What should Brussels change? How can the functioning of the European institutions be improved rapidly?

57 years after the Rome Treaty Europe experienced its first major economic and financial crisis, and after the European elections that confirmed doubt about community integration, debate had then been launched about the role and the functioning of the European institutions. 2014 was the year in which the Parliament, the Commission, the executive responsible for running the European Council and European diplomacy would all be changed. A consensus had grown over the need to adapt them to a new international context. The Union could not ignore the growing expectations people had of it otherwise the very meaning of its existence would be brought into question.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Media praise 'bold' Juncker shake-up of EU Commission http://www.europeansources.info/record/media-praise-bold-juncker-shake-up-of-eu-commission/

ESO: Background information: Juncker Commission takes office http://www.europeansources.info/record/juncker-commission-takes-office/

ESO: Background information: European Parliament: Election, May 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-may-2014/

ESO: Background information: Future of Europe: MEPs debate Italian Council presidency priorities http://www.europeansources.info/record/future-of-europe-meps-debate-italian-council-presidency-priorities/

ESO: Background information: EU Institutional Appointments in 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-institutional-appointments-in-2014/

ESO: Background information: Federica Mogherini has outlined an ambitious plan for EU foreign and security policy, but whether it is attainable remains to be seen http://www.europeansources.info/record/federica-mogherini-has-outlined-an-ambitious-plan-for-eu-foreign-and-security-policy-but-whether-it-is-attainable-remains-to-be-seen/

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