CONSTITUTION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

PREAMBLE

The peoples of Europe, constituted into a Federal Union in the exercise of their sovereignty and inspired by the principles of direct democracy, subsidiarity, transparency, and absolute equality before the law, hereby enact and promulgate this Constitution.

TITLE I: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND GUARANTEES

Article 1. Individual and Procedural Rights

- Human life is inviolable. Torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment are absolutely prohibited.

- Freedom of worship, expression, the press, assembly, association, and the free movement of persons, goods, and capital throughout the territory of the Union are guaranteed.

- All inhabitants are equal before the law. Parliamentary, judicial, or executive immunity or special privilege is prohibited for any public official; all individuals are subject to arrest and prosecution under the rules of ordinary law.

- Access to Legal Representation: All defendants in criminal proceedings hold an absolute right to legal advice and counsel.

- Private property is guaranteed; it may only be expropriated for reasons of public utility by formal law and subject to prior, fair compensation.

Article 2. Federal Secularity and Nobility

1. Religious Neutrality: Absolute religious neutrality applies to all levels of government (Federal, Member State, and Municipal). The use of public funds, assets, or resources for the promotion, censorship, or persecution of any religion is strictly prohibited. No level of government shall grant public property, funds, or subsidies to private organizations dedicated to religious activities or purposes.

2. Titles of Nobility: The Federal Government shall neither grant nor recognize any titles of nobility. The granting and recognition of titles of nobility shall be exclusive to the individual Member States according to their respective constitutional traditions.

Article 3. Right to Suffrage

All citizens of the Union who are at least 18 years of age and have resided within a given jurisdiction for a minimum of 2 years hold an absolute right to vote in that jurisdiction. No citizen meeting these requirements shall be denied suffrage unless they are actively serving a criminal sentence under a final judicial conviction.

TITLE II: DIRECT DEMOCRACY, REFERENDUMS, AND POPULAR INITIATIVES

Article 4. Definition and Requirements of Binding Popular Instruments

Sovereignty resides in the citizens of the Union, who exercise it directly through binding popular instruments across all levels of government (Federal, Member State, or Municipal):

- Derogatory Referendum (Veto of Existing Laws): A direct democratic mechanism allowing citizens to vote to reject, void, or repeal a law, statute, or ordinance passed by a legislature. Requires signatures from 1% of the registered electorate of the respective jurisdiction. Approved by a simple majority of votes cast.

- Popular Initiative (Proposal of New Laws): A direct democratic mechanism allowing citizens to draft and submit a new law, statute, or ordinance directly to a binding public vote, bypassing the legislature. Requires signatures from 5% of the registered electorate of the respective jurisdiction. Approved by a simple majority of votes cast.

- Constitutional Amendment: Requires signatures from 10% of the total registered European electorate. Approved by a simple majority (over 50%) of all eligible registered voters in the Union. Constitutes the Supreme Law.

Article 5. System of Signature Collection, Certification, and Presentation

1. Municipal Separation: Signatures shall be gathered on official physical sheets or certified digital registries grouped exclusively by municipality. Every signatory must be registered to vote in the municipality where their signature is collected.

2. Municipal Verification: Before final submission to federal authorities, signature sheets must be presented to local municipal electoral offices. Municipal clerks shall verify each signature against the voter registry to confirm age, residence, and voting eligibility.

3. Central Presentation: Once certified by municipal authorities, all validated signature sheets shall be bundled and submitted to the Independent Electoral Authority within a maximum period of 18 months from official registration.

4. Final Validation: The Independent Electoral Authority shall count the certified signatures and officially publish the declaration of success or failure.

Article 6. Parliamentary Counter-Proposals, Ranked-Choice Voting, and Scheduling

1. Parliamentary Counter-Proposals: Parliament holds the explicit authority to draft and submit a direct legislative counter-proposal to any popular initiative or constitutional amendment to be placed alongside it on the ballot.

2. Ranked Choice Voting: Whenever a public referendum presents voters with more than two options on the ballot—such as a popular initiative appearing alongside a parliamentary counter-proposal—the referendum shall utilize Ranked Choice Voting to ensure an absolute majority consensus.

3. Mandatory Scheduling: Once signatures are validated, the corresponding referendum must be held no earlier than 30 days and no later than 90 days from the date of official verification.

