Debate: Proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the Treaties
Date: TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2023
Speaker: Maroš Šefčovič
Language: EN

For all our institutions, the Treaties are the basis of our action. They define the rules according to which we deal on a daily basis with the challenges that the Union is facing. And since the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in 2009, the Union has been confronted with many challenges: the financial crisis, the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, just to name a few. And faced with these crises, we successfully used the tools available under the existing framework. While we have often managed to find solutions based on political will and creativity, these crises have also here and there shown certain limits of the current framework, including the institutional framework and the competences conferred upon the Union. The next big political priority ahead of us is, of course, enlargement. This can be a catalyst for progress; while we widen our Union, we can also deepen it. We must ensure that our institutional framework and our policies are fit for the new geopolitical reality – I would say fit for the future. The new situation has led to reflections on whether and which reforms are necessary at this point in time, in particular to prepare for the upcoming enlargement. And I can clearly confirm that thanks to the Swedish and Spanish presidencies, the General Affairs Council have in recent months had several discussions on how the Union should be possibly reformed in the view of enlargement. Today’s debate and tomorrow’s vote on Parliament’s proposals for amendments to the Treaties therefore come at a crucial moment in time. And I would like to thank the five co-rapporteurs in the AFCO Committee and all the associated committees for the impressive work done on this report, which followed up on Parliament’s call for the European Convention in May and June last year. The Commission will always support those who want to reform the EU to make it work better for its citizens. In her State of the Union address in September, President von der Leyen expressed her support to the call of this House for European convention and Treaty change if and where it is needed. As regards the Parliament’s proposals for Treaty changes, it will be first and foremost for the Council and the European Council to follow up on Parliament’s resolution. The Commission stands ready to fully play its institutional role in the procedures set out in the Treaty on the European Union. In particular, we are ready to give our opinion in response to a consultation by the European Council. From the outset, I want to assure you of the Commission’s full commitment to play an active role in the process. One thing is clear, however, we cannot wait for Treaty change to move ahead with enlargement. This is why President von der Leyen announced that the Commission will start working on a series of pre-enlargement policy reviews to see how each area may need to be adapted to a larger Union. They will also address the question on how our institutions would work, how the Parliament and the Commission would look. Institutional questions are complex as they concern the very architecture of our Union. They are also sensitive as they touch upon the respective powers, and the balance of powers, of the institutions. There will be challenging discussions ahead of us that will require us to be visionary and bold in shaping the Europe of the future. The Commission is getting ready for these debates and this process, notably as we are opening a new chapter in expanding the European family.