At the core of the Federalist demands lies the demand for the abolition of the veto and the subsequent implementation of majority voting representation. The future success of EU integration lies in the necessity to shift away from a cooperation-based model to one based on the creation of a Supranational Power.
For the Union to reach its potential and take on the role of a supranational body, we must overcome the power of veto held by Europe’s single member states all whilst extending the majority voting to all Member States. This is a key bone of contention which presents itself in the debate on the future of European integration. Moving away from the unanimity method and in turn replacing it with qualified majority decision making is an integral step of reform in the strive to free the EU from the limitations imposed by individual member states with regards to its functioning.
Echoing Draghi’s sentiments, “We need a pragmatic federalism that encompasses all areas affected by ongoing transformations — from the economy to energy to security,”. Removing unanimity voting and the veto power must be accompanied by several structural changes which move away from the logic of cooperation between sovereign states. Furthermore, this must be replaced by the creation of a democratically legitimised supranational power, which is capable of acting independently of member states. Following the migration crisis which Europe has been facing since the Arab Spring and more specifically the Syrian Civil War, the Covid-19 Pandemic and the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine, this shift has become all the more necessary.
JEF Malta is strongly committed to the federalist cause, and strives towards a Union which is very much found upon close-knit integration efforts. That being said, we are also understanding of the fact that our country specifically-- as both a small island state and a European Union Member State, would be temporarily negatively affected by efforts to remove veto voting (especially when it comes to taxation and harmonisation efforts). Migration is another area which affects Malta greatly. Removing the veto could potentially result in the introduction of newly set-migratory quotas which each member state would have to adhere to. That being said, a federalist Europe offers each and every single member state greater strength and protection within the framework of a singular bloc community.