Mastodawn

Anyway, the report is a very useful overview of debates which will happen in the coming years.

The big problem is communication and citizen's involvement.

You can't just cook something up among diplomats, and then dump it on surprised citizens in a high-bullshit media environment.

Sadly, the CoFEU momentum seems gone...

EU voting rules: current QMV is kinda copied from the USA: 55% of member states, representing 65% of population.

Half the rule (population) gives massive power to the big member states, and the other half (number of countries) to citizens of micro-states. Sure we want to increase the latter (60%/60% rule)?

Math nerd view: having a degressively proportional function of population determine your voting weight might actually work more smoothly.

On concentric circles of EU integration: sounds good in theory, but will it work in practice?

If the inner circle is useful, all will want to join.

If the inner circle requires some (short-term) cost or risk, with altruistic benefits, all will want to free-ride.

Perhaps that's why we have rather few inner circles in the EU.

(I think € and Schengen are, in spirit, intended as universal with opt-outs)

One question I would have as a non-lawyer:

What does it mean concretely to move "policy" to QMV voting generically (except foreign policy and defence), but change "competences "separately (and modestly)?

Which concrete decisions would be easier by "moving to QMV" and which type of decisions would require changing the competences of the Union?

Is there a list?

(In my head, "not EU competence" and "requires unanimity" gets mixed up as "hopeless")

https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/blob/2617206/4d0e0010ffcd8c0079e21329bbbb3332/230919-rfaa-deu-fra-bericht-data.pdf

The report on EU Treaty Reform by 12 French and German experts, sponsored but not endorsed by DE and FR.

They want Rule of Law measures with teeth, a Europe of concentric circles with differentiated integration, much more use of voting by member states rather than unanimity, voting rules favouring small member states more, a smoother enlargement process, a bigger budget, and various smaller reforms.

It's a lot to digest!