Vice-President Viviane RedingTowards a United States of Europe

European Commission
Vice-President Viviane Reding

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Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship

Towards a United States of Europe

"The award by the Nobel Committee shows that in these difficult times the European Union remains an inspiration for countries and people all over the world and that the international community needs a strong European Union. The European project is not held together by military force, but by the rule of law and fundamental rights for 500 million citizens. After all that has been achieved, Europe now has the chance to develop even further, into a strong political union. For this, we need to be more united than ever." – Vice President Viviane Reding

The on-going crisis has triggered a very necessary public debate about where Europe is heading. To make Economic and Monetary Union truly irreversible and to regain trust and confidence, it is important to give citizens and companies a perspective on what Europe will look like in 2020. For Vice-President Reding, strengthening Europe and strengthening Europe's legitimacy can be best done by turning our Union into a United States of Europe.

As in the U.S., we will need a two-chamber system for the United States of Europe. A durable political Union with a strong government (the Commission) and two Chambers: the European Parliament and a 'Senate' of Member States. This European government must be accountable to the directly elected European Parliament. The head of the European government should, according to Vice-President Reding, be elected by the European Parliament which represents all EU citizens.

These changes will not happen overnight and it is crucial citizens get to have their say in the debate. This is why, throughout the year 2013, Vice-President Reding and her fellow Commissioners will join forces with national and local politicians in holding debates with citizens all across Europe – to listen to them and answer their questions.