In theory, political convention requires the leaders of the EU27 to decide on whether to open a new convention on EU treaty reform after the European Parliament formally demanded one. In practice, however, treaty reform was not on the agenda at …
National leaders must agree to open a new European convention to reform the EU treaties and deliver on the recommendations made by the Conference on the Future of Europe.
There seems to be a broad consensus among EU countries that enlargement has become a geopolitical necessity. However, the corresponding discussion on reforming the bloc ahead of admitting new members never seems to get off the ground - for which Germany is partly to blame.
The perfect way to celebrate tomorrow's Europe Day is to eat a centuries-old Portuguese delicacy that has an unsuspecting link with a foundational moment of the EU’s integration process.
With almost fifteen years passed since the entry into force of the EU's current treaties, every day there is new evidence that an update and adaptation is needed, writes Guy Verhofstadt. Guy Verhofstadt is an MEP for Renew Europe, co-chair of …
Few topics in European politics are as unsexy as EU treaty reform. Yet two years ago, it was briefly back in fashion. A majority of national governments, including Germany and France, the EU’s engine room, gave their backing for treaty reform. Emmanuel Macron, then still something of a European poster boy, was the main cheerleader.
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.
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.
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.
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 30th anniversary of the Maastricht treaty is a reminder of the successes of European integration and the need to move the EU forward, write Timmy Dooley and Ilhan Kyuchyuk.
Thirty years after the Maastricht Treaty was signed, the fiscal rules it imposed on EU member states are an outdated and counterproductive constraint, writes Benoît Lallemand.
The Conference on the Future of Europe prides itself on giving as many participants as possible a chance to speak. Unfortunately, this horizontal nature of the debate eliminates meaningful discussion of Europe’s future, writes Kaspar Schultz.
As we enter 2022, it is 30 years since Citizenship of the European Union was first introduced during the Maastricht Treaty negotiations. This led to the creation of the first transnational citizenship, affording all EU citizens with rights, freedoms and legal protections, write Suzana Carp and Justin Goshorn.
While EU Treaties clearly stipulate that the European Central Bank “shall support the general objectives of the European Union", politicians cannot simply stand by, hoping that it will use its discretionary power to act on them, writes Grégory Claeys.
Today, almost thirty years after gaining its independence, the citizens of Kazakhstan can state with confidence and a sense of pride that their country is an equal and respected member of the international community and has all the signs of a well-established statehood, writes Kairat Mami.
Just when the European Union needs to act as one to prevent major powers from fomenting division, EU institutions and member states seem to lack the political will to set aside their disagreements and focus on the common interest, write Steven Blockmans, Loes Debuysere and Stefani Weiss.
It would be wise to accept that the Spitzenkandidaten system is broken and to look for a democratic replacement, writes Dick Roche, bringing up as arguments nuggets of vintage EU politics.
Europe is about democracy. We cherish democracy in our national institutions by ensuring a healthy separation of powers, by fighting for free and fair elections, and by combining the rule of the majority with the protection of the minority, write Louis Drounau and Andrew Duff.
Brexit has become a ‘21st Century Ulster Question’, writes Dick Roche, who also suggests how it can be solved.
The Northern Irish DUP party, a junior coalition member to Theresa May’s government, is a stumbling block to unlocking the Brexit talks. Dick Roche gives the receipt how the problem can be solved.
French President Emmanuel Macron is right to propose public debates on the Future of Europe. But the EU budget is where change will first manifest itself, writes David Holyoake.
The mantra of European elites for the support of the Lisbon Treaty included greater transparency of the decision-making process. Almost ten years after signing the Treaty, Mirek Topolánek says he now knows "for sure" that his support was unnecessary.
