News of Europe | 10/2023
Dear Federalist friends,
Thank you for your continued support and readership. As politicians, journalists, and other EU officials return from holidays, Brussels is buzzing with fresh ideas. Fortunately for the UEF, we have been advocating for some of them for decades—so we are ready.
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Have a good week,
It is confirmed. The State of the European Union speech is scheduled for 13 September. Last year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voiced her support for Treaty change, asking to add better social rights in the founding text of the Union. One year later, little was done, and the European Parliament seems to be the only actor willing to move forward. Will the European executive answer to the Federalist demands? Treaty Reform Now!
During a visit to Slovenia, Charles Michel, President of the European Council, shook the Euro-bubble by saying "I believe that we must be ready [...] to enlarge by 2030". This comment—not coordinated with any other EU institutions—surprised many in Brussels and in national capitals. However, later last week, Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi acknowledged the Commission is working on "substantial proposals" on enlargement.
Michel's declaration rekindled the decades-long debate between enlargement vs deepening. With the EU to be 30 members strong by 2030, as the Council President suggested, shouldn't reforming our institutions be paramount? That is what the European Parliament's Institutional Affairs (AFCO) committee believes. A group of Parliamentarians, led by Spinelli Group board member Guy Verhofstadt, is drafting a proposal for treaty change. Among the propositions, POLITICO reported on Friday, is the end of qualified majority voting, increasing the competencies of the Commission and Parliament. More details will follow, as the group of lawmakers will unveil the full proposal later this month.
In any case, the idea for treaty reform gains momentum, as Italian President Sergio Mattarela suggested on Friday: "The Conference on the Future of Europe has opened the ground for a reform that will inevitably have to improve the current Treaties." Last week, Sergio Mattarela was the guest of honour at an event organised by the MFE commemorating the 80 years of Altiero Spinelli's speech on his Ventotene Manifesto. Luisa Trumellini, Vice-President of the UEF, made a declaration (in Italian).
A special message from the UEF. Do you have expertise in a European policy area? Skills you would like to put to good use? Register today to the UEF's Expert database and be invited to speak at conferences and debates organised by the UEF sections all over Europe.
Among other topics, Brussels is fighting over the upcoming revision of the EU's multiannual financial framework. The Commission would like to redraw budget lines to enlarge the Union's support to Ukraine. Last week, European ministers from France, Portugal, and Germany published an op-ed asking for substantial investments in Europe's infrastructure, research, industrial, digital, and green transitions. The ministers wrote: "Just as the United States made history with the Marshall Plan, the EU must make history with Ukraine." Furthermore, the trio would like to extend the scope of the EU's own resources.
For the 60 years of the death of Robert Schuman, Spinelli Group board members Guy Verhofstadt and Sandro Gozi—who also chairs the European Parliamentary intergroup—signed this piece on Europe's founding father. An insightful look at an important figure of our cause.
The World Federalist Movement invites you to read its latest bulletin All Together Now. Read it here.
Thank you again for your continuous readership.
See you next week,
Alexandre Météreau
on behalf of the UEF Secretariat