Statement | "It's a treaty reform story, baby, just say yes"

Brussels, 21st November 2024

Key points:

  • 22 November marks one year since the European Parliament submitted its proposals for Treaty Reform to the Council, but it has yet to be put on the European Council agenda.
  • JEF calls for treaty change to be discussed and initiated by Member States without further delay.
  • Treaty reform is crucial for the Union to face the climate crisis, the full scale invasion of Ukraine, the need for strategic autonomy and in view of upcoming enlargements.

It has been exactly one year since the Parliament initiated the Treaty Change procedure by submitting a package of proposals to the Council; and almost two since EU citizens clearly expressed the need for it at the Conference on the Future of Europe. Members of the European Parliaments (MEPs), civil society, and even the European Commission’s President mentioned the need for treaty reform during her candidacy speech, and yet, there has been no progress. 

“The citizen and the Parliament’s call cannot remain unanswered. Treaty reform is needed for our union to face the ever more challenging international environment, better cater to its citizens and prepare itself in parallel to enlargement” explains Christelle Savall, President of the Young European Federalists (JEF Europe).

Since the EU Council transmitted it to the European Council in December 2023, the topic has not yet been discussed on agenda by the Heads of State and Government and was not clearly stated in their EU strategic agenda for 2024-2029.

The more than 5,000 proposals and 1.5 million votes of young people on our EurHope pre-election consultation shows young people support deep Union-wide reform with clear demands, many of which require treaty change. Amongst those, we find strengthening a sovereign EU voice in diplomacy and EU action on inclusive and harmonised healthcare systems.

As we reached 1,000 days of full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia and as Donald Trump is returning to the White House, the case for a more autonomous Union able to take swift decisions without vetoes and intergovernmentalism only strengthens.

The change of European Council President is a new opportunity to start the process and JEF calls on António Costa to finally put treaty change on the European Council Agenda of 19 December.

Treaty Change is a chance to strengthen the EU,  making it more democratic, expand the protection of human rights, give more power to the European Parliament so that citizens are closer to the EU decision-making processes, as well as to improve healthcare, education, and social care.

To build a EU ready to face the challenges of the present and deliver on the promises of the future, and as reiterated by the Platform cooperation statement yesterday, Treaty change is required. Let’s write our federal future!

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 37 countries.

Read more:

Contact information

Christelle Savall, President and EurHope coordinator

Young European Federalists
Rue des Deux Églises 14
1000 Brussels

president@jef.eu