Mario Draghi called for the expansion of the European Union to the east as well as an amendment to the EU treaty to streamline decision-making within the bloc.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has said that the European Union needs to rise stronger in the face of historic challenges posed by war in Ukraineincluding by extension to the east.
He told the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday that the conflict is “a security, humanitarian, energy and economic crisis rolled into one” that makes the EU’s existing institutions appear “un enough” in their response.
The answer, he argues, is “pragmatic federalism” with rationalized decision-making that would eliminate member states’ veto powers that can now often thwart the majority position. .
“This is the beginning of a path that will lead to a treaty amendment. And if that’s the case, we should embrace it,” he said, to applause from the MEPs.
Draghi, a former president of the European Central Bank credited with saving the euro from collapsing 10 years ago, said the EU’s eastward expansion was key, including taking in Ukraine.
European aspirations
“We need full integration of countries with European aspirations,” he said.
He voiced Italy’s support for the “immediate opening of accession negotiations” with Albania and North Macedonia, as well as intensifying negotiations with Kosovo and Bosnia.
“We support all of these countries joining the European Union, and we also want Ukraine to be a member of the European Union,” he said.
Days after Russia invaded in February, Ukraine begged to join the EU quickly.
Brussels responded by saying the process was rigorous, complex and taking years, but offered Kyiv a faster preliminary review period.
Albania and North Macedonia are ready to begin the accession process as of 2020, but have been in limbo because of opposition from Bulgaria and conditions imposed by Germany and the Netherlands.
Defense Integration
Draghi also called on Europe to move faster in the direction of more integrated defense.
He told EU lawmakers that military spending across the bloc was “deeply inefficient” due to its allocation to more than 130 armed forces and individual organisations.
He praised the Council of Europe’s action plan to strengthen the EU’s security and defense policy by 2030 but said it was necessary to “get over these first steps quickly”.
Draghi stressed that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens “peace on our continent”.
He affirmed his support for continued military assistance at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying that “defending Ukraine means protecting ourselves”.