4. Federal Referendum Spacing: Federal referendums of any type shall not be held less than 60 days apart.

Article 7. Legal Hierarchy, Supremacy, and Judicial Review

1. Federal Supremacy: Federal law—whether enacted by Parliament or passed by popular referendum or initiative—holds absolute legal supremacy over all Member State and local laws, statutes, ordinances, or acts, regardless of whether those sub-federal measures were passed by local legislatures or local popular referendums.

2. Rank of Popular Laws: Laws passed by popular referendum or initiative occupy a legal rank immediately below this Constitution and superior to acts passed by Parliament, unless they meet the voter approval threshold required for a Constitutional Amendment.

3. Judicial Review: The Supreme Court of Justice retains full authority to strike down any law or provision passed by popular referendum if it conflicts with or violates this Constitution.

4. Modification Restrictions: No law approved by Referendum or Popular Initiative may be modified or repealed by Parliament; only a subsequent popular vote or judicial constitutional strike-down may alter or invalidate it.

TITLE III: DIVISION OF POWERS, ADMISSION OF NEW STATES, AND JURISDICTION

Article 8. Federal Competencies, Expansion, and Taxation

1. Exclusive Competencies: The Federal Government holds exclusive power and jurisdiction over:

   - Monetary Policy: Issuance of currency, central banking, and regulation of the federal monetary system.

   - Military and Defense: Management of the Federal Armed Forces, border defense, and national security.

   - Foreign Relations: Conduct of international diplomacy, negotiation of treaties, and representation in international bodies.

   - Regulation of Commerce: Regulation of trade between Member States and with foreign nations.

1. Expansion of Competencies: Further federal competencies may be granted to the Federal Government exclusively by the People through a successful popular referendum.

2. Taxation Framework: Specific details, structures, and distribution of federal taxation law shall be established by Parliament or directly by popular referendum.

Article 9. Admission of New Member States

New Member States shall be admitted into the European Union upon fulfilling two cumulative conditions:

1. Popular Approval: Simple majority approval of the European citizenry through a federal popular referendum.

2. Neighboring Consent: Simple majority approval of the existing Member States that share a direct land or maritime border with the applicant state.

Article 10. Member State Autonomy and System Replication

1. Member States retain all powers, competencies, and jurisdictions not expressly granted to the Federal Government by this Constitution or added via popular referendum.

2. Member State governments and their municipal entities shall replicate the direct democracy and collegial structure of the Federal Government.

TITLE IV: LEGISLATIVE POWER (PARLIAMENT)

Article 11. Structure and Parity of Parliament

The Legislative Power of the Union resides in the Parliament, divided into two chambers of equal hierarchy and equal numerical membership:

- Total Membership Parity: The House of Representatives and the House of Citizens shall have the exact same total number of members.

- Apportionment and Election of Representatives: Member States shall be allocated one Representative per one million inhabitants, with a guaranteed minimum of two Representatives per Member State regardless of population. Representatives shall be elected by the citizens of each Member State through Open Party List Proportional Representation for a 5-year term.

- House of Citizens: Composed of an equal total number of members as the House of Representatives, selected by public, stratified lottery from the Union's voter registry. Members shall serve a 1-year term. Responsible for ethical oversight, the final review of legislative bills, and drafting the questions for federal popular initiatives and referendums.

- Exclusions from the Lottery: Individuals currently serving a criminal sentence, possessing a judicially declared medical impairment, not habitually residing in the Union, or serving in active military service are excluded from the lottery.

Article 12. Powers and Competencies of Parliament

The Parliament, through the coordinated action of both Chambers, holds the power to:

1. Exercise Legislative Functions: Enact, amend, or repeal ordinary laws and federal codes of the Union within federal jurisdiction.

2. Formulate Counter-Proposals: Draft official legislative counter-proposals to popular initiatives or constitutional amendments.

3. Establish Lower Courts: Structure and create lower federal courts across the Union by formal law.

4. Oversee the Executive: Directly elect the 7 Ministers of the Executive Council for a 5-year term.

5. Exercise Absolute Inspection and Investigation: Exercise an unrestricted right of inspection and investigation over all public administration. The Executive Branch may not claim state secrets, military secrecy, or confidentiality before parliamentary investigative committees.

