General Assembly of UEF Belgium

After approving the accounts for 2023, elected the new board of directors and reporting on the activities of the ASBL, we were able to listen to and discuss with Minister of State and former Member of the European Parliament Gérard Deprez.

Introduction by G. Deprez suggested that it should not be a war of nominalism and stamping on ‘European federalism’. What is important is the procedures and mechanisms that make it possible to move towards European federalism, a direction which is essential in order to avoid a blockage in Europe.

He then noted the EU’s external environment which was unpredictable and dangerous (cf. Russia’s war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East). This also has internal consequences, including Fake News and interference by third countries that aim to destabilise the European Union.

Gérard Deprez then referred to the other major risks to the EU:

The EU’s economic withdrawal from the US and China;
The energy transition, which must be made acceptable, in particular for the farming community and part of the precarious working class;
The rise of the far right in several countries including France (almost 40 %), Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Flanders;
The reality of immigration and enlargement with a delicate corollary of the acceptance of Ukraine and/or Türkiye in the EU;
Physical attacks on political staff (see Slovakia, Denmark and elsewhere).

G. Deprez suggested two avenues for action towards European federalism:

First of all, we must end with the unanimity that paralyses integration. Why, like the ‘special powers’ existing in Belgium, do not allow the European executive (the Commission) to take measures in the event of an emergency (see pandemic) for a specified period adopted by qualified majority?

Secondly, as enlargement will take place (attention to those who want to exacerbate frustrations linked to the slowness of accession), European federalists must fight for own resources. We must return to the original legitimacy of the Treaties, but using modern tools: share of VAT, carbon tax, financial transaction tax, European borrowing, common corporate tax base (CCCTB), etc.

Finally, G. Deprez stressed the need for European strategic autonomy in the areas of health, defence and energy.

The members of the UEF.be then spoke, questioned and discussed with G. Deprez on the rule of law in the EU (see Hungarian Presidency), on the role of migrants for the European economy, on the democratic legitimacy of the Commission, and on the democratic role and impact of social media.