Brussels The will to change hasn’t been that strong for a long time. The rules of the European Union have hardly changed since the Treaty of Lisbon was signed 15 years ago.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the importance of the EU has increased again and the need for major reform is becoming ever clearer.
Many eyes are on Olaf Scholz (SPD). In his “Zeitenwende” speech in February, the German Chancellor called for everything to be done “for the cohesion of the European Union”.
Now he has the opportunity to get specific. Scholz wants to give a speech at Charles University in Prague this Monday at 11 a.m. According to the government spokesman, he is concerned with “determining the current situation in Europe” and “the effects of the turning point on the European Union”.
At the beginning of October, the heads of state and government want to discuss fundamental EU issues in Prague. Accordingly, people in the capitals will listen carefully to what Scholz has to say. Special attention will be paid to these four points:
The unanimity: The voting rules in the EU are a relic of days long gone. Many decisions, especially in foreign policy, can only be made unanimously by all states. “It is unacceptable that a country like Hungary can stop the processes at will,” says Fabian Zuleeg, head of the European Policy Centre.
>> Read here: The EU needs to change – but is it ready?
During the last round of sanctions, for example, Hungary resisted an oil embargo for weeks. “The EU must mature in its foreign and security policy,” says Nicola Beer, Vice President of the European Parliament. “Get out of the US slipstream.”
The problem is that Hungary and other Eastern European countries have no interest in giving up their veto power. Should a corresponding treaty change fail, Zulegg recommends coordinating foreign policy outside of the EU institutions. In this way, for example, there could be a more uniform European policy on arms exports and financial support for states.
The Solidarity: So far, countries have always been affected to varying degrees by crises. This weakens their unity and thus reduces their strength. “The EU needs a credible framework to react quickly to shocks,” says Maria Demertzis, interim head of the Bruegel Institute. “The EU must convince non-Europeans that it is stable and healthy and that it speaks with one voice worldwide.”
Iratxe García Pérez, leader of the Social Democrats in the European Parliament, recalled that the conference on the future of Europe called for a European social policy. “We need a more sustainable and resilient growth model that doesn’t exploit or destroy our planet and where we achieve the green and digital transitions with a strong social dimension,” she said.
In southern Europe, proposals for more solidarity are well received, while northern countries clearly warn of new redistribution mechanisms. Scholz’s coalition partner FDP would probably also fight back.
The extension: Within the EU, Scholz is committed to expanding to include the countries of the Western Balkans. In fact, there has recently been progress after Bulgaria suspended its resistance.
The chairman of the Europe Committee in the Bundestag, Anton Hofreiter (Greens), sees this as a strategic question: “In order to remain able to act in the face of the dramatic conflicts worldwide, we need an extension,” he says. North Macedonia, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine would have to be included if they meet the conditions.
>> Read here: EU enlargement: Bulgarian parliament gives up veto
Others also make it a condition that the EU first strengthen its decision-making capacity so that the new members do not slow down the processes even more. Hofreiter warns that the problems with the rule of law are solved within the EU. In the case of Hungary and Poland, it becomes clear “that the EU must also meet its own internal requirements”.
The technological sovereignty: The problems with the gas supply have made it clear how risky dependence on individual export countries can be. Scholz came to the conclusion that dependence on other countries must also be reduced, above all on China, Germany’s most important trading partner. He could transfer that to Europe. “We have to ask ourselves who we want to be technologically dependent on,” says Zulegg.
Some countries like Lithuania have already had bad experiences with their dependence on China and would support the EU becoming more independent. Hungary, on the other hand, wants to maintain its relations with Beijing.
“Europe must assert its interests on a global level. Otherwise we will one day be completely dependent on other countries,” says Zulegg. “Russia had hoped that it would already be that far. Luckily that wasn’t the case just now.”
More: Federal government initiates change of course in China policy