The European Parliament calls for a revision of the EU Treaties

Photo of the European Parliament in Brussels, September 16, 2020. (illustration) Francisco Seco/AP Photo

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After hundreds of meetings of European citizens in the different countries of the Union, and hundreds of hours of debate in the Strasbourg Parliament, the conference on the future of Europe resulted in more than 325 proposals at the end of April reform the functioning of the EU.

Via a resolution adopted this Thursday, June 9, MEPs propose to trigger a revision of the treaties.

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With our correspondent in Brussels

,

Pierre Benazet

MEPs seize the ball and ask the Twenty-Seven to reform the Treaties, a resolution adopted this Thursday by 355 votes against 154. In their resolution, they propose to the Heads of State and Government, at the summit scheduled in two weeks, to trigger a review procedure.

Among

the many citizens' recommendations

resulting from

the conference on the future of Europe

, the abandonment of the right of veto figures prominently.

And the MEPs took up this proposal on their own.

They ask that for certain subjects, the rule of unanimity between the Member States be abandoned.

MEPs also want to see the introduction of "qualified majority" decisions for emergency situations, for the adoption of sanctions or for the establishment of "passerelle clauses", i.e. changes very specific European treaties.

Pandora's box

For MEPs, it is also necessary to include social rights in the European treaties or to expand the health powers of the EU.

Preaching for their chapel, the MEPs are also asking to give Parliament the right to initiate laws, a power exclusively reserved for the European Commission and the suggestions of the 27 governments.

Since the failure of the European Constitutional Treaty during the French and Dutch referendums of 2005, reopening treaty negotiations was tantamount to opening Pandora's box.

This Parliament resolution will make it possible to see whether the Twenty-Seven actually want to repair the European dysfunctions that they often denounce.

►Also listen

: Grand Reportage - Conference on the future of Europe, citizens want more

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  • European Union