European Parliament's PETI Committee Declares Open UEF Petition on Treaty Reform — Several MEPs Voice Support
Brussels, 24 June 2026
The Union of European Federalists (UEF) welcomes the decision of the European Parliament's Committee on Petitions (PETI) to declare open Petition No. 0456/2025 on the Reform of the Treaty of Lisbon, following a public hearing held yestarday, on 23 June 2026.
The petition was presented before the Committee by UEF President Domènec Ruiz Devesa and Secretary General Mathilde Baudouin, in the presence of the UEF Vice-President Daphne Gogou. The PETI Committee's decision to keep the petition open represents a significant step forward in the campaign Treaty Reform Now! and reinforces the UEF's call for a federal, democratic and sovereign Europe capable of acting decisively on the global stage.
During the hearing, the petition received the explicit support of eight Members of the European Parliament spanning multiple political groups: MEPs Andrea Wechsler (EPP), Brando Benifei (S&D), Raquel García Hermida-Van der Walle (Renew), Gabriele Bischoff (S&D), Nikolas Farantouris (The Left), Vasile Dîncu (S&D), Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D), and Thijs Reuten (S&D). Their cross-partisan backing demonstrates growing parliamentary consensus around the urgent need for institutional reform.
Speaking before the Committee, UEF President Ruiz Devesa stressed the existential urgency of the moment: "The EU faces an increasingly unstable world. The decision-making processes, often conditioned by vetoes, paralyze our ability to respond to crises. This is unacceptable." Secretary General Baudouin underlined the democratic dimension of the petition: "The European Parliament is the only institution directly elected by European citizens, and its proposals must not be ignored."
The petition urges the PETI Committee to keep the matter open as a priority, to request an implementation report from the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) to track progress on Treaty reform, and to address institutional reform in the context of the MFF negotiations and the 2027 budget, using Parliament's budgetary powers to press the Council into action.
The UEF recalls that the European Parliament has already twice reaffirmed its commitment to Treaty change since the petition was submitted in April 2025 — through resolutions adopted in October and November 2025 — while the European Council has continued to ignore Parliament's calls to open a Convention under Article 48 TEU.
"Citizens across Europe are calling for a stronger, united Europe capable of defending democracy, providing security, and acting with one voice," said Ruiz Devesa. "Today's hearing shows that an increasing number of MEPs are willing to stand with them, and that the European Commission is ready to move forward. The European Council must no longer delay."
PRESS CONTACT
Mathilde Baudouin, Secretary General of the UEF
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Domènec Ruiz Devesa "Thank you very much, chair. Also to all the members of the petty committee and uh to the coordinators that alongside with with you the chair have uh supported the hearing on our petition. uh dear Cheronskam and also of course uh many thanks as well to some of the MEPs uh that are present in the room to support us like uh Andrea Vexler, Brando Benif and uh Rael Garcia Reander Val on behalf of our organization I would like um to express our position on this topic.
This petition is a call to action in a moment of existential urgency for the European Union. The EU faces an increasingly unstable world. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the conflict in the Middle East, and the emergence of an axis between a democratic and illiberal regimes have exposed the fragility of our union. This underscores the need for a strong stronger and united Europe capable of speaking with one voice. particularly in foreign affairs, security and defense and therefore able to act decisively. The reports by Leta Drago and Drai and Ninisto made it clear. We are currently unable to provide for our own security and to maintain our competitiveness on the glo on the global stage. This failure risk undermining the very achievements that define the European social model. including the rule of law, the rule of law and the safeguarding of fundamental rights.
The root of this problem lies in the eur eur in the current European Union's inability to act uni united particularly regarding the unanimity rule in a number of uh important policy fields as mentioned foreign policy security and defense but not only. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the 22nd of November of 2023 which was a critical step toward addressing this issue. by proposing amendments to the treaty of Lisbon in accordance to the reform procedure foreseen in the treaty itself article 48. However, more than two and a half years later, the European Council has yet to uh reply to this proposal by the European Parliament, which in our view this constitutes a violation of the reform procedure of article 48, but also a violation of the principle of loyer loyal and sincere cooperation between EU institutions.
Therefore, we uh consider that this is a matter of particular interest to the European Parliament who proposed this reform. It is also a question of course of defense of the prerogatives of the European Parliament. And in the end, I'd like to conclude my part before giving the floor to my colleague, the secretary general of the UEF, Matilda Bod Bada, that it is not acceptable that member states appear to fear more um losing the capacity to block a common decision than the the world of dangers that we live in, including Mr. Putin. Thank you."
Mathilde Baudouin: "The European Parliament is the only institution directly elected by its citizens, the European citizens, and its proposals that are actually in continuity with the demands from the Conference on the Future of Europe must not be ignored. This is not simply a procedural issue. In recent months, citizens have increasingly voiced their support for a stronger united Europe, for even a common European defense, as reflected in all the latest Euro barometer surveys. They have repeatedly called for an end of the veto, demanding a union that can act decisively and democratically. We are facing a crisis of both democracy and accountability. If the EU is to defend democracy globally, it must show the example at home.
