The recommendations of the European Citizens’ Summit in Maastricht clash sharply with current practice in the European Union. The Dutch representatives are concerned whether their conclusions will be taken into account by the European institutions.
Striking conclusions
For example, the 200 participants in the Maastricht citizens’ panels drew striking conclusions in the field of migration. In doing so, they emphatically rattle the Dublin agreements, which form the basis of the current asylum policy in the European Union. “Whether something is done with it? I find that a tricky point,” says Mara van Dijk, one of the six Dutch people in the Burgertop. She argued above all for respect for human rights in migration policy. “It’s such a broad subject that it’s hard to make a recommendation that can’t be hijacked. I’ll keep an eye on that. But I’m not sure how reliable that is.”
Concerns about democracy
The Citizens’ Summit in Maastricht stems from serious concerns about democracy. “There is an increasing distance between people and the institutions. We are also noticing that,” said Colin Scicluna, head of cabinet of the European Commission. “These discussions are intended to give citizens a say in the period between the elections. Because voting every five years is not enough, that awareness is alive.”
The idea of involving citizens in decision-making led in Limburg in 2018 to three Burgertops, a process that was completed in 2020. Internationally, the initiatives in Chili and Ireland impression, by breaking a political stalemate.
Who cares about what?
The recommendations in Maastricht will lead to long meetings in the various national capitals in the coming months. This is mainly because the guiding principle of the European Union is under attack. Europe has traditionally been concerned only with issues that cannot be regulated at regional or national level.
Final conclusions
This sacred principle of subsidiarity is not on the minds of the 200 citizens who wonder why migration or foreign policy is so poorly coordinated at European level. This was clearly reflected in the final conclusions. Recommendation 23, for example, argued for the establishment of a joint military structure, the ‘Joint Armed Forces of the European Union’. The Maastricht Treaty gave an impetus to this joint approach 30 years ago, but three decades later most Member States appear to be holding on to their own defence.
Together with @RiaOomenRuijten both as @CoFoEU reporters @2eKamertweets @First room visited the Burgertop #CoFoE in @uitMaastricht † Great involvement from all member states #nextgen #EU pic.twitter.com/e3sHw6y0tc
— Mustafa Amhaouch (@MustafaAmhaouch) February 12, 2022
abolish unanimity
Also notable was the call to abolish mandatory unanimity of votes in foreign policy. With 86 percent of the 200 votes, it was called for all decisions in the European Union to be taken by qualified majority, eliminating the veto right of countries.
Frans Timmermans
Frans Timmermans made the same appeal in an interview on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Maastricht Treaty. “Putin is bringing the Cold War back to life. Only unity can make him change his mind,” says Timmermans. “That is why we have to think about a qualified majority in foreign policy. We have to nuance the unanimity rule in foreign affairs. Work more towards a consensus, whereby member states may not fully agree, but agree to a continuation of the process.”
Migration
On migration, the 200 European citizens called for a European approach, “a complete overhaul of agreements and legislation on asylum and immigration in Europe”. Although the Maastricht Treaty laid the foundation for legal cooperation in the migration file, the national visions turned out to be so different that a joint asylum policy barely got off the ground.
Commissioner Timmermans saw his initiative fail five years ago. The 200 citizens, with an 84 percent majority, were in favor of the principle that Europe determines the criteria for which refugees are eligible for asylum and which are not. That European asylum institution will also be responsible for returning migrants to safe countries. And citizens believe that asylum seekers should be distributed proportionately among all Member States, an initiative that the European Commission failed to see in 2020.
Proposals are still possible
The 46 recommendations from the Maastricht citizens’ panel will be discussed in Strasbourg later this year. A representation of 108 citizens must then explain and defend the decisions in a plenary session of the Conference on the Future of Europe. Although citizens are significantly outnumbered by votes, the moral weight of their convictions must be reflected in European decisions. Citizens can online still submitting proposals on the future of the European Union.