Context
The EU suffers from a democratic deficit that fuels populist opposition. Belgium, as host to EU institutions, has unique standing to lead this debate on genuine federal structures.
Policy Positions
- Transform European Commission into federal government — Accountable to Parliament, not just Council
- Strengthen European Parliament — Full legislative initiative, budgetary authority, oversight powers
- Reform Council into true Senate — Bicameral system with qualified majority voting as default
- European citizenship as genuine nationality — Not subordinate to national citizenship
- Common European foreign and defense policy — Single voice on world stage
- European fiscal capacity — Genuine EU budget funded by own resources
- Convention for Treaty reform — Support calls for constitutional convention per Article 48
- Differentiated integration — Allow willing states to integrate faster without unanimous consent
Key Arguments
- No single European nation can match the power of the US, China, or Russia
- Current EU structure is "bureaucratic and un-democratic" — reform is essential
- Federal structure preserves national identities while enabling collective action
- Belgium's experience with federalism offers model for EU reform