European Parliament outlines its priorities for the future of Europe
Date
13 Feb 2019
Sections
Public Affairs
The European Parliament today backed a report outlining its vision for the future of Europe ahead of the meeting of EU Heads of States and governments in Sibiu (Romania) in May 2019. It builds on the series of debates held in the European Parliament with national leaders over the last year.
S&D Group MEP and author of the Parliament’s report Ramón Jáuregui Atondo said:
“In May, EU Presidents and Prime Ministers will gather in Sibiu to set a new course for the EU. This report is the Parliament’s contribution to this debate on the future of Europe. In the time of Brexit and renewed nationalism across Europe, it is vital to find renewed energy to further the European project. This report underlines that there is a need to face the challenges of the future together, from climate change to tax evasion or migration, only common solutions will work. We must recognise successes achieved to date but also set out concrete measures needed for greater integration.
“In the report, Parliament has stressed its commitment to the Spitzenkandidat process, under which the next Commission President should be a candidate put forward by a political grouping that can command a majority in the next European Parliament. We have stressed the need for Europe to finally fix its broken migration and asylum policies, replacing the current Dublin system under which asylum seekers must apply in the first EU nation they arrive in.
“Europe can not only be a common market, we also need a strong social pillar to make our Union work effectively. At a time of growing wealth inequality, the next Commission must put social policy back at the heart of the EU. This should go hand in hand with necessary reforms of the Eurozone, with shared competence over fiscal and economic policies, completion of the monetary union, and a dedicated Eurozone budget. Half a century after the Treaty of Rome, we need to find a renewed energy and purpose for our Union.”