6. Manage Budget and Taxation: Approve or reject the General Budget of the Union, establish federal taxes, and authorize the contracting of public debt.

7. Regulate Salaries: Regulate the unified salaries of high officials of the Union, applying any adjustment exclusively to the subsequent legislative term.

Article 13. Dispute Resolution Between Chambers

If one Chamber of Parliament approves a bill and the other Chamber rejects it, the legislation is not automatically lost. Instead, the bill shall be submitted directly to a binding popular referendum, which must be held no earlier than 30 days and no later than 90 days following the formal rejection. Informal conciliation between the chambers may take place prior to the vote.

Article 14. Approval of International Treaties

All international treaties, agreements, and conventions negotiated by the Executive Council require initial approval by the House of Representatives, followed by mandatory final ratification by the People through a popular referendum before taking legal effect.

Article 15. Emergency Laws

In the event of a natural disaster, severe economic crisis, or external threat against the Union, emergency laws and policies shall be drafted, debated, and approved exclusively by Parliament under an expedited procedure.

TITLE V: FEDERAL EXECUTIVE POWER

Article 16. Collegial Executive Council and Powers

- Composition and Election: The Executive Power of the Union shall consist of an Executive Council of 7 Ministers of equal rank, elected by the House of Representatives for a 5-year term.

- Presidency of the Union: The President of the European Union shall be a primus inter pares (first among equals) within the Council. The Presidency shall rotate annually among the 7 Ministers and shall exercise the protocolary representation of the Union without possessing unilateral executive powers.

- Powers and Competencies of the Executive Council:

  1. General Administration: Direct public administration, execute laws passed by Parliament or via popular vote, and manage the public services of the Union.

  2. Legislative Initiative and Regulation: Submit legislative proposals to Parliament and issue the necessary regulations for the complete execution and enforcement of European laws.

  3. Foreign Relations: Direct the foreign policy of the Union, negotiate, and sign international treaties, subject to approval by the House of Representatives and popular referendum.

  4. Security and Common Defense: Command the Federal Armed Forces and coordinate security forces to safeguard internal order, defend sovereignty, and maintain the territorial integrity of the Union.

  5. Financial Management: Prepare the annual draft of the General Budget of the Union for presentation to Parliament and collect federal taxes established by law.

  6. Mandatory Transparency: Regularly account for actions before both Chambers of Parliament and submit unconditionally to parliamentary inspections without claims of confidentiality.

TITLE VI: FEDERAL JUDICIAL POWER, JUDICIAL COUNCIL, AND SALARIES

Article 17. Independent Judicial Council and Qualification

An Independent Judicial Council shall evaluate, examine, and certify all legal professionals who meet the formal qualifications to serve as federal judges. Certification by this Council is a mandatory prerequisite for entry into any judicial lottery pool.

Article 18. Structure of Federal Courts and Selection by Lottery

1. Lower Federal Courts: Created and structured by the House of Representatives. Judgeships in the lower federal courts shall be filled by public lottery exclusively from the pool of candidates who have been formally examined and certified as qualified by the Independent Judicial Council. Selected judges shall serve a term of 10 years.

2. Supreme Court of Justice: Selected by public lottery directly from the pool of active, professional career judges. Supreme Court Justices shall serve a non-renewable term of 2 years, after which they shall return to their original courts.

3. Details regarding lower court organization, qualification standards, and judicial administration shall be established by formal law.

Article 19. Evidence Management and Judicial Bureau

The Judiciary holds exclusive jurisdiction and power to hold, secure, and manage all physical and digital evidence in criminal cases through a dedicated Federal Judicial Evidence Agency. The Judiciary shall be guaranteed all necessary administrative and financial resources to ensure equal, unhindered, and fair access to evidence for all parties involved in legal proceedings.

Article 20. Supreme Court Competencies

The Supreme Court of Justice is the supreme body for judicial interpretation and guarantees within the Union. Its exclusive powers are:

1. Constitutional Review: Declare the unconstitutionality and inapplicability of any legal norm, decree, resolution, or law passed by popular referendum that violates this Constitution.

