About: EU reform
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.
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.
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.
Macron wants to ‘adapt’ EU Farm to Fork to the post-Ukraine war world
France's agriculture sector will aim for "agricultural independence", prioritising productivity over sustainable farming goals in the EU's Green Deal to cope with a post-Ukraine war Europe, French President Emmanuel Macron told a press conference Thursday (17 March).
Climate change is citizens’ main priority in EU reform agenda
Forty-four per cent of Europeans believe that climate change should be a priority topic at the Conference on the Future of Europe, according to a new Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament and the European Commission.
Too much democracy can be dangerous
The Conference on the Future of Europe prides itself on giving as many participants as possible a chance to speak. Unfortunately, this horizontal nature of the debate eliminates meaningful discussion of Europe’s future, writes Kaspar Schultz.
What Germany has in store for Europe in 2022
The new German government has made reforming the EU, as well as its own economy and society, one of its top priorities. This year will show how fast and how much the ruling coalition wants to move and how well it will coordinate with its key ally France along the way.
Germany’s new government bets on inaugural trips to help bolster EU’s key role
Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, sworn in as Germany's new chancellor on Wednesday (8 December), will already be embarking on a series of inaugural visits across Europe, accompanied by his foreign minister, Green co-leader Annalena Baerbock
Boosting EU’s democratic legitimacy: Parliament seeks electoral reforms
In a new European Parliament resolution, adopted this week, EU lawmakers called for reforms, including lowering the voting age, transnational lists, and gender balance rules, ahead of the next European elections in 2024.
Linn Selle: Coronavirus may have a long impact on German presidency
There are only a few months left until Germany will take over the EU Presidency. But the ongoing corona crisis could really upset the plans, says the president of the European Movement Germany. What can the EU actually do in these turbulent times?
OECD calls on members to speed up reforms, focus on innovation
In its annual growth report, the OECD painted a gloomy picture: rising inequalities, slowing growth and strong headwinds for the global market economy, notably because of trade wars. EURACTIV Germany summarised the OECD's recommendations for Europe.
Ciolos: Romanian PSD government can only be trusted after it resigns
In an exclusive interview, the former Romanian prime minister and former European Commissioner, Dacian Cioloș, said his newly-formed political force will be able to tap into a reformist wave that will change his country - and help change the EU.
France is no longer taking Germany seriously
Official German politics has shown a professionally arrogant disregard for Emmanuel Macron's reform ideas. Now the French president is retaliating. EURACTIV’s media partner Der Tagesspiegel reports.
ECR’s Zahradil: Orban is happy where he is in the EPP
European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) will not only survive the loss of their UK MEPs this year but hope to be even stronger after the European elections in May, Jan Zahradil, the ECR's Spitzenkandidat, said during a debate organised by the Union of European Federalists (UEF) in Brussels last week.
Macron to face domestic questions at EU’s Brexit summit
French President Emmanuel Macron will undoubtedly need to answer a number of domestic questions at the EU summit in Brussels on Sunday (25 November), expected to endorse the Brexit deal.
Offering Macron a stage is not enough
French President Emmanuel Macron gave a speech in the German Bundestag – but this will not bring him any closer to his idea of Europe. A commentary piece by Albrecht Meier, correspondent in the Berlin office of EURACTIV Germany’s media partner Der Tagesspiegel.
Merkel’s move poses risk of paralysis for the EU, analysts say
As Europe's most powerful leader, Angela Merkel's decision to quit as German chancellor in 2021 spells uncertainty and possibly paralysis for the EU as populists rally, diplomats and analysts warn.
EU security must no longer depend on US, says Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (27 August) called for Europe to stop relying on the United States for its military defence as he pushed for fresh EU integration in the face of rising nationalism around the continent.
Macron to renew plea for closer Europe
With nine months to go before European Parliament elections, French President Emmanuel Macron will on Monday (27 August) renew his plea for a more integrated EU, against a global wave of nationalism.
France to help Serbia’s accession to EU, reforms needed beforehand
Paris wants to help Serbia solve its most delicate issues en route to the EU, French President Emmanuel Macron has told his Serbian counterpart. But Macron also said that both Serbia and the EU have to be reformed before any further EU enlargement. EURACTIV.rs reports.
En Marche aiming to take out the EPP
Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the liberal ALDE group and Belgium's former prime minister, took part in the launch of the Grand March for Europe in Brussels, whose aim is to listen to citizens but also to challenge traditional European political groups. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Blair: Reformed EU would help prevent Brexit
Tony Blair today implored European leaders to reform the EU in a bid to persuade British people to change their mind on Brexit.
Slovak state secretary: I am a strong advocate for a communitarian EU
A push towards more intergovernmental decision making in the EU has never been a topic of discussion in the Visegrad format, state secretary for European affairs Ivan Korčok told EURACTIV Slovakia.