25
Apr
2024
Watch
Pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews (debate)
Madam President, I think that this communication, Commissioner, is a typical example of what I call ‘ostrich politics’, you know, the ostrich putting his head in the sand and thinking that the problem will disappear. It’s a typical example of such ostrich politics. Why? Because we know that we will do the enlargement to 35-36 Member States, but we are not ready as a European Union to receive these 35-36 countries in total. And what you do in this communication is saying, oh, the problems , we are going to solve them inside the European Union because we have the passerelle clause, which we didn’t apply for 20 years, and we have the enhanced cooperation as the way to solve the problems. Which is a devastating thing because we have already Schengen, we have already the Euro, we have already the patent, we have already the fiscal compact, we have already the arrest warrant. And we will add additional enhanced cooperation. That is what the communication is saying, that these are the two tools to solve the problems in a Union of 35-36 Member States. Well, I have to tell you, I find this irresponsible and insane. And moreover, it’s the first time, in my opinion, that I have seen that the Commission is renouncing its historical role to be at the side of the European Parliament, to bring forward the reform treaties that are absolutely necessary to make this union ready for 36 Member States. Why is there nothing about Treaty change in your communication? I will tell you why there is nothing, because Ms von der Leyen does not want that there is something on Treaty change. She need to be re-elected, presented by the Member States, by the Council so that you cannot. So I tell you one thing. I tell you one thing. In any case, my group will not vote in the next Parliament for a candidate for President of the European Commission and for a Commission that is not putting Treaty change as an essential condition for the enlargement of the European Union. That is clear. It’s very clear. And it’s a shame, I tell you that, that we asked the Commissioners to change that communication and to be aware of the need to change the Treaty. How will you do it? A Commission with 36 Members? You are already now with 27, have not enough competences to fulfil the different portfolios. Will you do it like that? Continue with unanimity? Continue with the budget with 1 %? The geopolitical Commission with the budget of 1 % of European GDP. It’s ridiculous to talk about the geopolitics. I find it insane that the Commission comes forward with a crucial communication on the future of the European Union, including preparing the enlargement to 36 Member States, and then says nothing, but, oh, we have the passerelle clause to solve our problems, something that has not been applied and cannot be applied in the Union because it needs a unanimous decision. So I tell you, and I repeat myself for the last time, this is my last intervention. So I will not bother you anymore in the coming years. Not inside the Parliament, but more, maybe outside the Parliament. Be sure of that. There will be no support for a new Commission after these elections if a treaty reform is not from day one on the table.