Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Renew Europe MEPs endorsed the Ostend Declaration, emphasizing EU integration, reform, and scrutiny. They call for Commissioners to defend EU values, support Ukraine, and combat democratic backsliding.
On 11 September 2024, Renew Europe members assumed the Ostend declaration, setting out key political preferences for the forthcoming hearings of candidate European Commissioners and the first 100 days of the incoming EU Commission.
Session in Ostend, Belgium, MEPs signed a document detailing anticipations for parliamentary hearings of prospective candidates, focused on a firm belief in the additional integration of the EU as a political project, freedom from national Member States, commitment to reform, and parliamentary scrutiny.
The Group expects Commissioner-candidates to show proactive commitment to defending the EU values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the conventions to which the EU is party.
How does Valérie Hayer view the future of European leadership?
Renew Europe President Valérie Hayer MEP emphasized that European Commissioners should prioritize the European interest and highlighted the need for visionaries, dreamers, and doers. She indicated that Mrs. von der Leyen’s new Commission should champion European renewal and that there is no place for populists, nationalists, or those lacking inspiration.
Hayer also suggested that the incoming European Commission should focus on creating jobs and addressing the issue of democratic backsliding in Europe by actively defending liberal democracy both within Europe and internationally. She noted that speeding up and reinforcing military support for Ukraine should be a top priority, as their freedom is considered integral to European security. Furthermore, she stressed that achieving peace in Europe is vital and requires an EU capable of protecting its citizens and taking control of its future.
