European Parliament,
Brussels, 26 May 2023
Dear European Ministers of General affairs,
We call for concrete and swift progress on the texts relating to the “Democracy Package” in order to meet the expectations of our citizens for a deeper European democracy. The General Affairs Council, which is meeting this week, must address these challenges and show ambition.
On 9 May last, we were celebrating the building of Europe, praising what it represents for our continent, cherishing the democratic values anchored in the DNA of the European Union. For Renew Europe, these are no empty words. Almost exactly one year before the European elections, the time for speeches must give way to the time for action. Our citizens, who were very clear at the Conference on the Future of Europe, expect us to take steps to deepen and improve European democracy.
For too long the Council has disregarded the demands of the European Parliament, whether it be the Convention on the revision of the European treaties or the electoral law establishing transnational lists. In the current context, which shows us how precious and fragile democracy is, it is of paramount importance for the Union to strengthen the resilience of European democracy and of its institutions
Renew Europe therefore calls on the Council to make ambitious progress on:
• The establishment of a Union-wide constituency composed of 28 Members of the European Parliament, elected through transnational lists;
• The improvement of gender equality in European elections, through zipped lists or quotas;
• Updating the rules on the statute and funding of European political parties and foundations;
• The establishment of harmonised rules on the transparency of political advertisements, in order to allow European citizens to know who is behind them and to make election campaigns more transparent
• The adoption of a decision on the launch of a Convention for the revision of the Treaties, which shall build on the upcoming proposal of the European Parliament and on the recommendations of the Conference on the Future of Europe
• The activation of passerelle clauses in key policy areas such as Foreign and Security Policy, environmental and energy policy, ahead of the entry into force of treaty revisions
Best regards,
Sandro Gozi
Renew Europe Coordinator in the European Parliament’s committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Guy Verhofstadt
Renew Europe Member in the committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Charles Goerens
Renew Europe Member in the committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Max Orville
Renew Europe Member in the committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Maite Pagazaurtundúa
Renew Europe substitute Member in the committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Alin Mituta
Renew Europe substitute Member in the committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Gilles Boyer
Renew Europe substitute Member in the committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)
Sophie in’t veld
Renew Europe substitute Member in the committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO)