hagemann of LSE, who is running the project ‘Role of national parliaments in a changing European Union’
  • Dr Alison Harcourt from the University of Exeter, for the project ‘The UK communication industries: the impact of a proposed UK Brexit from the EU’
  • Dr Simon Usherwood from the University of Surrey, for the ‘Mapping the EU referendum debate’ project
  • Professor Richard Whitman of the University of Kent, for the project ‘The interrelationship of UK and EU foreign policy: costs and benefits’.

Professor Jane Elliott, ESRC Chief Executive, said: “Through funding academics of the highest calibre, The UK in a Changing Europe initiative has established a reputation as a valuable source of research-based knowledge on the UK-EU relationship. We are delighted to be continuing our commitment to the project ahead of the referendum.”

Notes for editors

  • The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is the UK’s largest funder of research on the social and economic questions facing us today. It supports the development and training of the UK’s future social scientists and also funds major studies that provide the infrastructure for research. ESRC-funded research informs policymakers and practitioners and helps make businesses, voluntary bodies and other organisations more effective. The ESRC also works collaboratively with six other UK research councils and Innovate UK to fund cross-disciplinary research and innovation addressing major societal challenges. The ESRC is an independent organisation, established by Royal Charter in 1965, and funded mainly by the Government.
Channel website: http://www.esrc.ac.uk

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