11 July 2013

VP Šefčovič: National parliaments and the future of Economic and Monetary Union

It is already certain that any decisions that will require Treaty change, or indeed any further pooling of sovereignty without the need for a revision of the Treaty, will also raise questions of democratic accountability. You, as national parliamentarians and as European parliamentarians, will have a vital role to play in ensuring that democratic accountability is strengthened as a result of these necessary changes. Part of the Commission's blueprint is indeed devoted to this particularly important issue. In the Commission's view, any work on democratic legitimacy as the cornerstone of a genuine EMU needs to be based on two basic principles:

First, accountability should be ensured at that level where the respective decisions are taken, whilst taking due account of the level where the decisions have an impact.

And second, the level of democratic legitimacy always needs to correspond with the degree of pooling or sharing sovereignty.

We have already suggested a number of ways to improve the so-called ex ante coordination of major economic reform plans in Member States, in order to take account of the possible spillover effects they may have on others. And we have also started a debate on a Convergence and Competitiveness Instrument, proposing contractual arrangements for Member States to undertake specific reforms and offering financial support to help Member States implement these reforms.

We will all need to play our part in explaining to the citizens of Europe just what these proposals will mean and how parliaments at national and European levels will play a full part in the process. This will of course be even more necessary as we move deeper into economic and monetary union – as for example with our proposals for a full banking union...

I think it's important to remember from the outset that the roles of the European and national parliaments are specific and complementary. And as partners, you need of course to talk to each other on a more regular and structured basis, which is why we need to find new ways to increase the level of cooperation between the European and national parliaments…

I strongly support the suggestion made by the Speaker of the Irish Parliament during that first European Week, that national parliaments should organise ''Europe days'', involving members of European parliaments, with the objective of debating topical European issues. The Country specific recommendations, the banking union or our proposals to strengthen the internal market are all issues that are at the centre of our discussions at EU level and could be ideal subjects for such “Europe days” in national parliaments.

I also believe that it would be particularly relevant if National Parliaments organised such “Europe days” at the end of each year in order to discuss the Commission Work Programme for the following year. This would enable you to identify those upcoming proposals that are particularly important for you and thus help you to focus your input.

Full speech

© European Commission