EU Reforms
Franco-German relation faces familiar challenge ahead of Macron’s Germany trip
Est. 4minApproaching the first official state visit of a French president to Germany in 24 years, the Franco-German engine is again struggling to design a framework for the EU of the future, but upcoming national elections add unprecedented urgency to their task.
EU ministers, candidate countries kickstart rule of law reform talks
Est. 5minEuropean affairs ministers and their counterparts from EU candidate countries started talks on Tuesday (30 April) on how to strengthen the rule of law both within the bloc and in countries seeking to join it.
The Brief – The treaty change window slams shut
Est. 5minIn theory, political convention requires the leaders of the EU27 to decide on whether to open a new convention on EU treaty reform after the European Parliament formally demanded one. In practice, however, treaty reform was not on the agenda at …
It’s time for a European Constituent Moment
Est. 3minNational leaders must agree to open a new European convention to reform the EU treaties and deliver on the recommendations made by the Conference on the Future of Europe.
EU Parliament agrees major overhaul of committee and law-making functions
Est. 6minThe European Parliament adopted a wide package of reforms of its internal rules covering the legislative process, scrutiny activities and budgetary functions a senior official from the European Parliament confirmed to Euractiv on Thursday (7 December).
The little-noticed vote to change the EU treaties
Est. 9minDear readers, Welcome to EU Politics Decoded where Benjamin Fox and Eleonora Vasques will bring you a round-up of the latest political news in Europe and beyond every Thursday. In this edition, we look at how MEPs quietly voted …
The Brief – Germany must ramp up its dedication to reform the EU
Est. 5minThere seems to be a broad consensus among EU countries that enlargement has become a geopolitical necessity. However, the corresponding discussion on reforming the bloc ahead of admitting new members never seems to get off the ground - for which Germany is partly to blame.
LEAK: European Parliament gets ready to shake up internal committee structure
Est. 6minThe European Parliament secretariat has prepared a ‘reflection paper’ - exclusively seen by Euractiv - addressed to political groups with concrete examples on how to reshape the Parliament’s committees in the next legislative mandate.
Polish election outcome could boost EU reform prospects, expert says
Est. 4minThe likelihood of a new pro-European government in Warsaw has brightened the prospects for the twin project of EU enlargement and reform, one of the experts behind the recent Franco-German enlargement report said, but warned change may still be a long way off.
EU needs a counterbalance to integration drive, say leading conservatives
Est. 4minThe EU should focus on doing less but doing it better, leading conservatives concluded following a two-day summit of young delegates in Brussels this week, as they seek to counter the push towards more EU integration.
Germany, France make EU reform pitch ahead of enlargement talks
Est. 5minA Franco-German expert report on how to best reform the EU to prepare it for the accession of future members is expected to be submitted to European affairs ministers on Tuesday (19 September). The report, prepared by a group of twelve …
EU reform: France, Germany confident on reaching agreement this year
Est. 5minThe French and German ministers of state for Europe, Laurence Boone and Anna Lührmann, emphasised in an exclusive interview with EURACTIV that the two countries are confident that partial institutional reform of the EU will be possible within this year.
Kyiv MP: Ukraine needs EU membership timeline to accelerate reform process
Est. 6minOne year after EU governments backed Ukraine’s status as a candidate to join the bloc, Kira Rudik, a senior lawmaker in Kyiv, says that the country is on track for EU accession - but it needs political support from the bloc as much as ever.
Scholz pushes to strengthen EU’s ability to fight rule of law violations
Est. 6minAddressing the EU lawmakers on Tuesday (9 May), German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stressed the need to reform the bloc, particularly if it wants to continue enlarging, and strengthen the European Commission's ability to bring member states to court over rule of law violations.
The Brief — Have a pastEUs de nata!
Est. 6minThe perfect way to celebrate tomorrow's Europe Day is to eat a centuries-old Portuguese delicacy that has an unsuspecting link with a foundational moment of the EU’s integration process.
Pro-Europeans must advocate a radical vision for EU reform
Est. 5minWith almost fifteen years passed since the entry into force of the EU's current treaties, every day there is new evidence that an update and adaptation is needed, writes Guy Verhofstadt. Guy Verhofstadt is an MEP for Renew Europe, co-chair of …
The Brief — Time for an EU treaty spring clean
Est. 6minFew topics in European politics are as unsexy as EU treaty reform. Yet two years ago, it was briefly back in fashion. A majority of national governments, including Germany and France, the EU’s engine room, gave their backing for treaty reform. Emmanuel Macron, then still something of a European poster boy, was the main cheerleader.
The (bad) politics of the pact
Est. 8minDear readers, Welcome to EU Politics Decoded where Benjamin Fox and Eleonora Vasques bring you a round-up of the latest political news in Europe and beyond every Thursday. In this edition, we look at why national politics looks like it will stymie reform of the …
Morawiecki and Meloni’s Europe is destined to fail
Est. 6minDear readers, Welcome to EU Politics Decoded where Benjamin Fox and Eleonora Vasques bring you a round-up of the latest political news in Europe and beyond every Thursday. In this edition, we look at why there is not much that is new about the alternative …
Asset declarations and limits on second jobs needed, say EU lawmakers
Est. 3minEU lawmakers have made a series of new demands for the revamp of the European Parliament’s transparency regime including mandatory asset declarations and financial sanctions for code of conduct breaches.
Many actions can be taken on health before changing treaties, say MEPs
Est. 3minThere 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
Est. 5minLong-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
Est. 4minThe 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 …