1957/2027: the seventieth anniversary of the Treaties of Rome.
The choice that shaped history.
Europe is once again at a crossroads: either it changes course by relaunching its ambitions, or it accepts a slow decline.
The policies of the Trump administration and the resurgence of nationalism in many European countries are slowing down the process of integration towards a federal Europe, by attacking multilateralism and democratic values.
On the eve of the seventieth anniversary of the Treaties of Rome, a turning point is needed, with the revival of a broad mobilization and a major political struggle. Europe cannot simply resist: we must forcefully relaunch the federal project of the European Union as the only credible response to global challenges.
The European Union has so far guaranteed peace, democracy, and prosperity.
However, the level of political, economic, and industrial integration achieved today is no longer sufficient. It fails to protect our social achievements, does not guarantee our security, and is unable to sustain strong and coherent European diplomatic action to safeguard peace or to develop strategic autonomy in the key areas of development.
As in 1957, courage is needed to change and to build a new process that strengthens the Union’s unity and political dimension. A Union capable of guiding the major transformations of this century, rather than being shaped by them.
Let us consider the technological challenges required to boost our competitiveness in the digital sphere: from artificial intelligence to aerospace, from the ecological transition to strategic autonomy in defense. In these fields, we no longer produce innovation but we only regulate it. Others innovate, sell us their products, and reap the benefits, while we bear the costs. Regulating to protect people and the planet is right, but regulation alone does not create GDP or jobs. Without shared public investment, wealth and employment will move elsewhere.
Let us also consider the need to relaunch some of the pillars of our shared vision of development: social cohesion and the fight against inequality, whose growth represents the primary threat to the strength and resilience of democracy. Yet the next European budget moves in the opposite direction: it weakens territorial cohesion, cuts resources, and reduces the scope of place-based policies.
The major enlargement to 27 Member States has made Europe more stable and stronger. But now decisions are needed to ensure decision-making capacity and unity of purpose. Otherwise, the risk is real: a return to a Europe paralyzed by national governments, governed by a purely intergovernmental logic that is fertile ground for authoritarian shortcuts fueled by nationalist rhetoric.
We must act.
We propose four initial actions and strategic directions to pursue immediately in the European Parliament and at national level in order to relaunch the project of the United States of Europe:
1) A stronger European budget
Since the late 1980s, the European budget has remained stuck at around 1% of GDP. Today’s challenges are inherently European and therefore demand courage. We must review and increase the Multiannual Financial Framework to support EU-wide investment, including through common debt and new own resources directed towards innovation, the green transition, and social cohesion. At the same time, we must address the crucial issue of tax harmonization reform among Member States.
2) A genuine foreign policy for peace
We need a true foreign policy that revives strong European diplomacy as an instrument of peace. In compliance with Article 42 of the Lisbon Treaty, cooperation projects and agreements among Member States should be launched to promote a truly common European defense.
3) Overcoming the power of veto
A single country’s “no” can block the entire Union: unanimity hinders action. We must move forward with a coherent reform of the Treaties, as called for by the European Parliament, to abolish unanimity in the EU’s decision-making system, strengthen the European Parliament, and complete the single market wherever possible in order to increase the Union’s global influence and competitiveness.
4) More enhanced cooperation
Joint projects and policies should be launched immediately with those Member States willing to move forward, without waiting for unanimous agreement, thus revitalizing the institutional practice of enhanced cooperation.
