EU Reforms

Many actions can be taken on health before changing treaties, say MEPs

There are many more accessible actions that can be taken on health before getting onto the bigger question of changing the EU treaties, EU lawmakers said in a health committee meeting on Monday (5 December).

EU cohesion funds must keep serving long-term goals, says local admin chief

Long-term investment tools of the EU should be used for ‘strategic’ planning instead of ‘tactical’ operational targets, the president of the EU's peripheral maritime regions told EURACTIV.

Former EU health chief: Cooperation between member states still missing

The European Commission’s actions on health are just a first step, as they need to be followed by increasing the collaboration of the member states in the health field, Vytenis Andriukaitis told EURACTIV in an interview.

European Parliament President to campaign to open EU treaties

“I am going to work to get each and every government, one by one, to look at the demands that citizens have asked for,” European Parliament President Roberta Metsola told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview after the State of the...

EU army and support fund for energy crisis among new treaty reform proposal

A group of MEPs drew up a blueprint for EU reform, proposals of which include a new EU programme to support households and businesses facing rising energy and food prices and a 5,000-strong European army.

European treaties ‘aren’t set in stone’, says Scholz

Russia’s attack on Ukraine is a watershed moment likely to change the European Union in significant ways: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said he wants a more geopolitical Union, significant enlargement of the bloc and deep reforms of its institutions.

EU reform essential before Ukraine and Moldova can join the bloc, MEP says

The EU needs institutional reform before Ukraine and Moldova can join as new members, the Green MEP Daniel Freund told EURACTIV, as the EU lawmaker outlined the main priorities ahead of the next EU elections in 2024.

Historical challenges and false directions for Europe at the crossroads

Awakening after a geopolitical slumber, European leaders should have the courage to think in the categories adequate to the times we live in, writes Mateusz Morawiecki in an exclusive op-ed.

MEPs call for abortion to be a part of the EU charter of fundamental rights

Following the overturning of Roe v Wade, MEPs have voted in favour of a resolution calling for abortion to become a fundamental right in the EU - a request that adds to mounting calls for EU treaty change.

Metsola: EU ‘let itself be surprised’ by war in Ukraine

Russia's invasion of Ukraine revealed Europe's complacency and a "new paradigm" is needed, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said at the Jacques Delors Institute's annual conference on Tuesday (28 June).

Citizens, MEPs call for harmonised citizenship education across the bloc

While the debate on EU treaty changes continues, citizens and MEPs call for "shared competences" on education between the EU and member states and more harmonisation of citizenship teaching at the EU level.

EUCO: Leaders talk enlargement, give initial nod to Ukraine, Moldova

EU leaders granted the candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova at a summit in Brussels on 23 June but gave a cold shoulder to the Western Balkans'  EU aspirations.

Germany pushes to tie together enlargement and EU reform

While German Chancellor Scholz has demonstrated support for EU accession processes, he stressed on Wednesday (22 June) that enlargement must be tied to institutional reform of the EU.

MEPs could sue EU leaders if they ignore call for treaty reform

The European Parliament could sue EU leaders at the European Court of Justice for breaking treaties’ obligations if they refuse to officially react to EU lawmakers' official call for the Convention to open EU treaties, a constitutional expert told EURACTIV.

Without qualified majority voting EU enlargement has no future

Many believe introducing qualified majority would require an arduous treaty change, but this is not true. If qualified majority is not introduced in the EU enlargement decision-making, the whole process will die, write Srdjan Cvijic and Zoran Nechev.

Conference is ‘starting point’ for EU reform project

It is time to consider a change of EU treaties because the message delivered by European citizens is that "they like the European idea" but not the way the EU is functioning, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, the co-president of the European liberal party, told EURACTIV.

Health could be key to opening EU treaties

Health policy is at the heart of demands for EU treaty reform after MEPs voted on Thursday (9 June) for EU leaders to establish a constitutional convention to reopen the EU treaties.

Treaty reform is coming, but not just yet

History tells us that when it comes to pushing for EU treaty reform, the European Parliament is almost always leading the way.

To protect our freedoms, we need stronger, better government

Liberal European governments need to act to quickly the reform the structural flaws that allow illiberalism and extremism to thrive, writes Dita Charanzová.

Stop calling Putin, Estonia’s prime minister says

There is no point in talking to Vladimir Putin if we really want him to understand he is isolated, Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told EURACTIV in what can be seen as a thinly veiled criticism of French President Emmanuel Macron's largely unsuccessful phone diplomacy with Moscow.

Scholz and Macron to reignite Franco-German engine on EU-integration

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to intensify the Franco-German tandem and to lead Europe on a path of reform to enable a stronger and more sovereign EU.

Von der Leyen hints at support for EU treaty change

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hinted that she might support changes to EU treaties, should it be necessary to implement the recommendations of citizen panels from the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFoE).

Germany calls for Western Balkan enlargement, abolition of unanimity

Germany wants to use the Conference on the Future of Europe as a starting point to further develop the EU, possibly change treaties and abolish unanimity decision-making for EU foreign policy matters.

Ukraine war puts EU ‘at crossroads’ on anniversary

As the EU poises to mark its anniversary on Monday (9 May), it is morphing into a more muscular global actor, a transformation accelerated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.