Donald Trump was sworn in again as President of the United States yesterday (Monday). This makes the geopolitical environment significantly more turbulent for the EU. We must honestly admit that the European Union, in its current state, is not prepared for the new challenges ahead.

To thrive in a world where great powers are becoming more economically and militarily aggressive and our partners less reliable, the EU urgently needs comprehensive reforms. The Union must be able to defend itself against enemies from both outside and within. Europe must unite to safeguard freedom, democracy, prosperity, and progress.

How can this be achieved? These reforms must be initiated now to strengthen Europe by 2027!

• STOP THE VETO

National vetoes are a threat to European security. Third countries just need to ‘flip’ one EU government to completely block the EU. Particularly in the areas of foreign policy and security Europe needs to be able to act and to speak with one voice. Therefore we need fewer vetoes. As a first step, rather then going for qualified majorities on sensitive issues like defence, vetoes could be replaced by a new system where vetoes would have to be supported by at least three other member states in order to take effect. Such a reform is not possible with passerelle clauses but needs actual treaty change.

• BOOST DEMOCRACY

Europe urgently needs more democratic participation in order to strengthen citizens’ trust in our Union and to increase accountability. Boosting European democracy will make us stronger. The European Union should give citizens more say and let them vote more directly on who holds the highest jobs in the European Union. Therefore, the directly elected Parliament should propose the President of the Commission and Council should vote on its consent, not the other way around. This would strengthen the lead candidate system. This should be complemented by creating a union-wide constituency so that lead candidates appear on the voting ballot across the entire EU. To make the EU more efficient and more democratic the European Parliament should be given the full right to legislative initiative.

• EUROPEAN SOLUTIONS FOR EUROPEAN PROBLEMS

EU citizens rightfully expect European solutions for European problems. But crisis after crisi in the last decade has made it abundantly clear that the European Union is not always equipped to deliver solutions. There is a lack of competence for the European Union in areas such as energy, health and social policies. We are ardent defendants of subsidiarity and taking political decisions as closely to EU citizens as possible. But uncoupling European energy markets from Russia or addressing a global pandemic also requires coordinated action at the level of the European Union. Equipping the Union with the necessary competences requires treaty change.

• FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

Authoritarian governments inside the EU attack democracy and the rule of law and they put EU citizens’ fundamental rights in danger. The European Union must enhance its toolbox to defend European values. The EU Commission and Council must use the available instruments decisively. The Article 7 procedure is blocked by unanimity. Treaty change should strengthen the defense of the values enshrined in Article 2. Instead of a political decision in the Council, the European Court of Justice should determine the existence of a serious and persistent breach by a Member State. To defend its values, the European Union needs both: political will and easy-to-use financial sanctions.

• FIGHT FOR SECURITY

27 national armies are insufficient and inefficient to provide security for European Citizens. When Trump puts into questions our collective security system under NATO, the European Union must act to fill the gap. 27 different command structures, 178 different large weapon systems (compared to 30 in the US), all this makes European defence slow, costly and inefficient. Streamlining our defence efforts is urgently needed to bring down costs, to harmonise weapons systems and to build military capabilities that will deter war mongers like Vladimir Putin. We need joint military procurement as a first step towards European Defence. In time, a European Army might better defend the European Union.

• INVEST, INVEST, INVEST

Competition between Europe, the US, and China is intensifying, and Europe must rise to the challenge. To secure the foundation of our prosperity and successfully transition to a green economy, the EU needs to invest in innovation, infrastructure, and sustainability. Only through decisive action can we lead the transformation and remain competitive on the global stage. The economic drivers of the past decades have shifted dramatically: Putin has cut off cheap Russian gas, trade liberalization is stagnating, and instead of enjoying a peace dividend, we face the urgent need to invest heavily in our own security and defence. The Draghi Report laid out a clear path forward: the EU must act decisively to secure its economic and technological future through public investment.

• DEFEND UKRAINE

Russia produces four times more weapons than EU members, underscoring the urgent need for Europe to step up its support for Ukraine. Faced with relentless attacks and waves of new troops, the EU must accelerate weapon deliveries to halt the Russian aggression. Defending Ukraine means defending the peaceful order in Europe after the second world war and the end of the cold war. Ukraine’s future EU membership is essential to anchor the country firmly in the European Union, secure long-term stability, and demonstrate the EU’s resolve in countering authoritarian threats. However, to integrate Ukraine, the EU must reform its governance, decision-making, and budget structures to remain effective beyond 27 member states. 

• GETTING STARTED!

In light of all these challenges: Europe urgently needs treaty reform. Everything is prepared to launch a European Convention in the first half of 2025. The Conference on the Future of Europe has started the debate with a comprehensive analysis, a broad collection of proposals under the participation of 800 randomly selected citizens from all over the EU. The European Parliament has presented a comprehensive package of specific treaty reforms on this basis in 2023. It is now up to the simple majority of Member States in the European Council to open the European Convention. Europe cannot afford any further delays. 

–

The call for an EU Convention and treaty changes was reaffirmed today by the Spinelli Group – the federalists in the European Parliament. You can find the key demands of PROJECT 27 here:

https://danielfreund.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Spinelli-Project-27.pdf