Print Magazine
Brussels Morning Newspaper
Saturday, September 23, 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Newspaper
  • Home
    • About Us
  • EU institutions
    • Commission
    • Parliament
    • Council
  • Europe
  • World
  • Economy
  • Culture and Society
  • In Depth
    • Ambassador’s Corner
    • The American Angle
    • Sustainable Perspective
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Place de la Bourse
    • The Macro-Economist
    • Southeast Europe
Brussels Morning Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
Home Europe

Not another wishlist: Europe’s foundations are giving way!

Volt Europa by Volt Europa
12 September 2023
in Europe
Not another wishlist: Europe’s foundations are giving way!
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) As Ursula von der Leyen takes the stage to deliver her annual State of the European Union Speech tomorrow, Volt Europa and Damian Boeselager wonder whether it will be a sincere reflection of Europe’s reality or just another wish list? Were the promises she made to the European Parliament in 2019 kept? 

Damian Boeselager, Volt MEP:

  • “The truth is: VDL couldn’t fix the huge cracks that are appearing everywhere! Orban undermines elections and Ukraine aid, the PiS party throws their justice system under the bus.”
  • “To fix Europe – and also to get ready for Ukraine and Moldova – we need treaty change! It’s high time VDL takes the lead for more fundamental reform!”
  • “It makes little sense to add additional floors to a building when at the same time the foundations are giving way. She should address our mold problem…” 
  • “A Green New Deal is great! But let’s not forget who we are dealing with.”

Over her four years as the head architect of Europe’s future, President von der Leyen promised prosperity, security, and well-being for all. However, as we evaluate her tenure, we find signs of strain as the house of promises she built begins to crumble. 

The Cracks in the Foundation 

To create a European Powerhouse that can tackle today’s challenges, a robust, citizen-driven democracy is essential. Unfortunately, Ursula von der Leyen’s team fell short in strengthening EU democracy. The European Parliament’s Right of Initiative remained unimplemented, the voices of citizens from the Conference on the Future of Europe are still being ignored, majority decisions on foreign policy are nowhere to be seen, and Treaty Change has not yet been triggered. If the foundation cracks, the beauty of the rest of the house does not matter.

The shabby doors

The pact on asylum is old wine in new bottles. The proposals do not provide the real solutions needed to build a fair, efficient, and humane asylum system in the EU. The new laws will unlikely address the migratory challenges that Europe is facing. Rather the approach is diminishing in humanity, following the same mass detention and suffering policy EU governments took up some years ago. Instead of standing strong against national violations of EU law and the ongoing failure to enforce the rule of law, the Commission has reduced its role to a service provider.   

The Green Roof 

Within the expansive EU house, the European Green Deal resembles a ‘green roof’ filled with promise—a swift action plan that endured the challenges of the pandemic. While proposals related to climate neutrality, circular economy, sustainable investment, and biodiversity strategies are abundant, their effective implementation lags behind. It’s a reminder that a house with weak foundations will still crumble under the weight of a strong and solid roof like the Green Deal.

Check out the rest of the “EU house” here

“President von der Leyen’s failed promises reflect a lack of ambition and vision for a truly united European Union that thrives together and leads the global challenges we are facing. Tomorrow, as the State of the European Union speech unfolds, Volt Europa is poised to be the catalyst for change. We embody a Europe of action, not just rhetoric—a Europe where citizens’ aspirations for a greener, fairer, and more inclusive future take center stage.”, said Francesca Romana D’antuono, President of Volt Europa 

The European citizens who had placed their trust in von der Leyen’s vision for a more united and prosperous EU now find themselves living in a house with a cracked foundation, shaky walls, and broken windows. They deserve better than this half-hearted construction.

It’s time to renovate the house Ursula von der Leyen built and make it a home where every European finds prosperity, justice, and hope.

Tags: Brussels Latest
Follow Brussels Morning
Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin

About Us

Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.

More Info

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Jobs

Categories

  • Belgium News
  • Brussels
  • Culture and Society
  • Economy
  • EU Institutions
  • Commission
  • Council
  • Parliament
  • Europe
  • Features
  • Health & Fitness
  • In Depth
  • Ambassador’s Corner
  • Europe With Transparency
  • Place de la Bourse
  • Southeast Europe
  • Sustainable Perspective
  • The American Angle
  • The Macro-Economist
  • Member States
  • Opinion
  • Our pick
  • Uncategorised
  • World
  • Diplomacy
  • Middle East Eye
  • US Elections
  • Join Our Newsletter

    Brussels Morning Newspaper – All Rights Reserved © 2020

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Brussels Bubble
      • Parliament
      • Commission
      • Council
    • Wider Europe
      • Member States
    • World
    • Business & Society
    • Europe With Transparency
    • Culture & Society
    • Policy Talks
      • Place de la Bourse
      • The Macro-Economist
      • Sustainable Perspective
      • Ambassador’s Corner
      • The American Angle
      • Southeast Europe
    • Print Magazine

    Brussels Morning Newspaper - All Rights Reserved © 2020

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT