Deepening the EU

1. Deepening the EU Sophie, Melita, Claudia, Tuulia, Pia, Ana, Lucas-Louis, Daniel, Daniela, Maria Alessandra

2. Content • What we mean by «deepening»? • Why there must be a deepening of the EU? • How to deepen the EU

3. 1. What we mean by « deepening »? • Empathy • Democracy • Transferring competences • Interdependence and multilevel government • Redistribution and improvement of attained assets

4. 2. Why there must be a deepening of the EU? • European identity • Same values concerning human rights and quality of living • Stability of the economy and welfare • Challenges of globalization • Enlargement • Peace

5. 3. How to deepen the EU 3.1. Reforms towards a more democratic EU 3.2. Economical aspects 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU?

6. 3.1. Reforms towards a more democratic EU Institutions • Institutionalize • Chaired by a President appointed for 2½ years renewable once European Council

7. 3.1. Reforms towards a more democratic EU  Minister of Foreign Affairs Institutions • High Representative for: • - Common Foreign and Security Policy • - External Relations Commissioner • Member of the Commission • Chair the Foreign Affairs Council

8. 3.1. Reforms towards a more democratic EU Council of Ministers Institutions • The presidency of the different Council formations will continue to rotate (with the exception of the External Relations Council) on an equal basis, to be decided upon by the European Council

9. 3.1. Reforms towards a more democratic EU Institutional Changes European Parliament • More power to the European Parliament • 100% of European laws should be adopted under the co-decision procedure • €€ Increased power in budgetary procedures • §§ Power of initiative • Creation and a common definition of Political parties

10. 3.1. Reforms towards a more democratic EU Participatory democracy One million signatures of citizens from a significant number of MS can invite the Commission to submit an appropriate proposal to the legislator Criticism: • 1 million signatures too low number • wording has to be clarified

11. 3.1. Reforms towards a more democratic EU Participatory democracy Proposal: • 1% of population • 1/2 of Member States • Inform people signing an initiative

12. 3.1. Reforms towards a more democratic EU Adoption of new treaties Now: • Revisions of the founding treaties themselves have to be adopted unanimously • 2 methods: public referendum or vote in parliament

13. 3.1. Reforms towards a more democratic EU Adoption of new treaties Proposal: • Public referendum carried out same day in all Member States with ‘triple majority’: • 2/3 of MS (55% - 60% of turnout within MS) • ½ of total turnout

14. 3.2. Economical aspects Politique monétairepolitique budgétaire ↓↓ BCE (institution indépendante)états membres ↓↓ politique anti-inflationnisteplus concernés par stabilité des prixl’emploi   Divergence des objectifs/intérêts ↓ Politique incohérente et affaiblie

15. 3.2. Economical aspects Que faire? • Il faut donc une meilleure coordination entre la BCE et les états membres afin… • …d’obtenir une véritable gestion économique de l’Union européenne pour pouvoir faire face à la compétition internationale (cf. globalisation) de la façon la plus effective et efficace.

16. 3.2. Economical aspects La politique budgétaire • Le budget = compétence nationale • Cela ne signifie pas que les états membres de l’Eurozone peuvent s’endetter librement! • Maastricht: règles • déficit budgétaire <3% PIB • Amsterdam: renforcement des règles par le biais du Pacte de Stabilité et de Croissance • A présent ce pacte est mort car plus appliqué • Toutefois une régulation s’impose: on ne peut s’endetter sur le dos des autres + risque d’effet d’éviction

17. 3.2. Economical aspects Critique sur la règle de 3% • Pas chaque déficit est condamnable • Distinction déficit voulu et subi • Pas chaque déficit est comparable • Il s’agit d’une règle unique appliquée à des situations (très) différentes • Le niveau de 3% a été déterminé de façon arbitraire

18. 3.2. Economical aspects Que faire? • Prendre en considération les différentes réalités économiques des états membres • Laisser plus de liberté aux états membres afin qu’il puissent mieux réagir à des crises économiques • Regarder les taux d’endettement et de croissance pour calculer un seuil plus réaliste (cf. effet boule de neige)

19. 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? What exists? • The Regional policy • A committee of regions • Committee on Regional Development by the European Parliament

20. 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? What do we want? • Increasing direct link between the local/regional level and the EU level • Using the regional framework

21. 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? Regional policy • Structural funding • Cohesion Fund • ISAP, Phare and Sapard • Solidarity Fund

22. 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? Structural funding • European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Infrastructure, Environment • European Social Fund (ESF), • Training, entrepreneurship • European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), • To adopt agriculture to the evolutions • Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance (FIFG)

23. Advisory role by: The Commission The Council Three principles Subsidiarity Proximity Partnership maximum of 350 members Appointed by the government among persons elected at the local and regional level renewable 4-year mandate 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? The Committee of regions

24. 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? Decisions should be taken at the closest practical level of the citizens. The local level comes therefore first and the EU lastly What is subsidiarity?

25. 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? It refers to the principle of European governance which means the European, national, regional and local government working together What is partnership?

26. 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? What is now a region in Europe…? • Recognition of three levels (units) in the EU – NUTS classification • The second and third levels are subdivisions of the first and second levels respectively

27. 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? What could we do: • Define a concept of “European region” according to population, size and ethnical elements • Increasing direct link between the local/regional level and the EU level • Using the regional framework to lessen national interests and find

28. 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? Our ideas… • What? The Committee of regions to become an assembly of regions, with representatives directly elected by the people • How? Punctual meeting to enhance regional cooperation • What for? To lessen national interests in certain areas: tourism, transport, education, social development, culture etc.

29. Yes! The perfect framework to resolve regional identity issues (Northern Ireland, Basque country…) Unity in diversity But… How to finance the regional policy? The risk of creating new conflicts? Making Europe even more complex 3.3. Increasing the regional ingredients of the EU? Yes, but…

30. The end