Kodaneva Svetlana Igorevna – Ph.D. in Law, Leading Researcher, INION RAS
European integration has come a long way, but the process has not always been smooth; there have been periods of stagnation and even setbacks. Each step left its mark on the legal landscape, contributing to the gradual establishment of supranational legal institutions within the EU. In this context, one of the most significant developments in recent years was the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty (2007), which gave the European Union full legal status, and also led to significant reforms in political institutions, allowing for further integration among the Member States. However, since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, the European Union has faced a series of unprecedented crises that questioned the legitimacy of its institutions and challenged its very existence. At the same time, plans for the EU’s further eastward expansion were outlined. As a result, European leaders were forced to acknowledge that, in its current form, the EU’s institutions would not be able to handle future challenges and maintain its cohesion. This led to renewed calls for institutional reform based on the principles of direct democracy and increased involvement of Europeans. The Conference on the Future of Europe, held in 2021–2022, served as a democratic platform for discussing the future of European integration with the citizens of Europe. However, the attitude of EU authorities towards the Conference and its outcomes varies significantly: there are calls for an immediate revision of EU treaties from the European Parliament, while the European Council blocks any such attempts. The article aims to analyze the complex context of discussions on possible institutional reform in the EU, as well as the positions of the three key bodies of the European Union: the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European Council. It also examines the content of legislative proposals put forward by these bodies.
the European Union, EU treaties, Lisbon Treaty, EU institutions, EU institutional reform, Conference on the Future of Europe
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