UEF, JEF Europe and the Spinelli Group: "It Is High Time to Build the United States of Europe"
Von der Leyen’s State of the Union Address highlights the right challenges but did not stress the urgent need to reform the EU and abolish unanimity to ensure its independence.
Brussels, 16 September 2026
National veto: the elephant in the room
The European Union is paralysed by unanimity on foreign and defence policy, the budget and fiscal policy. President von der Leyen acknowledges that EU “institutions and decision-making have not kept pace with the new reality” but drew no conclusions from this diagnosis. Unanimity hinders the EU ability to act to ensure its independence, security and prosperity. Unanimity, even when it is not legally required, is the reason the proposals put forward by the citizens in the Conference on the Future of Europe, by the European Parliament Treaty reform proposals, by the Letta, Draghi and Niniisto Reports, still await implementation. Where is her "ambitious reform agenda" of 2024? The EU is not delivering enough on single market, budget, industrial and environmental policies, security, defence, and foreign policy due to its institutional weakness. We need the EU to focus on the great transnational challenges so Member States can tackle effectively bread-and-butter issues in respect of subsidiarity. Von der Leyen only announced future proposals to come, while her vague reference to "new own resources" falls far short of the bold action required to adequately finance the multi-annual EU budget.
A Step Forward: A strong Alliance with Canada
We welcome President von der Leyen offer to Canada to become the first associated member of the European Union. Let us start by ratifying the current EU-Canada Treaty (CETA), which 9 Member States have not yet ratified. The “associated member” status does not exist, but it would be useful to create it, by amending the Treaties. This needs to be done also in light of the enlargement process. Unanimity is unbearable at 27, even worse with more Member states.
A New Congress for Europe
We welcome the proposal for a New Congress for Europe on the 70th anniversary of the Rome Treaties in March 2027. In line with the Action Committee for the United States of Europe Ventotene Declaration, UEF and the Spinelli Group are already committed to organizing a European citizens' congress bringing together civil society and a March for Europe in Rome on 19-20 March 2027 for the anniversary of the Rome Treaties; as well as a new Congress of Europe in May 2028, marking the anniversary of the Hague Congress. We are ready to cooperate with the Commission to bring new momentum to reform the EU and implement the proposals by the Conference on the Future of Europe, the Parliament Treaty Reform proposal, the Letta, Draghi and Niinistö Reports.
A Call to Action: Reform Now, Before It Is Too Late
Europe must seize this moment to turn crisis into opportunity and strengthen its unity.
We therefore call for the Commission with the HRVP to make a proposal to the European Council on European Common Defence (article 42 TEU) and on the proposals produced by the Conference on the Future of Europe in 2022, together with the European Parliament’s subsequent call to amend the Treaties in 2023, and again twice in 2025.
To the European Council to convene an extraordinary meeting on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Rome Treaties to adopt an Inter-Institutional Declaration on a Stronger Political Union, activate the passerelle clauses, and initiate the Treaty reform process.
To the willing Member States to enhance shared sovereignty forming a pre-federal vanguard in foreign policy and defence, also through a new ambitious Permanent Structured Cooperation on defence and ad-och treaty.
To the European Parliament to condition the consent to the 2027 EU budget and the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework to the activation of the Common Defence, the passerelle clauses, the introduction of real new own resources, and the opening of the Treaty reform process.