With the Conference on the Future of Europe, Europeans chose a new path: a stronger, more democratic and ready-to-act Europe

DELFI / Šarūnas Mažeika

The last decade has shown that we cannot continue moving from one crisis to another. Europe must prevent crises rather than react to them. We know that Putin, China and the world are not waiting for Europe to be ready. Europe has to act now. In order to do so, the Conference on the Future of Europe proposes far-reaching policy proposals based on ideas and proposals from tens of thousands of Europeans.

Putin’s unjustified and barbaric invasion of Ukraine was a wake-up call for Europe. The Kyiv moment has interrupted some sleepwalkers’ dreams. Who, if not we Europeans, will defend our way of life?

We must act quickly on the global stage: that is why we should stop using unanimity voting in main policy fields, especially in foreign policy. One country alone should not be able to block a whole continent.

We need joint armed forces within NATO. In particular, we need European solutions against modern warfare. Europeans ask us for stronger cybersecurity by strengthening Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre in order to build up joint European cyber defence capabilities.

Europe has to protect its external borders. Europe, not smugglers,  should decide who enters Europe. To do this, we have to support and strengthen our European border and coast guards.

Manfred Weber
Reuters / Scanpix

A pandemic, disruption in global supply chains, skyrocketing energy prices, inflation and the growing threat of climate change. In spite of all this, we delivered the Covid-19 vaccine, developed in record time and with immense possibilities for future applications.

Talking about the future of Europe especially means focusing on the young generation. Strengthening exchange programmes such as Erasmus and DiscoverEU is a clear priority. But leaving one’s country should be a choice, not the only option left. We must do more to prevent brain drain by providing affordable housing to young people and enabling them to start their lives.

We should do everything in our power to avoid a lost generation. Our youth needs quality jobs. For this, we need to create a healthy business environment, where our firms and SMEs can thrive. We propose the introduction of an ’EU competitiveness check‘ of all new EU policy initiatives to analyse their impact on companies. We must also conclude new ambitious trade agreements and fully implement existing ones: we should expand on our idea of the single market and establish a global single market for the free world.

Most importantly, the future of Europe should be decided by European citizens. This starts with citizens having a say on who leads our Union. They deserve clarity on who is accountable in Europe. That is why we must either reinforce the lead candidate system or we could be even bolder and establish the direct election of the European Commission President.

MEP Kubilius at the Neighbourhood East Forum

Strengthening parliamentary democracy in Europe is another priority for citizens around Europe. The Conference calls for a right of legislative initiative, full budgetary powers and a reinforced right of inquiry. This also means enhancing the role of national parliaments with an improved system to monitor the subsidiarity principle and the possibility of suggesting a legislative initiative.

But no positive reform will lead to any results unless Europe is capable to act swiftly to actually deliver on the political commitments. In key areas, such as border protection, we believe the EU must have direct implementation power on the ground. We need actions, not endless discussion behind closed doors. Europe must be there when there is clear added value. We want a strong Europe, not a European superstate. That is why we need a competence check to identify which policy fields can be transferred back to the national or regional level, upholding the principle of subsidiarity. For the EPP Group, it is clear: the results of the Conference must see the light, not in the distant future, but now! We call for a new European Convention to reform the Treaties when current means are not enough. Europeans are going through one of the most difficult times in European history. We, as Christian Democrats, will not shy away from this crucial moment: as our founding fathers, we must be bold, we must be brave, and we must make Europe stronger.

EPP Lithuanian office
EPP Lithuanian Office
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