Calls to reform the institutions to make the EU more efficient, more democratic and better adapted to contemporary challenges are growing.
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00:00 15 years have passed since the last update of a treaty of the European Union.
00:07 Entering into force in 2009, the Treaty of Lisbon clarified the division of powers between the EU and member states.
00:14 Since then, some have called for treaty changes in anticipation of the bloc's enlargement.
00:19 The EU needs to be made future-proof. It has to become more agile, it has to have more capacity to act,
00:26 in particular if the EU is going to grow.
00:30 Institutional reforms had also aimed to build on the EU's capacity to respond to contemporary challenges.
00:39 We are dealing with a different international context, and Europe needs to raise its capacity to defend itself, to support Ukraine.
00:49 So the European Parliament, which gave the green light at the end of November to proposals for reforming the treaties of the Union,
00:56 proposed to create a defence union with military capabilities.
01:00 Proponents of reform argued that defence of the rule of law and democratic legitimacy of the EU could also be strengthened.
01:08 One of the major weaknesses of the European Union has been over the past years,
01:14 that it hasn't been able to protect the rule of law in all member states.
01:18 The expert recommends increasing budgetary conditions and improving Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union,
01:25 which allows the suspension of a member state's voting rights in the Council in the event of non-compliance with its fundamental values.
01:32 Triggered against Poland and Hungary, Article 7 never succeeded and has not yet achieved its goal.
01:38 Digital and energy transitions, the fight against climate change and health crises,
01:43 are all global challenges that require increased EU capacity for action, according to experts.
01:49 Europe needs to have a key role in improving global governance when dealing with climate change.
01:56 When it comes to energy, experts and MEPs propose the creation of an integrated European Energy Union
02:02 to guarantee a stable, affordable and sustainable energy supply for Europeans.
02:08 There are also calls for increased EU competence to ensure fair and impartial access to healthcare within the EU
02:15 or to conduct group procurement of vaccines.
02:19 However, opponents of these proposed reforms believe that these powers belong to member states
02:23 and many are calling for more national sovereignty.
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