EU’s institutional setup must be revised and made fit for purpose through Treaty change in preparation for future enlargement

The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament welcomes today’s joint adoption by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) of the report on deepening EU integration in view of future enlargement, calling for a robust monitoring mechanism for the reforms and progress made by the candidate countries.

At the same time, our political group asked for the setting up of a specific and effective monitoring mechanism for protecting fundamental values and the financial interests of the Union in the context of accession procedures. Reinforcing the European Parliament’s decision-making and scrutiny rights, as well as a fundamental reform of the Union’s policies and decision-making to prepare the EU for enlargement, are urgent steps to be implemented.

Renew Europe MEP, Petras Auštrevičius (Lithuanian Liberal Movement), AFET rapporteur on this file said:

“Enlargement is a geostrategic project of the Union, making a whole and free Europe a reality. The report rightly emphasises that, throughout the EU accession process, candidate countries must be judged on their merits, achievements and reforms, with an emphasis on democratic criteria and alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, which is all the more urgent in the light of Russia’s war of aggression. In adopting this report, we firmly believe that enlargement will bring further impetus to a global Europe and more economic and cultural opportunities for all Europeans.”

Renew Europe MEP, Sandro Gozi (L’Europe Ensemble, France), AFCO shadow rapporteur, believes that the deepening and enlargement of the EU must go hand in hand:

“This report embodies our effort to pursue a key strategy for Europe: reforming the Union to unify the continent. While enlargement is a fundamental political engagement to our neighbours and a long-term investment in our security, our Union is barely adapted for 27 Members and is not ready to absorb new countries. Treaty change and the deep overhaul of our common policies represent an inevitable step if we want the Union to rise to this historical occasion.”