BETA

21 Amendments of György SCHÖPFLIN related to 2014/2248(INI)

Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas this problem, coupled with a lack of a common vision on the part of our Member States as regards the future of our continent, has given rise to unprecedented levels of ‘euroscepticism’ that risk a return to nationalism and the disintegration of the Union;
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas, instead of fostering the Union, the system whereby Member States make progress at different speeds in accordance with their different capacities and circumstances, further reinforced in the Lisbon Treaty, which introduced new formal methods of enhanced cooperation, has increased the complexity of the Union and accentuated its ‘variable geometry’; whereas more and more Member States are declining to agree on the goals and prefer properly ‘à la carte’ solutions, some of them even unilaterally;
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas, in the field of the euro and monetary policy, the United Kingdom obtained a permanent derogation from joining (Protocol No 15), Denmark has a constitutional exemption (Protocol No 16), Sweden has ceased to follow the euro convergence criteria and the possibility of Greece leaving the single currency hasve been openly and thus transparently discussed in the European Council;
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas, as regards Schengen, the free movement of people and the resulting abolition of internal border controls, all formally integrated into the Treaties, ‘opt- outs’ were given to the UK and Ireland; whereas four other Member States are also not taking part, though would like to do so, but have the obligation to do so, while ‘opt-ins’ were accorded to three countries outside the European Union; whereas this fragmentation not only prevents the total abolition of some remaining internal borders, but also hinders the establishment of a true internal market and according to some of a fully integrated area of freedom, security and justice;
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas, last but not least, this ‘variable geometry’ endangers the uniform application of EU law, leads to excessive complexity in terms of governance, jeopardises the cohesion of the Union and undermines solidarity among its citizens; but, equally, is fully in accordance with the ‘unity in diversity’ of Europe;
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 228 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
R. whereas, finally, the urgency for R. reform of the Union has been dramatically increased by the United Kingdom’s decision, throughfollowing on a referendum, to leave the European Union; whereas Article 50 TEU explicitly highlights that any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements; whereas it is crystal clear that the negotiations to set out the arrangements for the UK’s withdrawal also need to take account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union; whereas this agreement must be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) TFEU and be concluded on behalf of the Union by the Council, acting by a qualified majority, after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament;
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
S. whereas the UK’s decision creates an opportunity to reduce and drastically simplify the ‘variable geometry’ and complexity of the Union; whereas it offers at least the opportunity to clarify what membership of the Union really means and what could be a clear structure in the future for the EU’s relationship with non- members in our periphery (the United Kingdom, Norway, Turkey, Ukraine, etc.); whereas the founding fathers of the Union had already envisaged a type of ‘associate status’;deleted
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Notes that the direction of the Union’s reform should lead towards its modernisation by establishing new effective European capacities and instruments, rather than its renationalisation by means of greater intergovernmentalism;
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 297 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines that recent Eurobarometer polling demonstrates that, contrary to popular belief, some, but only some EU citizens are still fully aware of the importance of, and in support of, genuine European solutions19 ; __________________ 19 Standard Eurobarometer 84 - Autumn 2015 & Special Eurobarometer EP - June 2016.
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Observes with great concern the proliferation of subsets of Member States undermining the unity of the Union by causing a lack of transparency, as well as diminishing the trust of the people;deleted
2016/11/16
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 345 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that the fracturinglexible process of ‘variable geometry’ has found its way into the European decision-making process every time the European Council decides to apply intergovernmental methods and to bypass the ‘Union method’ as lbeit undefined in the Treaties; this not only leads to less effective policy-making but also contributes to a growing lack of transparency, democratic accountability and control and accepts this as a viable method of European governance;
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 358 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that the ‘Union method’ is not the only method for legislating which ensures that all interests, especially the common European interest, are taken into account; understands by ‘Union method’ that the Commission as the executive initiates legislation, Parliament and the Council representing respectively the citizens and the states decide by majority voting, and the Court of Justice oversees and provides ultimate judicial control;
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 366 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. Considers it essential in these circumstances to reaffirm the mission of an ‘ever-closer union among the peoples of Europe’ (Article 1 TEU) in order to mitigate any tendency towards disintegration and to clarify once more the moral, political and historical purpose, as well as the constitutional nature, of the European Union; not least by seeking inputs from all the diverse voices to be found in Europe an Uniond taking these fully into account in order to enhance the legitimacy of the European project;
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 386 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
9. Proposes that the next revision of the Treaties should rationalise the current disorderly ‘variable geometry’, i.e. ‘l’Europe à la carte’, by ending the disruptive practice of opt-outs, opt-ins and exceptions;
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 397 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Recommends that, instead of these multiple derogations, a type of ‘associate status’ could be proposed to those states in the periphery that only want to participate on the sideline, i.e. in some specific Union policies; this status should be accompanied by obligations corresponding to the associated rights;deleted
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 411 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
11. Notes that this new type of ‘associate status’ could also be one of the possible outcomes to respect the will of the majority of the citizens of the United Kingdom to leave the EU; stresses that this wish must be respected, given that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom, as one of the larger Member States, and as the largest non-euro-area member, affects the strength and the institutional balance of the Union – a new situation that adds to the need for revision of the Treaties;deleted
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 840 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
35. Proposes transforming the Commission into the principle executive authority or government of the Union with the aim of strengthening the ‘Union method’, increasing transparency and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of action taken at the level of the European Union;deleted
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 854 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
36. Reiterates its call for the size of the renewed Commission to be reduced substantially and for its vice-presidents to be reduced to two: the Finance Minister and the Foreign Minister; suggests that the same reduction be applied to the Court of Auditors;deleted
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 876 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
37. Welcomes the successful new procedure whereby European political parties promote their top candidates for the President of the European executive, but believes that they should be able to stand during the next elections as official candidates in all Member States; proposes, therefore, following its legislative proposal on the reform of the electoral law of the European Union, empowering the electorate by giving them two votes, one for the national or regional lists and a second one for the European party lists; these European lists will be headed by the parties’ nominees to become President of the European executive or government and will be composed of candidates drawn from at least one third of the Member States;
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 950 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 44
44. Proposes that, when Parliament and the Council vote on legislation specific to the euro area, only MEPs elected in the euro area and respectively representatives of its member states, can take part in the vote;deleted
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO
Amendment 1012 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
52. Believes, finally, that the current Treaty ratification procedure is too rigid to befit such a supranational polity as the European Union; proposes allowing amendments to the Treaties to come into force if not by an EU-wide referendum then after being ratified by a qualified majority of four-fifths of the Member States, having obtained the consent of Parliament; correspondingly, once this threshold has been met, Member States which still decline to ratify the amended Treaty should decide, in accordance with their own constitutional requirements, whether to start the process of secession or to opt for an associate status;deleted
2016/11/09
Committee: AFCO