Niezalezna(.)pl: The Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) of the European Parliament voted today on a report with proposals for changes to the European Union treaties.
They assume, among other things, the elimination of the principle of unanimity (veta) in votes in the EU Council and the transfer of competences from the level of member states to the EU level.
The creation of two new exclusive competences would mean a strengthening of the Union's role in climate policy issues. In turn, sharing competences in areas that are currently the exclusive prerogative of Member States could mean adopting regulations in these areas that are binding on all countries, even if not all of them agreed to it. Opponents of these changes point to the potential possibility of indirectly influencing school curricula or - within the framework of health protection - limiting the protection of the life of unborn children.
The report also provides for the simplification of the procedure for suspending membership of countries that violate "EU values", such as "the rule of law", "democracy", "freedom", "human rights" or "equality". Opponents of the solutions contained in the report emphasize that these concepts are too general, which makes it possible to interpret them in almost any way. As a consequence, the amendment may de facto provide stronger countries with a tool of political struggle against weaker ones.
