With enlargement of the European Union on the horizon for 2030, “Europe must do its own homework” by reforming its internal workings to accommodate new member countries, said the President of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), Oliver Röpke, on Wednesday 24 January to a group of journalists.
Mr Röpke believes that “the current rules are not adapted”, in particular the decision-making procedure at EU level, which in his view has “reached its limits”. He called for an end to the “unanimity” of Member States required in the EU Council for certain policies, such as foreign affairs and taxation. And he said he was ready to take part in the debate on the future of the Union within the framework of a Convention that should “involve civil society”.
The EESC President also pointed out that some possible measures do not require a reform of the European treaties. He mentioned, for example, ongoing discussions with the European Parliament on a new Memorandum of Understanding which will enable Committee members to present the EESC’s position on certain issues and MEPs to take part in the EESC’s deliberations.
EP2024. Asked how the Committee intended to get involved in the run-up to the European elections in June 2024, Mr Röpke announced that, in addition to taking part in the electoral debates in the Member States, a European gathering would be held in early March to make the voice of civil society heard (see EUROPE 13299/42). Projects to combat disinformation are underway in Bulgaria, and we will be visiting Moldova to promote media independence, he added.
As for the fear of far-right parties taking up many seats in the future European Parliament, he said he was “optimistic” about the resilience of democracies, citing the examples of Poland and Spain.
Enlargement. On enlargement, Mr Röpke said that, at the February plenary session, the Committee would announce the list of representatives of civil society and the social partners from all the countries officially applying for EU membership, who would join the delegations already involved in the EESC’s work.
The Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, and the Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milojko Spajić, may also take part in this plenary session.
Water. The Committee chairman also pointed out that the European body advocates a holistic approach to managing water issues (see EUROPE 13282/14).
“There are rules under ‘Green Deal’ but what we don’t see is a comprehensive strategy”, he said. In his view, we don’t need more resources to tackle this issue, but a better concentration of those already available. And to recommend the creation of a portfolio of European commissioners responsible for water management within the future Commission.
At the beginning of 2024, Franco-Spaniard Isabel Le Galo Flores became the first woman to hold the post of EESC Secretary General (see EUROPE 13317/26). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)