During one of the last A year-long series of events and fora to discuss the future of the EU involving civil society, local, regional and national authorities, as well as policymakers. Concluded in May 2022.
Conference on the Future of Europe meetings in Strasbourg, Renew A Member of the
“We will use article 48 in the treaties to launch such a process, because you deserve it and because the EU desperately needs that it happens.”
German Greens A Member of the
But how exactly does that work? Verhofstadt already referred to article 48, a paragraph in the Treaties outlining how the already existing treaties can be changed.
Let’s dive in..
For the EU Treaties to be changed, a treaty reform proposal has to be submitted by either the The EU’s politically independent executive arm. It is responsible for drawing up proposals for new European legislation, and it implements the decisions of the
Which procedure will be followed depends on two conditions that both need to be fulfilled. Firstly, the proposal must be limited to part 3 of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU. Secondly, the amendment cannot increase the EU’s competences.
If both of these conditions are fulfilled, the revision will follow what is called the ‘simple procedure’, in which the European heads of State will vote unanimously on the proposal. If the proposal passes, national governments will have to ratify it.
If the two conditions are not met, the treaty revision is subject to the ordinary procedure. In this procedure, the An institution representing the
The heads of government will then decide if a convention is needed. If not, the An institution representing the
It might seem that the hurdle is not that big to pass a treaty change.. But keep in mind, this part only leads up towards the conference where the final decision has to be made. The intergovernmental conference or IGC will consist of representatives of national parliaments, heads of government, the The EU’s directly elected legislative body comprised of 705 members. It is involved in policymaking but it does not have the power to propose new legislation. European Parliament and the commission. In the end, they will have to vote unanimously on the proposal. However, if the simple procedure is triggered, only the approval of the heads of government is needed.
A few days ago, a committee of the The EU’s directly elected legislative body comprised of 705 members. It is involved in policymaking but it does not have the power to propose new legislation. European Parliament voted in favour of giving the The EU’s directly elected legislative body comprised of 705 members. It is involved in policymaking but it does not have the power to propose new legislation. European Parliament a direct right to initiate new laws. For that to become reality, treaty change is necessary. Members from the same committee will be working on the treaty change proposal.