MEPs call for a first set of specific changes to the European Union’s founding documents, to ensure citizens’ expectations will be met. Throughout the 12 months of the Conference on the Future of Europe, a few key areas of institutional reform were brought up, such as the abolition of unanimity voting in the Council in most areas, and the expansion of EU powers in health and energy, among others. Opening statement by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

future of the European Union (T)

ŠUICA, Dubravka (EPP, HR, EC)

conference on the future of Europe (T)

The call for a Convention for the revision of the Treaties: opening statement by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka &Scaron;UICA, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Democracy and Demography, You know that in the Conference on the Future of Europe, we have given our citizens a central role. We have heard their voice, and now it's up to each institution to deliver on the follow up of the conference. According to the commitments made in the Joint Declaration at the beginning of the Conference, follow up is a shared responsibility. The Commission is ready to play its part in turning proposals into concrete action next week.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Democracy and Demography, Already the Commission is putting forward a communication that charts out the way for the follow up of the Conference outcome in areas that fall under the Commission's remit. There is already a lot that the institutions can do and some of the proposals can be implemented rather swiftly. The first new Commission proposal responding to the final report will be announced by the presidents von der Leyen in her State of the Union address in September already.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Democracy and Demography, Recent examples show that even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic or a war, Europe is able to deliver on areas that are not explicitly foreseen in the treaties. We have procured billions of vaccines in Europe for Europeans and worked on kickstarting the economy through NextGenerationEU, to mention just two examples. Beyond this, we could go further. As you say in your resolution, Europe could play a greater role, for example, in health and in defence and in some key areas.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Democracy and Demography, Unanimity voting does not make sense and we need to be able to move faster. The European Parliament is now on the path to use its powers to call for treaty change and the Commission is ready to play its part. We have to find the most direct way to follow up on the conclusions of the Conference, either by using the full limits of what can be done within the treaties,or if needed, changing the treaties where necessary. And now it is delivery time. That's all for the beginning. Thank you.