Substantial reflection and practical proposals are necessary in the context of European elections

At today’s plenary session of the European Parliament, MEPs discussed a report on the stocktaking of European elections. Fidesz MEP László Trócsányi emphasized that real self-examination is essential, but unfortunately the text of the report formulates ideological positions. The European Parliament must not pursue ideologies or dreams, but serve the interest of its citizenswithout losing touch with reality.

In his speech, the MEP emphasized the importance of the report, stating that  one of the most significant rights of our EU citizenship, which derives from our national citizenship, is to participate in European elections, opening the door to our democratic representation in the European political space. That is why self-reflection is to be encouraged. 

He regretted, however, that the report is not, in fact, a self-assessment, but under the disguise of such an exercise, it is actually an ideological document that, at the expense of the competences of the Member States, seeks to further expand the agenda of the idea of a federal Europe. He stated that for Europe to be strong, there must be real diversity and pluralism in European public debates. There need to be real and meaningful exchanges of views, it is not possible to push actual dialogues aside with controlled processes, and to decide on substantive issues without real discussion. That is what unity in diversity means, real, substantial discussions,” he added. 

Further parts of the document are also debatable as it sets out requirements that are not feasible in practice. It focuses on ideology instead of realities, institutional issues instead of pragmatic proposals. “These proposals are divisive, would shake the carefully crafted institutional balance in which the Member States have an important role to play and lost in territories, in which decision-making belongs to the Member States,” László Trócsányi emphasized. He stated that the Member States and citizens were primarily interested in questions like Europe’s global role, in ensuring its competitiveness, in overcoming demographic challenges and in supporting and protecting the European way of life. “While the European Parliament has doubts about its own legitimate functioning, it is formulating proposals that do not fall within its remit but within the competence of the Member States,” he said.

“I cannot support a document that is not based on realities and that seeks to undermine the powers of the Member States. We do not  need a document imbued with ideology, but real self-examination, because that is the key to a successful future for the European Union. We need a real and meaningful exchange of views, and we should work to make that happen” – he explained. 

Background: The report on the stocktaking of the European elections was referred to the plenary by the European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) with a view to the European Parliament’s assessment of the results of the 2019 European elections. However, going beyond its original objective, the draft also envisaged reform proposals such as the introduction of a lead candidate system or a transnational list, a reduction in the number of commissioners, or the reduction of the minimum voting age at the elections of the European Parliament in all Member States to 16 years.