“We need to simplify our work and clarify our objectives,” Macron said. “The current rules and agreements are not intended to deal with the historical crisis of now and in the future.” If it is up to the French president, the member states will give up power by, for example, abolishing vetoes in foreign policy, and Brussels will be given new powers. France, currently president of the EU, wants to discuss the idea for a Convention at the EU leaders’ summit in June.
A majority of the European Parliament already voted in favor of the arrival of a Convention last week. On Monday, Brussels also supported the idea. “I am happy with this proposal,” said President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission. “Let’s all work on this together. Without taboos, without ideological red lines.”
The European treaties lay down what the EU is about and how decisions are taken. Changing these rules usually involves years of negotiation. All member states and parliaments must eventually agree.
Convening Convention
Such a major renovation usually starts with the convening of a Convention. At such a meeting, the Member States and the EU institutions will funnel all ideas about reforms. No convention has been convened since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty (2009).
The EU institutions use the Conference on the Future of Europe, a complex meeting circus in which citizens were given a year to discuss the future of the EU, as the main reason. On Monday, Europe Day, dozens of proposals and hundreds of recommendations were officially handed over to EU leaders. Several ideas conflict with current EU treaties.
Majority
Whether there will be a Convention will depend on the Member States. A majority must support the convening. Germany and Italy support the idea of a treaty amendment, the Netherlands does not reject it in advance. But according to Politico, ten other member states are now rallying support against the proposal. They believe that the European Parliament is using the citizens’ conference to expand power at the expense of member states.
The previous Convention, with the birth of a European constitution as a result, caused a trauma to Brussels. In the Netherlands, among others, the Constitution was rejected by referendum. In the end, many proposals were included in the Lisbon Treaty, but the term ‘constitution’ disappeared.
Macron also came up with his own idea on Monday for the creation of a ‘European political community’. A kind of EU-light in which there is room for countries such as Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. Former members of the EU – he did not mention the United Kingdom by name – are also welcome to work together on energy, security and free movement. The French head of state reiterated that Ukraine’s accession to the EU will take years, if not decades.