Brussels, 22 October

 

Key Takeaways: 

 

• The European Parliament adopted the Gozi Report (310 votes in favour), addressing how EU institutions must adapt for future enlargement.
• The report proposes moving from unanimity to qualified majority voting in enlargement steps and Article 7 procedures to speed up decisions and strengthen the rule of law.
•  It calls for giving Parliament a full right of legislative initiative, harmonised election rules, and co-legislative powers on expenditure to boost democratic legitimacy.
•  Implementation relies on mechanisms like the Passerelle Clause and targeted treaty changes — an approach that is insufficient for deep institutional reform.
• JEF Europe welcomes steps toward faster enlargement but rejects ideas of a “two-class EU” with differentiated voting rights for new members.  We call for courageous treaty change and substantial reforms to prepare the Union for the future.
• JEF Europe also calls on the European Council to fulfill its obligations and proceed with the article 48 procedure and move forward and call a convention to reform the treaties.

 

Today, the European Parliament adopted the Gozi Report on the Institutional Consequences of EU Enlargement with 310 votes in favour. The report explores how EU institutions should adapt to stay effective and legitimate as the Union enlarges, following calls from the European Council and Commission for internal reform. Initiated by former Spinelli Group Chair and AFCO Rapporteur Sandro Gozi, it aims to address the deadlock caused by unanimity in key policy areas. 

The proposal suggests replacing unanimity with qualified majority voting during intermediate steps of enlargement to speed up the process and reduce enlargement fatigue. It also calls for removing unanimity in the Article 7 procedure on the suspension of voting rights of a member state in case of rule of law violations, by making the European Court of Justice  the arbiter of violations. Having advocated for this change, JEF Europe welcomes it as a necessary step to increase the EU’s capability to act against rule of law violations more swiftly and decisively.

The report aims to strengthen Parliament by granting it full legislative initiative, harmonising election rules, and giving it co-legislative powers on expenditure, reinforcing its role as an equal legislator and representative of European citizens. Implementation would use existing mechanisms like the Passerelle Clause and targeted treaty changes.

The proposal stresses that enlargement and institutional reform are mutually reinforcing and warns that inaction would lead to paralysis and weaker legitimacy. The original text also reminded the Council to act on its Article 48 obligations on the ordinary Treaty reform procedure, but JEF Europe regrets deeply that the Parliament voted to exclude this paragraph, effectively rejecting its own recommendation.

JEF Europe welcomes the Parliament’s decision to accelerate enlargement and strengthen democracy, noting that abolishing unanimity will make decision-making more flexible.

JEF Europe President Christelle Savall comments: “While the Parliament by adopting this proposal recognised rightfully the importance of speeding up the enlargement process and strengthening the democratic legitimacy of the European Parliament, it is now up to the European Council to fulfill its obligation under Article 48 and initiate the convention to reform the treaties.  

JEF Europe remains equally worried about current discussions in the institutions on welcoming countries in the EU without full voting rights – which would be against the spirit of the treaties and the Europe we strive for. We don’t need a two class EU to make up for outdated treaties but actual upgrade treaties and implement substantial reforms!

About JEF Europe
The Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) is a political youth NGO advocating for the creation of a democratic European federation as a guarantee for peace, the rule of law and human rights. JEF Europe promotes true European citizenship, works for the widening and deepening of the European Union and strives for a more just and integrated society on the European continent. Established in 1972, the organisation has more than 10,000 activists organised in over 300 national, regional and local sections in 35 countries. 

 

Further reading: 

• Calling for a European Constituent Assembly – JEF Europe
• For a More Federal European Union: Ensuring a Democratic Treaty Change and Constitutional Amendment Process – JEF Europe
• Towards truly European Elections through a renewed European Electoral Act – JEF Europe
• The Structure of the Federal Parliament of Europe – JEF Europe
• From a multi-speed Europe to a Federal Europe – JEF Europe
• Treaty Change – JEF Europe

 

Contact: 

Christelle Savall
President
Young European Federalists (JEF Europe)
president@jef.eu