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Time for a better definition of the subsidiarity principle and a pre-legislative territorial impact assessment
At its 112th plenary session, the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) President Markku Markkula called for a better definition of the subsidiarity principle and the introduction of a territorial impact assessment of EU European legislation. Among the keynote speakers taking part in the debate on the future functioning of the EU were Mercedes Bresso (Italy/S&D) and Elmar Brok (Germany/EPP) – European Parliament co-rapporteurs of the report on "Improving the functioning of the European Union, building on the potential of the Lisbon Treaty", as well as Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium/ALDE) the Parliament's rapporteur on "Possible evolutions and adjustments of the current institutional set up of the European Union".
Opening the debate, Markku Markkula, called for a wide public discussion involving local and regional authorities to reform the Lisbon Treaty: "As local and regional representatives we know the everyday impact of EU policy in our territories which is why we ask that the territorial impact assessment should be a part of the pre-legislative phase in EU decision-making. We now need a clearer definition of the principle of subsidiarity". President Markkula also addressed the increased democratic deficit which breeds euroscepticism: "The talk of a democratic deficit of the European Union is still continuing, despite the increased power of the European Parliament and the openness of the Commission. In our assembly, we host locally elected leaders, closest to the EU citizens' everyday lives."
Echoing his words, Mercedes Bresso MEP said that whilst progress had been made towards a closer union in the Digital Single Market and Economic and Monetary affairs, more needed to be done to reinforce democratic accountability and the political union. She further called for an extension of the application of the principle of subsidiarity within the European semester. Finally, she stressed the need for genuine European defence and security policy to face renewed geopolitical threats and challenges.
Elmar Brok MEP proclaimed that he wanted to continue the European construction as a federal system. "But I don’t agree that regions should form a fourth or fifth legislative chamber of the Union", he said. In his view, the institutional and political role of a second European chamber could be attributed to the Council. Reflecting the wish of President Markkula to redefine the subsidiarity principle application, he mentioned that this was ongoing in the UK with regards to relations to Scotland reflecting "a balance between subsidiarity and solidarity".
Guy Verhofstadt MEP recalled that, "Further political integration is more a problem of national political elites who fear the sharing of national sovereignty and not the lack of support of European citizens". He remarked that the fiscal capacity of the EU should be developed as well: "We need our own fiscal resources; we need a Treasury Commissioner as well", he concluded.
Contact:
Branislav Stanicek
Tel: 022822471
branislav.stanicek@cor.europa.eu
