The common position on the Conference on the Future of the European Union, which Germany and France have transmitted to their counterparts, is rather well received in the European Parliament, insofar as the two Member States do not exclude an ambitious outcome of work that could lead to institutional reform.
“It is positive that the Franco-German document does not exclude treaty changes”, said a source from the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on Tuesday 26 November.
Daniel Freund (Greens/EFA, Germany) said it was “positive” that Berlin and Paris were taking a stand on this work and, in particular, that Germany was “open to a real reform of the EU”. He considered the document to be “very close” to the positions defended by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) (see EUROPE 12375/7, 12372/4).
It remains to be seen how the other Member States will react. Their ambassadors to the EU will discuss the establishment of the Conference at breakfast on Wednesday 27 November.
According to the Franco-German document, of which EUROPE has received a copy, the Conference should address all sectoral issues enabling the EU to be “more united and sovereign”, such as security, the digital age, the climate or the social market economy. Work should proceed in blocks of expertise and identify the “main reforms” to be carried out, including “possible treaty changes”.
On the organisational level, Germany and France are embracing the idea of developing a “common mandate” for future work through the signing of an interinstitutional agreement in early 2020. All stakeholders at European and national level, including European citizens, will be closely involved.
As for the timetable, the Franco-German position, first disclosed by Politico, identifies the two phases already known: – to reach proposals by summer 2020 on a renewal of European democracy (electoral process, transnational lists and top candidates); – from mid-2020 (start of the German EU Council Presidency) to early 2022 (start of the French Council Presidency), focus on European policies.
This process could even start as early as the December EU summit, Berlin and Paris say, for whom EU leaders could have a first discussion on the occasion.
Only one European Parliament resolution in January
In the European Parliament, the decision was taken to bring together the work of the AFCO Committee on the principles that should underpin the Conference and that of the specific working group led by European Parliament President David Sassoli.
MEPs will adopt only one resolution at the January plenary session.
The broadest possible involvement of citizens, which is essential in the eyes of the vast majority of political groups, is a challenge in terms of organisation and deadlines. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)