On 11 September, Renew Europe members adopted the Ostend declaration, setting out key political priorities for the forthcoming hearings of candidate European Commissioners and the first 100 days of the incoming European Commission.

Meeting in Ostend, Belgium, MEPs signed a document detailing expectations for parliamentary hearings of prospective candidates, centred on a firm belief in the further integration of the EU as a political project, independence from national Member States, commitment to reform and Parliamentary scrutiny.

The Group will expect Commissioner-candidates to show proactive commitment in defending the EU values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty, the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the conventions to which the EU is party.

"European Commissioners are required to put the European interest first; we want visionaries, dreamers and doers. Mrs von der Leyen’s new Commission must embrace European renewal. There are no job vacancies for populists, nationalists or the uninspired,” said Renew Europe President Valérie Hayer MEP.

"The incoming European Commission must become a job-making machine. Democratic backsliding in Europe has to end and this demands a European Commission that actively defends liberal democracy, at home and abroad.

“Our first priority remains to speed up and reinforce military support to Ukraine, because their freedom is our security. Peace in Europe is precious and it demands an EU that can protect its citizens. Europe must finally take its destiny into its own hands."

A renewed economic model is needed if we want to avoid a slow agony. For that, bold reforms are necessary!

We call on the incoming @EU_Commission to embrace the Draghi report without any delay in order to kick-start Europeans Competitiveness:

Draghi's plan: Just do it! pic.twitter.com/gK4uKqAyYd

— Renew Europe (@RenewEurope) September 11, 2024