The Committee on Constitutional Affairs hosted exchanges with experts on interinstitutional cooperation, European security and defence, and decision-making in the Union.
On Wednesday, in the latest set of presentations and hearings with experts organised by the Constitutional Affairs Committee, MEPs discussed with guest experts how to reform the EU in light of existing challenges, and following the Conference on the Future of Europe.
Institutional balance and sincere cooperation
In the morning, MEPs exchanged views with Dr. Robert Böttner (University of Erfurt), following a presentation of his study on “Special legislative procedures in the Treaties – Institutional balance and sincere cooperation”. Dr Böttner spoke on the special legislative procedures enshrined in the EU’s primary law documents and presented his conclusions on the principle of sincere cooperation based on his research of relevant case law. He also brought up ways to improve policy-making and interinstitutional relations, and discussed with MEPs how the Council’s lack of cooperation on some fronts can be addressed – through the EU Court of Justice or less confrontational approaches.
Foreign and security policy
Before noon, MEPs quizzed Prof. María Isabel Nieto Fernández (Complutense University Madrid) and Prof. Dr. Daniela Schwarzer (Open Society-Europe and Central Asia in Berlin) on “Possible Treaty changes in the area of foreign and security policy”. Joined by colleagues from the Committee on Foreign Affairs, they discussed a set of concrete proposals, in light of the resurgence of geopolitical challenges that seemed to be a thing of the past, combined with new, hybrid threats. These proposals included increasing the EU budget and revising the relevant section of the current long-term budget, employing more flexible structures by moving away from unanimity-based decision making, and improving approaches for European cooperation and joint procurement. MEPs brought up questions related to the role of the High Representative of the EU and the need to revise the Treaties to ensure that the EU can tackle the challenges it faces. Others disagreed with the overall approach, arguing that there is no need to revise the Treaties and doubting the methodological approach of the experts’ contributions.
You can watch recordings of these exchanges on Parliament’s Multimedia Centre by clicking here.
Community method, new-intergovernmentalism and parliamentarisation
In the afternoon, MEPs followed a presentation by Prof. Olivier Costa, CNRS/CEVIPOF (Paris) – College of Europe (Bruges) of his study on “Perspectives for EU governance: between Community method, new-intergovernmentalism and parliamentarisation”. Prof. Costa spoke on the tensions between the EU institutions caused by the intergovernmental approach adopted to tackle multiple recent crises, and issues related to transparency and democratic control, as well as on the efficiency, longevity and clarity of solutions. The questions put forward by MEPs revolved around Parliament’s right of legislative initiative and the role of the Council after a potential revision of the EU’s legislative structure; parliamentary and political dynamics in this context; and the challenges in this field, especially in selecting Commissioners for the next European Commission, in light of the upcoming European elections.
You can watch a recording of the afternoon part of the meeting here.