Liebe Europäer*innen,

 

Abschaffung nationaler Vetos, Initiativrecht für das Europaparlament, mehr EU-Investitionen in Klima und Soziales, eine ambitionierte Reform der EU-Agrarpolitik: am Dienstagabend hat sich das Präsidium (Executive Board) der EU-Zukunftskonferenz auf ein umfassendes Paket von Reformvorschlägen für die EU geeinigt. Das finale Papier umfasst insgesamt 49 Vorschläge mit mehr als 200 konkreten Maßnahmen. Eine ganze Reihe davon erfordern für die Umsetzung eine Änderung der EU-Verträge. 

 

Sie sind das Ergebnis der seit einem Jahr tagenden Konferenz zur Zukunft Europas. Aus den Wünschen und Forderungen von 800 zufällig ausgelosten Bürger*innen wurden in den Arbeitsgruppen von Vertreter*innen des Europaparlaments, den Regierungen der Mitgliedstaaten, nationalen Abgeordneten und Europäischen Bürger*innen nun diese konkreten Reformvorschläge erarbeitet. Sie werden am kommenden Samstag (30.04.) vom Plenum der Zukunftskonferenz bestätigt und am 9. Mai an Macron, Von der Leyen und Metsola übergeben.

 

Daniel Freund, Vertreter der Grünen/EFA im Präsidium der EU-Zukunftskonferenz, kommentiert: 

 

“Diese Einigung ist historisch. Sie ebnet den Weg für einen Europäischen Verfassungskonvent. Europas Bürger*innen standen von Anfang im Zentrum der Konferenz. Ihre Vorschläge bilden jetzt das Herz des Reformpaketes. Die Bürger*innen haben sich laut für eine demokratischere und handlungsfähigere EU ausgesprochen. Alle EU-Institutionen und die Mitgliedstaaten sind jetzt in der Pflicht, diese Reformvorschläge auch umzusetzen. Dann macht die EU einen guten Schritt nach vorn, hin zu einer Föderalen Republik Europa. Die Abschaffung nationaler Vetos muss dabei von höchster Priorität sein. Sie ist die Kernforderung der Zukunftskonferenz und würde der Europäischen Handlungsfähigkeit einen enormen Schub verschaffen.”

 

Alle 49 Entwurfs-Vorschläge der Konferenz: https://danielfreund.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022-04-25_COFE-draft-proposals.docx 

 

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VORSCHLÄGE FÜR VERTRAGSÄNDERUNGEN

 

Qualifizierte Mehrheit anstelle von Einstimmigkeit in Außen-, Sozial, Steuer-, Haushaltspolitik und weiteren Bereichen (“All issues decided by way of unanimity should be decided by way of a qualified majority. The only exceptions should be the admission of new membership to the EU and changes to the fundamental principles of the EU as stated in Art. 2 TEU and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.” – AG Demokratie, wörtlich EU Citizens Panel 4 Empfehlung 21, ähnlich AG EU in der Welt)

Budgetrecht für das Europaparlament (“European Parliament should decide on the budget of the EU as it is the right of parliaments at the national level;” – AG Demokratie)

 

Initiativrecht für das Europaparlament (“The European Parliament should have the right of legislative  initiative, in order to propose the topics to be discussed and, subsequently, adopt the necessary texts to follow up on the recommendations that emerge from deliberations;” – AG Demokratie)

 

Universelle Anwendbarkeit der EU-Grundrechtecharta (auch auf nationales Handeln unabhängig von EU-Recht) (“The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights should be made universally applicable and enforceable.” – AG Werte)

 

Abschaffung der Einstimmigkeit bei Rechtsstaatssanktionen durch Artikel 7 EUV (“Effectively applying and evaluating the scope of the ‘Conditionality Regulation’ and other rule of law instruments, and considering extensions to new areas regardless of their relevance for the EU budget. Any necessary legal avenues, including Treaty changes, should be considered to punish breaches of the rule of law;” – AG Werte) (“Ensuring the protection of EU values laid down in the treaties, including the rule of law and a strong social model, which are at the core of the European democracy, also abolishing the right of veto in the European Council established in Art.7.2 TEU.” – AG Demokratie)

 

Ein EU-Bürgerrechts-Statut, das Rechte und Freiheiten garantiert sowie eine bessere Rechtsgrundlage für ein europäisches NGO-Statut und Gemeinnützigkeitsrecht (“Making European values tangible for EU citizens, especially through more interactive and direct involvement. To this end, the European citizenship should be strengthened for instance through a European citizenship statute providing citizen-specific rights and freedoms, as well as a statute for European cross-border associations and non-profit organisations.” – AG Werte)

 

Neue Europäische Grundrechte, z.B. für Familien, Ehe für alle, Adoption (“Taking action to guarantee that all families enjoy equal family rights in all Member States. This should include the right to marriage and adoption;” – AG Wirtschaft, EU Citizens Panel Empfehlung 27) und Mindestrenten (“Preventing old age poverty by introducing minimum pensions. Such minimum levels would need to take account of the living standard, the poverty line and purchase power in the respective Member State;” – AG Wirtschaft, EU Citizens Panel Empfehlung 21)