Since we submitted our petition in April 2025, the parliament has reaffirmed its commitment to treaty change and called again the European Council to act, namely through two very important moment. First, the resolution adopted on October 22, 2025 on the institutional consequences of EU enlargement negotiations which reiterates the call to open a convention under article 48 of the treaty of the European Union. Second, the resolution adopted on November 25, 2025 on the institutional aspects of the draggy report, which urges the European Council to respond to the Parliament's request and ask both the commission and the European Council to outline precise steps towards reform.
We care deeply about the European project and its citizens, and we know you do as well. Therefore, we respectfully ask this committee to first keep the petition open and ensure it remains a priority. Second, ask the president messah to send a formal letter to the European Council. Third, request an implementation report in the constitutional affairs committee to track progress. And finally, to address this matter in the context of the MFF negotiations and the 2027 budget using the parliament power of the purse to pressure the European Council into action. The EU finally needs to listen to its citizens and to take the bold steps that are needed to secure its future. Thank you."
European Commission representative during the hearing: "All right there chair honorable members um dear Mr. Devesa I can be very short um the or very brief the parliament's resolution from 22nd of November 2023 with proposals for treaty change activated the treaty revision procedure in article 48 of the treaty on European Union on 18th of December 2023 the council sent the parliament's proposals to the European Council and informed the national parliaments in accordance with the procedure laid down in article 48, paragraph 2 of the treaty. In line with the treaty, it's for the European Council to decide on the next steps. The commission stands ready to fully play its institutional role in the procedure as set out in article 48 of the treaty and in particular to give its opinion if and when consulted by the European Council. Many thanks."
MEP Andrea Wechsler (EPP): "Thank you very much chair. I would like to thank the petitioner Mr. Domènec Ruiz Devesa as well as his Secretary General Mathilde Baudouin and the Union of European Federalists for bringing this very important institutional question before our committee. The petition addresses a matter of clear relevance for the European Parliament. The follow-up to Parliament's resolution on the 22nd of November 2023 on the amendment of the treaties and the responsibilities of the Parliament and the European Council under Article 48.
Parliament has exercised its prerogatives. The European Council is therefore expected to examine Parliament's proposal and to engage substantively with a revision process. This is not only a political expectation but also a question of sincere cooperation and respect for the institutional balance of the Union. From the EP side, we share the view that the Council's response has so far not been sufficient. The European Parliament should continue to insist that its proposals are treated seriously and that there is clarity on the way forward. For today, the right signal is clear. We should not close this file. We should keep the petition open, maintain public dialogue with the petitioners and ensure that this issue remains on the agenda in our dialogue with the Council. Thank you."
MEP Raquel García Hermida-Van der Walle (Renew Europe): "Thank you, sir chair, you said it very well. Thanks, thanks a lot. Thank you to the petitioners. It is a great pleasure and an honor to listen to your presentation today and also to see a lot of members of the Spinelli Group. For those of you who might not know us, we are the people fighting for a federal Europe here in the European Parliament. But we're mostly, and that's what brings us to the subject of today, the people fighting for a Europe which is able to defend its sovereignty. It's the people fighting for Europe which is able to defend our people. It is the ones fighting for Europe which really can face the challenges of the 21st century and the geopolitical situation.
So I think this petition is very timely and I think the Commission and of course the member states should reply in a suitable manner, in an adequate manner to the demands of this European Parliament from 2023 to open up the treaties to reform to ensure that our treaties are fit for purpose, that they can take us into the future and they don't stop us from achieving the goals that we are trying to achieve with each other. Um, I think it's extremely important that this petition remains open. I would like to support that call and I would also like to make a call to all colleagues in the European Parliament to ensure that we are able and willing to use the biggest power that we have in this house which is the power of the budget. So again, thank you so much to the petitioners, to the organizers of this action and again, all encouragement to keep it open for the time being. Thank you."
MEP Nikolas Farantouris (S&D) "Thank you very much. I would like to say I support the need to revise the treaties. I would also support the fact that the bodies within the European institutions have to be consistent. What I mean by that is that they themselves should have taken initiatives after the decision from the European Parliament. But unfortunately we've had silence from them. So I would just like to join my voice to those other colleagues who are a more federalist in approach to have a complete completion of the EU. Thank you."
MEP Gabriele Bischoff (S&D): "Thank you very much Mr. President. And I would also like to thank the petitioners for this initiative. And I would like to highlight again that—and I was one of the different rapporteurs of the report on treaty changes—that we based this long work of all pro-European democratic political groups on the work of 800 randomly selected citizens who came up with proposals. So it is very much based, developed from the ground then up to this house and therefore it is very important also indeed to keep this petition open and ongoing.
