Interview with Maria João Rodrigues on the need for EU treaty changes with Euronews

On the fifteenth anniversary of the signing of the Lisbon Treaty, FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues was interviewed by Euronews on the need for reforms of the EU institutions.

The debate on reforms to EU treaties is fully back on the agenda, with the European Parliament’s recent green light of reform proposals, and the outcomes of the Conference on the Future of Europe between 2021 and 2022.

Rodrigues emphasised that whilst enlargement is typically seen as the biggest argument in favour of reforming EU institutions, the war in Ukraine, the digital and energy transition, and the fight against climate change also are global challenges that highlight the need for the EU to have a stronger capacity to act.

These arguments are reiterated in FEPS policy study “EU treaties: why they need targeted changes“, which argues that the current Lisbon Treaty limits the capacity of the EU, and identifies areas for change.

Read the key quotes from Rodrigues and watch the news below.

On decision-making and enlargement

“In several policy areas, we need to move from unanimity to qualified majority voting because otherwise we will be paralyzed. This is the case in the external action. This is the case in the tax policy. This is also the case in the social policy.”

On the war in Ukraine

“We are dealing with a different international context, and Europe needs to raise its capacity to defend itself, to support Ukraine.”

On climate change

“Europe needs to have a key role in improving global governance when dealing with climate change.”