The Danish Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, warned MEPs, on Wednesday 16 July, that there was no unanimity among Member States to go ahead with a revision of the European Treaties or an ambitious reform of the European Union’s Electoral Law.
Revising the Treaties is a “complex process” that is uncertain and divisive, and, in the current geopolitical situation, “we don’t have the necessary support among Member States to commence institutional discussions”, said Ms Bjerre, presenting the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the EU Council to the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO).
She advocated working without amending the Treaties to improve the functioning of the EU. “Our responses to crises have shown how far we can come within the existing treaties when we stand united”, said the minister, convinced that “the Treaties have proved their flexibility”. She also acknowledged that there was no unanimity in the EU Council to activate the “passerelle” clauses that would allow a switch from unanimity to qualified majority voting by Member States in 67 cases (see EUROPE 12996/18).
The Danish Presidency will continue work on internal reform of the EU in four areas - fundamental values, common policies, budget and governance - in order to prepare the Union for future enlargement and current challenges (see EUROPE 13669/17).
In response to questions from Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, Spanish) and Charlie Weimers (ECR, Sweden), Ms Bjerre repeatedly stressed the importance of preserving the rule of law and strengthening the link between respect for the EU’s fundamental values and the disbursement of European funds. “Without Treaty reform, you won’t get there”, retorted Sandro Gozi (Renew Europe, Italian). And he pointed out that, to initiate institutional reform, “a simple majority” of Member States is required.
To Marieke Ehlers (PfE, Dutch), for whom the Danish opt-out in the area of migration allows Copenhagen to pursue a strict policy, the minister did not recommend this route. “We need the EU in order to be stronger in terms of security, migration and competitiveness”, she stressed, noting that the Danes were “much more pro-European than before”.
As for the reform of the 2022 Electoral Law, blocked in the Council (see EUROPE 13293/24), Adrían Vázquez Lázara (EPP, Spanish) criticised the Spanish government for still blocking the implementation of the 2018 reform because of minority separatist parties supporting the ‘Sánchez’ government. Ms Bjerre admitted that one Member State is absent.
Sven Simon (EPP, German), AFCO Chair, asked whether the Council could adopt a “small amendment” to the legislative text to exclude Spain from the scope of application on the issue of the national threshold of votes required to be elected as an MEP. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)