EP in favour of amending the EU Treaties on the rule of unanimity

The European Parliament (PE) expressed its support for the revision of the EU Treaties on Wednesday. By a vote of 291 MEPs voted in favour, 274 against and 44 abstentions. This decision concerns, inter alia, the abolition of the rule of unanimity in the EU Council votes in 65 areas and the transfer of additional competences to the EU institutions.

During the voting session, MEPs supported the study of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO), which recommends the modification of the EU treaties. 291 MEPs voted in favour, 274 opposed and 44 abstained.

As planned, the study will now be held on 12 December at the Council of Ministers for European Affairs, as declared by the Spanish Presidency. The Spanish Presidency argues that there is simply a adequate majority to mention the substance to the European Council, which, by simple majority, may convene the Convention.

The Convention is composed of representatives of the associate States and the EU institutions, and its task is to draw up a treaty that later goes to the European Council. The president of the European Council then convenes the Intergovernmental Conference and the agreed treaty is ratified by the associate States. The final destiny of the proposed changes is not yet established.

Let us remind that on 25 October, the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of Europe (AFEC) adopted a study recommending the modification of the EU treaties. A 110-page paper proposes 267 amendments to both treaties, concerning the European Union and the functioning of the European Union. These proposals include, inter alia, eliminating the rule of unanimity in the EU Council votes in 65 areas and transferring competences from associate States to EU level. This is simply a step towards the federalisation of the EU.

The plans besides set up 2 fresh exclusive competences for the EU – in the field of environment and biodiversity (Article 3 TFEU), as well as an extension of shared competences (Article 4). The second would cover 8 fresh areas specified as abroad and safety policy, border protection, forestry, public health, civilian defence, manufacture and education. fresh exclusive competences would strengthen the EU's function in climate policy. At the same time, sharing competences in areas under the exclusive jurisdiction of the associate States so far could lead to regulation that would apply to all countries, even those that did not.

Critics of the proposed changes item the anticipation of indirectly influencing the EU's curricula in schools, as well as reducing the protection of the lives of conceived children. The study besides includes proposals for simplifying the suspension procedure in the rights of those countries which will violate “EU values” – “lawfulness”, “democracy”, “freedom”, “human rights”, “equality”. The paper besides envisages further strengthening the position of the European Commission and the anticipation of introducing an EU-wide referendum institution.