The European Union must be given more powers and become more decisive. EU politicians should also be given more power and sometimes the veto right of EU countries should be abolished. That is why some European treaties should be revised, according to the European Parliament.
On Thursday, the European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling on member states to work on such innovation and to convene a conference about it. For example, the MEPs want to get rid of the veto right of government leaders when it comes to sanctions or emergency situations. Now all EU countries must agree on that – unanimity.
Things have to change not only in the decision-making process between the ministers and the EU countries, but also in the European Parliament. For example, the parliamentarians want them to be able to submit, amend or withdraw laws themselves. As a result, more power lies with the politicians and they become part of the legislative process.
Parliament's resolution stems from the Conference on the Future of Europe, in which extensive discussions were held with governments, citizens and organizations about how to proceed with the European project. The heads of state or government of the 27 member states will meet on 23 and 24 June. According to the EP, during this EU summit, decisions must be made about modernizing the EU.
The Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt (Open VLD) said that, partly due to the current unanimity rule, it took three months to come to sanctions against Russia.
It is known that French President Macron previously argued for the modernization of the EU, and also wants to expand the range of tasks in the economic and industrial field. In addition, he wants more say for the ministers, and less for EU bodies.
Macron is also known to only discuss the admission of new member states 'after the EU has its own house in order'. At the EU summit at the end of this month, mainly because of the Russian war against Ukraine, the membership procedures for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia will be on the agenda.
Those are not the only countries that want to join the EU. Turkey has been a candidate country for 23 years, as have Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Albania. In addition, there are potential candidate countries of Kosovo and Bosnia-Herzegovina. They are one step further away from a membership.