But I think also we could do a little bit more. So I would like to propose and ask you as chair of this honorable committee to also take up this petition, also to write a letter, for example, to the Council President, and also emphasizing again how important it is for this house, how important it is for the petitioners that we keep this road not only open but that we go down, especially to have a Europe that is capable to act for its citizens. Thank you very much."
Brando Benifei (S&D) "Thank you, chair. First of all, congratulations to Domènec Ruiz Devesa and the Union of European Federalists for their commitment in keeping the debate on the reform of the treaties alive through this petition and all this effort that I think is extremely timely. At the moment of unprecedented geopolitical challenges, Europe will either be federal or it will not be at all. Europeans through this parliament have already spoken following the Conference on the Future of Europe. In 2022 and 2023, we adopted resolutions calling for a convention and for treaty change. Today, those who advocate for European disintegration, certain political parties say that the parliament's position on the treaty reform belong only to a previous and different legislature. I want to clarify this because this is factually wrong. The AFCO report on the institutional aspects of the Draghi report which I followed as rapporteur and which was adopted by large majority of this parliament in November 2025 recognize the simple reality: Europe cannot achieve its objectives on innovation, decarbonization and defense without targeted treaty reform. So in a different legislature again the same political message from this parliament.
So the question now is what follow-up we need to give. So in my view we must continue the effort launched by parliament to open a convention and advance the treaty revision process under Article 48 of the Treaty of the European Union. This means reminding the European Council of its responsibilities under the treaties including through a new plenary resolution calling for meaningful follow-up to Parliament's proposals. Then parliament should be prepared to use its budgetary powers to ensure that its treaty reform initiative is taken seriously and not ignored. We should also bring this debate to national parliaments across the union, encouraging member states to discuss parliament's proposals and place treaty reform back on the agenda of the European Council. Finally, if the deadlock persists, we should not exclude pursuing legal action before the Court of Justice. So let me conclude in the line of what I just said that this petition should remain open until such time as the European Council has substantively addressed the parliament's proposal and announced the procedural path forward to finally deal with these very important issues. Thank you very much."
MEP Juan Fernando López Aguilar: "Well, first of all, I always when it comes to the petitions committee, I always thank the petitioners because they are exerting a fundamental right on their own to begin with. It's a fundamental right enshrined in the charter and in the treaty of functioning of the European Union to begin with. Second, as to the substance, if we follow the Euro barometer parameters, we can only conclude that most of European citizens clearly favor stronger, more united, more capable EU. We honestly of course question about the equipment of our institutions as they are by now in order to deliver their stronger more united more capable European Union. So time again it comes to unanimity in the council paralyzing EU action allowing national vetos to block common solutions weakening the union's credibility outside and within precisely when union unity matters most and that challenge can only grow with enlargement. That's absolutely clear. strengthening a union politically, economically and geopolitically meaning meaning that we need to reinforce the the the EU capacity to deliver in an stable world bringing about our commitment to peace and prosperity. The European Parliament has done it part of the job. We actually we actually set in in motion an initiative to bring about and trigger the process of treaty revision. We did it in the past mandate of the European Parliament 2023 and yet state of engaging with parliament's proposal the council has chosen silence so far European asking stronger Europe and the council in silence treaty reform is not an option it's indispensable so I can only conclude that we need for that reason first to keep this petition alive deserving better attention on its merits, welcoming the opportunity to discuss it today with the European federalists. But having said this, I only stress also the importance of fully involving the constitutional affairs committee, which is the one in charge of treaty revision, ensuring that it is invited to deliver an opinion on the matter. So I support the petition. I welcome the European Federalists to calling for attention on the matter. I remind that we have actually activated a treaty reform on the side of the European Parliament expecting for a response for the council stating that silence should not be an option and I ask for the involvement of the constitutional affairs committee ensuring that is invited to deliver an opinion. Thank you."
The intervention by petitioner Domènec Ruiz Devesa: "Thank you very much uh dear chair. Once again, many thanks to all the MEPs uh that have participated in the petition in the hearing and that have uh provided uh support to keep it open. Um also thanks to as I said before to the coordinators to Sandra Gomez particular that tabled the the petition to the coordinators to the proposal. Maybe just uh very quick uh observations of course also regarding the the last MEP's comments the the the majority of the legislation in the EU is already adopted in the in the procedure by qualified majority voting. So it's not that we have thankfully right to veto on everything already. So we're just proposing to use a democratic procedure in all policies. Uh uh and then maybe one remark also for the the commission um that I slightly disagree when the commission said if and when the European Council ask for the consultation because there is no if in the article 48. So in any case it's when but not if uh and then of course the commission has to provide uh its opinion as it is established in as it is established in article 48. I agree with uh what has been said uh that uh the parliament has several tools to move this file forward including the power of the budget including going to the court of justice uh acting uh with a report from uh the AFCO committee and indeed the this is a very crucial point and with this I end that by definition the petition has to remain open until there is a reply from the European Council. Thank you very much and I also allow it's okay like that."
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