Brussels, November 21, 2024

European Parliament's Major Pro-European Political Groups agree to a Legislature Pact

The Union of European Federalists (UEF) is pleased that three of the largest political groups of the European Parliament—the European People’s Party (EPP), the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and Renew Europe (RE)— have agreed on a cooperation platform for the 10th legislative term.

The agreement, signed by Manfred Weber (Chair EPP), Iratxe García Pérez (Chair S&D), and Valérie Hayer (Chair Renew Europe), pledges for a collaborative work to deliver on an ambitious reform agenda aligned with the Political Guidelines outlined by the European Commission President on 18 July 2024.

This alliance directly answers the urgent call made by the UEF following the European Elections. The UEF has strongly advocated for all democratic and pro-European forces to unite in the European Parliament to reinforce European unity in the context of rising Eurosceptic and Europhobic far-right political parties, including by agreeing to a Legislature Pact.

Treaty Reforms as fundamental for a stronger Europe

Furthermore, The UEF takes note that the agreement stresses the importance of reforming the Union by saying that “we commit to advance necessary reforms, including Treaty changes, towards ‘an ever closer union’”.

“This is a truly historic step in the European political system: the first written coalition agreement among political groups at the EU level” said Domènec Ruiz Devesa, former MEP and President of the UEF.

The next step: The European Council

As agreed in the resolution on Building consensus for Treaty change at the recent Federal Committee in Budapest (16 November), the UEF denounces that the Presidency of the European Council has so far ignored the request of the European Parliament to put the convening of a Convention for the reform of the Treaties on the agenda, and calls on the European Parliament, also on the basis of the said Cooperation Platform to continue the battle begun in the previous parliamentary term for the opening of a Convention to reform the Treaties ex art. 48, in particular by adopting a Plenary Resolution recalling the obligations of the European Council on the matter.