Sailing on High Seas – Reforming and Enlarging the EU for the 21st Century

Summary:

The European Union (EU) faces a critical juncture marked by geopolitical shifts, transnational crises, and internal complexities. For geopolitical reasons, EU enlargement is high on the political agenda, but the European Union is not ready yet to welcome new members, neither institutionally nor policy wise. Against this backdrop, a ‘working group on EU institutional reforms’ was convened by the French and German governments. In September 2023, after several months of deliberation, ‘The Group of Twelve’ submitted the results of its work with this report.

Recognising the complexity of aligning diverse Member States' visions for the EU, the report recommends a flexible EU reform and enlargement process. It highlights the need for immediate action to improve the EU's functionality, proposing a list of initial steps before the next European elections. More substantial reforms – including preparations for treaty revisions – should be implemented during the new legislative term (2024 to 2029). The report’s recommendations are aimed at achieving three goals: increasing the EU’s capacity to act, getting the EU enlargement ready, and strengthening the rule of law and the EU’s democratic legitimacy. The report is structured into three main sections, dealing with the rule of law, institutional reforms, and the process to reform, deepen and enlarge the EU.

Further information:

The report was presented on 19 September 2023 at a meeting of the EU's General Affairs Council (GAC). While it was produced by an independent Franco-German Working Group on EU Institutional Reform - formed in January 2023 - the report also includes input from various Member States and candidate States. The position in this report should not be regarded as representative of the official position of France and Germany as regards EU reform.

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Commentary and Analysis

Balkan Insight: Opinion, 21/09/2023: Enlargement: The EU's imperative https://balkaninsight.com/2023/09/21/enlargement-the-eus-imperative/

Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS): News, 25/09/2023: CEPS proudly represented in the Franco-German group that has proposed innovative EU reforms https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-news/ceps-proudly-represented-in-the-franco-german-group-that-has-proposed-innovative-eu-reforms/

Hertie School: Jacques Delors Centre: EU to Go Podcast, 27/09/2023: Larger, more democratic and efficient: A Franco-German impetus for EU reform [in German] https://www.delorscentre.eu/en/about/news/detail/content/podcast-eu-to-go-a-franco-german-impetus-for-eu-reform

Internationale Politik (IP Quarterly): Cover Section, 28/09/2023: A Different Way of Thinking about EU Enlargement and Reform https://ip-quarterly.com/en/different-way-thinking-about-eu-enlargement-and-reform

France 24: Talking Europe, 06/10/2023: We need a 'very clear target' for EU enlargement: EU reform expert Daniela Schwarzer https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/talking-europe/20231006-we-need-a-very-clear-target-for-eu-enlargement-eu-reform-expert-daniela-schwarzer

Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW): Commentary, 12/10/2023: The EU debate on qualified majority voting in the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Reform and enlargement https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/osw-commentary/2023-10-12/eu-debate-qualified-majority-voting-common-foreign-and

College of Europe: High-level Conference on the Report of the Group of Twelve: a Franco-German reflection on the future of EU institutions (20 October 2023) https://www.coleurope.eu/high-level-conference-report-group-twelve-franco-german-reflection-future-eu-institutions

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News

EurActiv, 19/09/2023: Germany, France make EU reform pitch ahead of enlargement talks https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement-neighbourhood/news/germany-france-make-eu-reform-pitch-ahead-of-enlargement-talks/

Le Monde, 19/09/2023: EU enlargement: France and Germany attempt to control discussion https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/09/19/eu-enlargement-france-and-germany-attempt-to-control-discussion_6137712_4.html

France24, 19/09/2023: France and Germany back four-speed Europe https://www.politico.eu/article/france-germany-europe-enlargement-accession-ukraine/

The Guardian, 19/09/2023: UK could become an ‘EU lite’ member of bloc, suggests Franco-German report https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/19/uk-could-become-an-eu-lite-member-of-bloc-suggests-franco-german-report

Euronews, 19/09/2023: Germany, France present EU reform proposal as bloc prepares for new members https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/09/19/germany-france-present-eu-reform-proposal-as-bloc-prepares-for-new-members

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Official

German Federal Foreign Office: Article, 19/09/2023: Fit for the future? Franco-German group presents ideas on EU reforms https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aussenpolitik/europe/cooperation-in-europe/-/2617320

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