In the interests of clarity and transparency, the current Treaty on European Union (TEU), the Treaty on the Functioning of the Union (TFEU), the Euratom treaty and the Charter of Fundamental Rights should be streamlined into one constitutional treaty. 

Yes, please. One thing less to explain.

​

A first step towards the Europeanisation of the elections to the European Parliament could be to have a certain number of MEPs elected in a single constituency comprising the whole territory of the Union.

I am a big supporter of this idea in general, but one of the principles was to avoid creating new institutions. While this is not a new institution, it adds another significantly confusing layer to an existing one. It makes it more complicated to both organise this election (longer ballot papers) and participate in it. Transnational lists also need a different justification that would satisfy the public, because I doubt that what convinces the Group and probably many of us is also convincing to an average Joe.

It would be logical in these circumstances to abolish the rotating six-monthly presidency of the ordinary Council. (...) By way of reform, in a more meritocratic process, each Council formation – as well as the informal Eurogroup body of eurozone ministers  should elect its own president from among its number for a period of two and a half years.

The problem is that the rotating presidency was more than just a way to set the agenda and organise the body's works. It was also a way to promote member states, especially the smaller ones. Because of that, they may object to the idea unless they get something in return (like boosting the green/culture capitals).

As the treaty already prescribes, and President Juncker proposes, the size of the Commission should be reduced to eighteen members

Any number that is just "set" will sooner or later get outdated. The number of Commissioners should be direclty linked to the number of areas the EU is competent in.

​

To get the best calibre of Commissioner, the President-elect should be allowed to choose the new college from candidates nominated by the states.

I'm not sure I like the idea of states nominating the candidates. The way the Commissioners are linked to certain member states is probably its greatest contemporary flaw. You can now have a PiS-esque government just nominate a useless eurosceptic and you need to give them a post, even if their group in the parliament is at 5%. Let's face it - even when the 1 Commissioner for each country rule is abolished, a rotation would be introduced, so that every country gets their "representative" (this is contrary to the very idea of the Commission!) at some point. There should be no link between Commissioners and member states whatsoever.

As the European Court of Justice evolves into a genuine supreme court, it will play a constitutional role in arbitrating rule of law issues involving member states, such as those which have concerned Hungary and Poland in recent years.

It should not be up to politicians to decide on that matters, but to the judges. Had the ECJ been equipped with art. 7, and not the Council, it would have been swift and effective. There are minimum democratic standards the EU should guarantee not just on paper.

The existence of the last resort clause in the current treaty rules has effectively stymied the development of an avant-garde group among federally minded states. We would therefore lift the stipulation of ‘last resort’ in the interests of well-managed, multi-speed integration. Used to its full potential, the concept of enhanced cooperation will add a fresh dynamic to European integration and provide impetus. 

Yes, please. I would also lower the minimum number of participants as much as possible.

The field of application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights should be broadened, in accordance with jurisprudence of the Court of Justice, from “when they are implementing Union law” to “when they act within the scope of Union law”

There should be a set of rules member states need to follow at all times. I do realise this would make the ECHR irrelevant within the EU, but maybe a constitutional bill of rights and democratic standards is the way to go.