"The new Commission College must embrace European renewal"

European liberals, democrats and centrists, meeting in Ostend, have this morning adopted a declaration setting out key political priorities for the forthcoming hearings of candidate European Commissioners and the first 100 days of the incoming European Commission.

The ‘Ostend declaration’ details our expectations for parliamentary hearings of prospective candidates, centred on adherence to both the letter and the spirit of the Treaties. We will expect utmost competence from candidates, a firm belief in the further integration of the EU as a political project, independence from national Member States, commitment to reform and Parliamentary scrutiny. We will expect Commissioner-candidates to show pro-active commitment in defending the EU values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the conventions to which the EU is party.

Draghi's plan: Just do it!
Renew Europe calls on the European Commission to embrace the Draghi report without any delay in order to kick-start European Competitiveness. Our group is deeply committed and willing to turn the Draghi report into concrete proposals.

President of Renew Europe, Valérie Hayer, said:

"European Commissioners are required to put the European interest first; we want visionaries, dreamers and doers. Mrs von der Leyen’s new Commission must embrace European renewal.

This is why we expect the candidates to go beyond the requirements of the European Treaties and prove their commitment to European integration and values, in every sense. There are no job vacancies for populists, nationalists or the uninspired."

The declaration also sets out the priorities of liberals and democrats for the first one hundred days of the European Commission. Our criteria for the first 100 days policy platform of the new Commission are prosperity, liberty and security. Europe must finally take its destiny into its own hands.

Valérie Hayer commented:

"Europe needs a renewed economic model to prosper and to succeed in this we need bold reform. The incoming European Commission must become a job-making machine. Democratic backsliding in Europe has to end and this demands a European Commission that actively defends liberal democracy, at home and abroad. The fundamental rights and freedoms of Europeans need to be protected and extended, in the face of corruption and attacks on democratic institutions from political extremists.

What needs to be done to enhance European security is clear, but we need a European Commission with the political will to do it. Our first priority remains to speed up and reinforce military support to Ukraine, because their freedom is our security. Peace in Europe is precious and it demands an EU that can protect its citizens. Europe must finally take its destiny into its own hands."

Note to editors:

Please read the Ostend declaration here.