Europe to EU: Act now to re-energise our union - report

Re-energising Europe: A package deal for the EU27, outlines an ambitious, yet realistic, “win-win package deal” covering the economic and social, migration and security dimensions. Arguing that action is needed now to reverse the collateral damage of the poly-crisis and counter surges in authoritarian populism, the package deal outlined in the report focuses on the immediate future. It offers pragmatic compromises that could lead to tangible progress within the framework of the current European Union (EU) Treaties, and balances the distinctive interests, concerns and aspirations within and between diverse member states. The deal seeks to strike a balance between competing ideologies on key issues facing the EU, putting forth proposals that balance economic responsibility with solidarity, security with solidarity, national sovereignty with integration and growth with cohesion. Moreover, the report proposes intra- and cross-dimensional compromises across policy areas, arguing that enlarging the negotiation agenda beyond one specific field helps balance different member state priorities and identifies where wider agreements can contribute to overcoming previously insurmountable red lines. Rather than advocating for a particular set of policies, the report aims to demonstrate that such a winwin package deal is, in fact, possible, and spark further national and transnational debates about the future of Europe. Passing such a comprehensive package deal will help “future-proof” and re-energise the EU by addressing many of the underlying factors fueling the persistent threat of authoritarian populism and reminding citizens of the EU’s value. “Europe cannot afford stagnation,” said Herman Van Rompuy, President Emeritus of the European Council and Chair of New Pact for Europe’s Advisory Group. “We need political will and leadership to bolster Europe’s protective arm ahead of the forthcoming storm. This New Pact for Europe report shows the way out.” The report reflects more than 120 national and transnational debates that have taken place with policymakers, experts, civil society representatives, ordinary citizens, and other stakeholders across the EU over the last five years in 17 member states. These conversations shed light on areas of overlap and divergence on key issues and highlighted how a cross-dimensional approach could deliver a deal in which each member state can benefit without giving up too much. “What makes the report’s proposal truly unique is also its strength,” said Janis A. Emmanouilidis, Director of Studies at the European Policy Centre and author of the report, “and that’s the bottom-up process we used to develop it. This is not the ‘Brussels bubble’ speaking to the EU; it is the EU coming together to break the stalemate in Brussels.”