Notre Europe's viewpoint | 19/03/2009 

The systemic shock provoked by the worst financial and economic crisis in sixty years reminds us of the "need for Europe". The urgency of the situation makes it more necessary than ever for Europeans to coordinate decision-making, in order to break the vicious circle of recession. This is true both at the regional level and on the international stage. The debates of the Transatlantic Forum were a reminder that if world governance is to progress, it will need new leadership by the EU and the United States - and this will not happen without a strong Europe.

But such a Europe will be built over a long period. Several major projects are underway, beginning with an improvement in the EU's own governance. Mario Monti draws lessons from the Lisbon Treaty ratification process and proposes ways to avoid a future impasse for the EU caused by a single member blocking the ratification of a treaty.

In the nearer future, on 4-7 June the Union will call on its citizens to elect their representatives to the European Parliament. For thirty years abstention has been rising at this essential moment in Europe's democracy, while at the same time the Parliament has been gaining powers (budgetary, legislative and political). To break out of this situation, the study "EU democracy and the role of the European Parliament' suggests ways to strengthen the bonds between Europeans and their institutions.

Beyond institutionsThe difficulties of the Lisbon Treaty ratification process should not let us forget that , there is an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of EU policy with the 2009 revision of financial perspectives and in case the discussions on the post-2013 financial framework lead to a positive outcome. To stimulate an ambitious political debate upstream of these budget negotiationsdiscussions, last December Notre Europe and the Belgian think tank Egmont invited experts, diplomats, Commission officials and Parliament representatives to discuss , without taboos, the CAP - including its contribution to the EU's objectives and its budget. We now publish the summary of their discussions.

Let us hope that this period of crisis, so favourable to decision-making, turns out to be a fertile source of long-term directions for the EU.