EU Reforms Archives

A group of MEPs drew up a blueprint for EU reform, proposals of which include a new EU programme to support households and businesses facing rising energy and food prices and a 5,000-strong European army.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a watershed moment likely to change the European Union in significant ways: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he wants a more geopolitical Union, significant enlargement of the bloc and deep reforms of its institutions.

The EU needs institutional reform before Ukraine and Moldova can join as new members, the Green MEP Daniel Freund told EURACTIV, as the EU lawmaker outlined the main priorities ahead of the next EU elections in 2024.

Awakening after a geopolitical slumber, European leaders should have the courage to think in the categories adequate to the times we live in, writes Mateusz Morawiecki in an exclusive op-ed.

Following the overturning of Roe v Wade, MEPs have voted in favour of a resolution calling for abortion to become a fundamental right in the EU - a request that adds to mounting calls for EU treaty change.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine revealed Europe's complacency and a "new paradigm" is needed, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said at the Jacques Delors Institute's annual conference on Tuesday (28 June).

While the debate on EU treaty changes continues, citizens and MEPs call for "shared competences" on education between the EU and member states and more harmonisation of citizenship teaching at the EU level.

EU leaders granted the candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova at a summit in Brussels on 23 June but gave a cold shoulder to the Western Balkans'  EU aspirations.

While German Chancellor Scholz has demonstrated support for EU accession processes, he stressed on Wednesday (22 June) that enlargement must be tied to institutional reform of the EU.

The European Parliament could sue EU leaders at the European Court of Justice for breaking treaties’ obligations if they refuse to officially react to EU lawmakers' official call for the Convention to open EU treaties, a constitutional expert told EURACTIV.

Many believe introducing qualified majority would require an arduous treaty change, but this is not true. If qualified majority is not introduced in the EU enlargement decision-making, the whole process will die, write Srdjan Cvijic and Zoran Nechev.

It is time to consider a change of EU treaties because the message delivered by European citizens is that "they like the European idea" but not the way the EU is functioning, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, the co-president of the European liberal party, told EURACTIV.

Health policy is at the heart of demands for EU treaty reform after MEPs voted on Thursday (9 June) for EU leaders to establish a constitutional convention to reopen the EU treaties.

History tells us that when it comes to pushing for EU treaty reform, the European Parliament is almost always leading the way.

Liberal European governments need to act to quickly the reform the structural flaws that allow illiberalism and extremism to thrive, writes Dita Charanzová.

There is no point in talking to Vladimir Putin if we really want him to understand he is isolated, Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told EURACTIV in what can be seen as a thinly veiled criticism of French President Emmanuel Macron's largely unsuccessful phone diplomacy with Moscow.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to intensify the Franco-German tandem and to lead Europe on a path of reform to enable a stronger and more sovereign EU.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted that she might support changes to EU treaties, should it be necessary to implement the recommendations of citizen panels from the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE).

Germany wants to use the Conference on the Future of Europe as a starting point to further develop the EU, possibly change treaties and abolish unanimity decision-making for EU foreign policy matters.

As the EU poises to mark its anniversary on Monday (9 May), it is morphing into a more muscular global actor, a transformation accelerated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Members of European Parliament passed a resolution on Wednesday (4 May) supporting the outcome of the Conference on the Future of Europe and changing EU treaties to facilitate the implementation of citizens' proposals.

The Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE) has done little to bring the EU closer to its citizens and is solely concerned with increasing the EU's competences, writes Janusz Saryusz-Wolski.

The Conference on the Future of Europe will not lead to changes in the EU’s treaties because there is no consensus among member states for this, a Czech expert told EURACTIV.cz. The conference is a unique exercise allowing European citizens to …

Twelve per cent of European citizens’ proposals as a part of the conference on the Future of Europe require a treaty change if they are to be implemented, according to an EU law expert.