 

Ein EU-weites Referendum für außergewöhnliche Fälle auf Vorschlag des Europaparlaments (“Conceiving a EU wide referendum, to be triggered by the European Parliament, in exceptional cases on matters particularly important to all European citizens;” – AG Demokratie, EU Citizens Panel 2 Empfehlung 18)

 

Gesundheit als geteilte Kompetenz (“Beef up the European Health Union using the full potential of the current framework and start exploring the possibility to include health and healthcare among the shared competencies between the EU and the EU Member States. In order to include this new shared competence, there is a need to amend Article 4 of the TFUE.” – AG Gesundheit, EU Citizens Panel Empfehlung 49) und europäische Mindeststandards für Gesundheitsfürsorge (“Establish common minimum healthcare standards at EU level, covering also prevention and accessibility of care, and provide support to achieve these standards.” – AG Gesundheit, EU Citizens Panel Empfehlung 39)

 

Ausweitung der EU-Kompetenz für Sozialpolitik (“Reinforcing the competences of the EU in social policies and proposing legislation to promote social policies and ensure equality of rights, including health, harmonised for the entire EU, which take into consideration agreed regulations and the minimum requirements throughout the territory.” – AG Wirtschaft, EU Citizens Panel Empfehlungen 19 und 21)

 

Soziales Fortschrittsprotokoll in die Verträge (“We need to ensure the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including its relevant headline targets for 2030, at EU, national, regional and local level in the areas of “equal opportunities and access to the labour market” and “fair working conditions”, while respecting competences and the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality and to include a Social Progress Protocol in the Treaties. … Taking steps to ensure that social rights take precedence in case of conflict with economic freedoms including via the introduction of a social progress protocol in the Treaties.” – AG Wirtschaft)

 

Europäische Mindestlöhne (“Ensuring that statutory minimum wages guarantee that each worker can earn a decent and similar quality of living across all Member States. Clear criteria (e.g. living costs , inflation, above the poverty line, the average and median wage at national level) to be taken into account when setting minimum wages level should be set up The levels of statutory minimum wages should be regularly reviewed in light of these criteria in order to ensure their adequacy. Special attention should be put on effective implementation of these rules and monitoring and tracking improvement in the standard of living. At the same time, collective bargaining should be strengthened and promoted throughout the EU;” – AG Wirtschaft, EU Citizens Panel Empfehlungen 1 und 30, DE Citizen Panel Empfehlung 4.2)

 

Steuerkooperation erleichtert durch Qualifizierte Mehrheit statt Einstimmigkeit (“Harmonizing and coordinating tax policies within the Member States of the EU in order to prevent tax evasion and avoidance, avoiding tax havens within the EU and targeting offshoring within Europe, including by ensuring that decisions on tax matters can be taken by qualified majority in the Council of the EU while still allowing leeway for individual Member States to set their own tax rules (within a certain threshold) to deal with their own economic and societal issues;” – AG Wirtschaft, EU Citizens Panel Empfehlungen 13 und 31, IT Panel 4.b.3)

 

Europäische Investitionen finanziert durch europäische Schulden (“We propose that the EU promotes future-oriented investments focused on the green and digital transitions with a strong social and gender dimension, building on the examples of the Next Generation EU and the SURE instrument. The EU needs to take into account the social and economic impact of the war against Ukraine by adapting its economic governance to new geopolitical context and by strengthening its own budget through new own resources. … Give further consideration to common borrowing at EU level, with a view to creating more favourable borrowing conditions, while maintaining responsible fiscal policies at Member State level;” – AG Wirtschaft, LT Panel Empfehlung 9”)

 

Mehr Transparenz in Entscheidungen, v.a. im Rat (“Ensuring transparency of decision-making by allowing independent citizens’ observers to closely follow the decision-making process, guaranteeing broader right of access to documents, and develop on this basis stronger links and an enhanced dialogue between citizens and the EU institutions; … The EU needs to improve the transparency of its decision-making process and institutions.” – AG Demokratie, EU Citizens Panel Empfehlung 34)

 

Stärkeres Untersuchungsrecht des Europaparlaments (“the European Parliament’s right of inquiry should be strengthened;” – AG Demokratie)

 

Diskussion über eine Europäische Verfassung (“Reopening the discussion about the constitution, where applicable, to help us align better on our values. A constitution may help to be more precise as well as involve citizens and agree on the rules of the decision-making process;” – AG Demokratie, EU Citizens Panel 2 Empfehlung 35, FR Panel)

 

Auch Transnationale Listen wurden gefordert, sind aber ohne Vertragsänderungen erreichbar (“Amending EU electoral law to harmonise electoral conditions … for the European Parliament elections, as well as moving towards voting for Union-wide lists, or ‘transnational lists’, with candidates from multiple Member States … Some of the Members of the European Parliament should be elected through a European Union-wide list, the rest being elected within the Members’ States; … The reform should ensure that young people are fully able to participate in the representative democracy by lowering the voting age to 16 and by harmonising the minimum age to stand for election with the voting age.” – AG Demokratie, EU Citizens Panel 2 Empfehlung 16)