About: Federalism
German states claim sole responsibility for coronavirus regulation, sidelining federal government
At the weekend, the leader of Thuringia announced plans to end coronavirus restrictions in the eastern German state and replace them with local measures. Saxony voiced its support for the idea, while other states quickly condemned the move, possibly heralding the end the country's relatively harmonious federal coronavirus cooperation. EURACTIV Germany reports.
The Brief – Brok scores own goal in the federalist camp
If you've ever wondered what would be the equivalent of an own goal in EU politics, here is a recent example.
Varoufakis tells Macron to adopt the ‘empty-chair’ tactic
Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis supports Macron’s federalist proposals on the euro single currency but believes only a real threat could make Germany budge on the issue. EURACTIV France reports.
EU grandees map trail for restoring citizens’ trust ahead of 2019 elections
Against the backdrop of yet another EU political crisis, this time with Catalonia seeking independence, opinion makers and decision makers in Brussels have tried to sketch a plan for rebutting populist pressures and restore trust in the European Union
Maystadt: Consensus quietly growing for eurozone budget
A consensus has emerged in Germany, France and Italy over the need to create a eurozone budget, according to Belgium’s former Minister of Finance, Philippe Maystadt. But the popularity of anti-European parties is blocking progress. EURACTIV France reports.
Profile: Louis de Gouyon Matignon, the ‘Maastricht Generation’ in EU politics
Louis de Gouyon Matignon is a young French candidate in the EU elections and a self-proclaimed advocate of Roma and Traveller rights. He is profiled in the third part of a series looking at the French election candidates, by EURACTIV France.
Verhofstadt ‘is barking at the moon’, says fellow liberal Bolkestein
The Dutch liberal politician and former EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein has launched a scathing attack against Guy Verhofstadt, who leads the liberal and pro-European ALDE group in the European Parliament, highlighting tensions within the liberal family ahead of next year's EU elections.
French ex-president: EU needs to regain credibility among citizens
Former French President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing has called on EU leaders to put forward a vision for Europe to inspire citizens, boost confidence and develop a shared sense of belonging.
Goulard: German liberals were punished for abandoning the EU
French liberal MEP Sylvie Goulard said that the German liberal FDP party, which failed to pass the 5% threshold for returning to the Bundestag in last Sunday’s elections, had been punished for “having lost their European commitment”.
Barroso: More EU integration ‘indispensable for our economy’
The European Union and the eurozone have already taken important federalist steps to counter the debt crisis, which go beyond mere economic governance, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said yesterday (22 April) at the 2013 Think Tank Dialogue.
Forget the United States of Europe, French ex-minister says
EXCLUSIVE / The European Union will never receive enough public support for federalism and so should abandon the idea of a United States-inspired superstate, says the influential French Socialist former minister Hubert Védrine.
Merkel preaches federalism to MEPs, warns Britain against EU exit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a strong federalist speech in the European Parliament yesterday (7 November) before leaving for London, where she urged Prime Minister David Cameron not to turn his back on Europe and work with her to avoid deadlock at European Union budget talks later this month.
Czech president rejects Barroso’s EU ‘federation’ plan
Eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus has flatly rejected a proposal by EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso for a major transformation of the European Union into a "federation of nation states", according to Czech press reports.
Barroso: ‘We will need to move towards a federation of nation states’
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso delivered today (12 September) his State of the Union speech, passionately pleading for launching a wide-ranging public debate for a major transformation of the European Union into a "federation of nation states".
Federalist warms up to Europe at two speeds
Liberal MEP Andrew Duff, a leading federalist, is urging EU leaders at their 28-29 June summit to consider building a political union with, “at least initially”, a core group of countries forming a vanguard under a new treaty.
Barroso prepares calendar for ‘more EU integration’
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has said he will propose a roadmap and "calendar" for more European integration at the next summit of EU leaders on 28-29 June, without discarding the possibility of a treaty change aimed at injecting more federalism into the Union.
Attali: A federal Europe is the only way out of the crisis
?The only way to save the euro and get Europe out its financial crisis while maintaining people’s living standards is to have a more integrated union, the economist Jacques Attali said in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV.
François Bayrou: Toning down his Euro-federalism
As part of an ongoing series, EURACTIV France is profiling leading candidates in the 2012 French presidential elections, analysing in detail what their political action, programmes and policies mean for the European Union. François Bayrou, the centrist candidate of the Democratic Movement, stresses the national responsibility for fiscal discipline and the European Union’s potential to affirm France’s place in the world, toning down his usual strong Euro-federalist rhetoric.
Federalist MEP: EU needs ‘solidarity union’
The proposed 'fiscal compact' treaty currently being negotiated overly emphasises austerity and is insufficient to exit the economic difficulties, says Jo Leinen, a social democratic MEP from Germany. But the unprecedented attention brought to the EU by the crisis also presents an opportunity for European federalists to make their case to the public, he says.
Federalists want ‘people agora’ to decide EU future
Participants in a 'shadow summit' hosted yesterday (8 December) by the federalist Spinelli Group said they were "fed up" with the secretive political deals of EU leaders and called for a convention to map out a new vision for Europe.
Liberal MEP suggests ‘second-class membership’ for UK
Andrew Duff, a British Liberal MEP and leader of the Union of European Federalists, has called for a genuine 'fiscal union' and greater EU integration, explicitly saying that opt-outs should be made possible for more Eurosceptic countries like the United Kingdom.
Federalists in attempt to upgrade Lisbon Treaty
Leading MEP Andrew Duff has tabled "federalist" proposals to enable future EU treaty revisions to be made with a four-fifths majority of member states, in a bid to bypass the UK's 'referendum lock' on any further treaty amendments.
Spinelli Group preaches federalism to parliaments, media
A recently-established federalist body, the Spinelli Group, invited all its members to the European Parliament for the first time yesterday (12 January) for a debate on how to bring forward greater unity between Europeans.