Brussels, 18 December 2023

As the Conference on the Future of Europe concluded in May 2022, all the European institutions agreed to give the citizens recommendations for proper implementation. The European Parliament was the first to take action with its June 2022 and November 2023 resolutions calling for a Convention to reform the Treaties and activate Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU).

Today, the Council of the EU played its part, thanks to Spain’s leadership, and transmitted the European Parliament’s request for activation of Article 48 TEU to the European Council. Europe now turns to Charles Michel and EU national leaders to immediately include the EP‘s request on the agenda of the next EUCO meeting.

The request for Treaty change has to be considered by the European Council first of all because it is urgent and necessary. The European Union lacks the indispensable tools to act in the face of the challenges of security and economic competition that we are undergoing. The Russian war against Ukraine and interference, migration flows, ecological and digital transition, and enlargement force us to take action. More than ever, we need to reform our institutional framework, and the report offers several solutions.

Earlier this month, the Union of European Federalists sent a letter to Charles Michel, President of the European Council, requesting to put a decision point on the call for a Convention at the agenda of the next European leaders’ summit in Brussels. Today, the UEF reiterates this call.

Domènec Ruiz Devesa, President of the UEF said: "Of course, there is still a long way to go. First of all, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, must put the issue on the agenda of the next European Council meeting in January or March 2024 at the latest. Secondly, a majority [...] will have to be sought. All this before the European elections in June. What is certain is that the Spanish government, during its rotating presidency of the Council, has done its job in this area, and with distinction.”

The UEF also urges Charles Michel to start working towards a majority to agree to the establishment of a Convention, with the help of the Belgian rotating presidency of the EU, to start in January 2024.

The UEF, through its sections, will be pressing national governments to support the call for a Convention; and in parallel will closely follow the developments at the European Council, and will continuously advocate for this crucial reform in the interest of European citizens. Should you wish to participate in this activity, you can join the UEF or one of its sections in Europe.