Strasbourg 24.11.2023 Following the Conference on the Future of Europe and in the context of unprecedented challenges and multiple crises, MEPs put forward proposals to modify the EU.

Parliament is advocating reforms that will enhance the EU’s capacity to act and strengthen the opinion of the majority among the member-states, proposing

– taking decisions by qualified majority voting and the ordinary legislative procedure;
– fully-fledged right of legislative initiative, and a co-legislator role for Parliament for the long-term budget;
– overhaul of the rules for the Commission’s composition, changing to “European Executive”;
– election of the Commission President by the nomination to be put forward by the Parliament and the approval by the European Council;
– limiting the number of Commissioners to 15 based on rotation between the member states, enabling the Commission President to choose their College based on political preferences with geographic and demographic balance in mind, and a mechanism to censure individual Commissioners;
– significantly greater transparency in the Council by publishing EU member state positions on legislative issues;
– engaged citizenship through an obligation for the EU to create appropriate participatory mechanisms and by giving European political parties a stronger role.

MEPs call for more powers for the EU on environmental agenda, proposing shared EU powers in the following areas currently within the member states’ exclusive remit: public health especially cross-border health threats and including sexual and reproductive health and rights, civil protection, industry, and education. Existing shared powers should be developed further in the areas of energy, foreign affairs, external security and defense, external border policy, and cross-border-infrastructure.

The report, approved with 305 votes in favour, 276 against, and 29 abstentions, was prepared by five co-rapporteurs representing a broad majority in the Parliament. The accompanying resolution was adopted with 291 votes in favour, 274 against, and 44 abstentions.

“The EU needs to become more focused, more capable to act, and more democratically accountable. We want the voice of voters to decide who becomes President of the Commission and its programme. Our reform proposals create a defence union through joint procurement, promote European energy independence, and strengthen the rule of law” said Sven Simon (EPP, DE).

By adopting this report, Parliament is responding to a series of conferences and opinion polls for a more effective and democratic EU, in line with the proposals of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

“The world is evolving and our institutional architecture and decision-making processes in the EU are not fit for purpose if we want to stay relevant as a global player. We need to amend the EU Treaties to increase the EU’s capacity to act, including switching from unanimity principles to qualified majority voting, and adding new competences to address emerging global challenges” said Gabriele Bischoff (S&D, DE).

Now that MEPs have reiterated their call to amend the EU Treaties and called on the Council to “immediately and without deliberation submit the proposals […] to the European Council”, it is up to the EU heads of state or government to set up a Convention – a decision by simple majority. The Spanish Presidency of the Council is expected to submit the proposals to the European Council in December. Find out more about how the EU Treaties are modified.