We must renew the purpose of the European project

The European Parliament voted today (16 Feb) on three reports, grouped together for this week’s Future of Europe debate*. Taken together, the reports set out the position of the European Parliament for the discussion at the summit of Heads of State and Government on the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in March. MEPs called for a significant strengthening of the European Union and want the EU to be more united, democratic and crisis-proof.

Commenting, Greens/EFA co-president Ska Keller said:

"With Brexit looming, and the EU facing a range of external and internal challenges, we must renew the sense of purpose of the European project. If we are to face these problems, and rebuild citizens' faith in our institutions, we need a Europe that really delivers for its citizens, and that must mean putting a greater emphasis on social rights and protections.

"However, if the EU is to truly move forward, much wider reforms will be needed. The relationship between the three main institutions needs to change, with a much stronger role for the Parliament, including the ability to bring forward its own legislation. A new role for the Council can be found too, in the shape of a second legislative chamber."

Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts added:

"We cannot hope to build a stronger future for the EU without looking at the functioning of the Eurozone, which still lacks among other things the necessary fiscal capacity to allow it to react properly to economic shocks. The Commission must present legislative proposals to pave the way for the establishment of a Eurozone budget."

*The three reports are: Possible evolutions of and adjustments to the current institutional set-up of the European Union, Guy Verhofstadt / Improving the functioning of the European Union building on the potential of the Lisbon Treaty, Mercedes Bresso, Elmar Brok / Budgetary capacity for the Eurozone, Reimer Böge, Pervenche Berès