2. Final Judicial Instance: Hear and resolve final appeals regarding the application of federal law or legal conflicts.

3. Jurisdictional Disputes: Resolve conflicts of jurisdiction between the federal government, Member States, and local entities, as well as between different courts of the Judicial Power.

4. Political and Judicial Prosecution: Try criminal and official misconduct cases involving members of Parliament, the Executive Council, and its own justices.

5. Judicial Administration: Exercise disciplinary authority over magistrates and officials of the Federal Judiciary.

Article 21. Unified Remuneration Regime

Members of the House of Representatives, members of the House of Citizens, the 7 Ministers of the Federal Executive Council, and Justices of the Supreme Court of the Union shall receive the exact same salary. Any modification or salary increase shall only take effect in the subsequent legislative term of the House of Representatives.

What do you think?

I think Europe needs to become a bit more libertarian if it wants to keep up with the US and China. I’m not saying we should get rid of the welfare state.
But there is definitely too much bureaucracy, regulation and government interference in a lot of areas.

Europe has a lot of smart and talented people, but starting and growing a business here can be unnecessarily difficult. If we made it easier to start companies, invest and innovate, Europe could become much more competitive instead of watching the US and China pull further ahead.

It could also help with the demographic problem Europe is facing. Young people are struggling with expensive housing, high taxes and economic uncertainty. That obviously isn’t the only reason people are having fewer children, but making it easier to earn a good income, afford a home and build a stable life could make having a family more realistic.
But economic freedom alone isn’t enough.

Europe also needs to bite the bullet on pensions. With an ageing population and fewer workers supporting more retirees, the current system simply isn’t going to work forever. Pension ages and benefits will probably have to change, even if those reforms are unpopular.

And finally, Europe needs to actually finish the Single Market. It makes no sense that a European company can still face so many different rules and barriers across 27 countries. If Europe had one genuinely unified market, European companies would have a much better chance of becoming large enough to compete with American and Chinese companies.
Europe doesn’t need to become America. But it does need to become more willing to take risks, reform old systems and give people more freedom. Otherwise, we risk becoming a wealthy continent that slowly loses its ability to compete.

This is a real problem. I would like to hear your opinion.

They're plenty of film and tv about the US or British or French government or where they play a significate role or character or setting, they can be historical, fictitious, contemporary. Are they're any about the European Union's?

Interview with the Georgian political analyst and civic leader Mariami on the ongoing protests in Georgia against Russian influence and for a European future in the EU for Georgia.

I have created a plan for a federal Europe

1. Territorial Perimeter and Constitution

Participating Countries (31 States): European Union (27 Member States), United Kingdom, Turkey, Norway, and Iceland.

New Constitution: Approved through a federal Constituent Assembly by universal suffrage, establishing the supremacy of federal law while protecting local autonomies and historical monarchies.

1. Form of Government and Central Institutions

Executive and Presidential Power: A Federal President directly elected by citizens across the entire Union, acting as Head of State and Commander-in-Chief.

Federal Parliament with a 5-Year Government Mandate: Composed exclusively of delegates/governments emerging victorious from national elections in each respective country (5-year term).

Control and Justice: A Federal Constitutional Court empowered to block any authoritarian drift and safeguard fundamental rights.

1. Economic and Fiscal Model

Financial Distribution (Base + Bonus): Allocation of a high, guaranteed fixed baseline quota to all 31 States, complemented by a surplus bonus rewarding countries contributing most to total GDP.

Debt Management: Centralized takeover of historical national debts, transforming them into a single federal debt backed by favorable interest rates.

Global GDP Leadership: Ranking 1st in the world by GDP by integrating colossal industrial, technological, and financial markets.

1. Armed Forces, Intelligence, and Internal Security

Single Army (1st in the World): Total merger of armed forces under a single federal Ministry of Defense, featuring a strategic nuclear arsenal (France and United Kingdom).

Total Sharing: Complete unification of military technology, weapons systems, and continental intelligence networks.

Stop Illegal Immigration: Total closure of external federal borders via unified military patrolling by the single army to halt unauthorized inflows.

1. Foreign Policy and Geopolitics

Global Renegotiation (Russia, USA, and China): Pragmatic resumption of trade relations with Moscow for low-cost oil and raw materials; negotiations on equal footing as a superpower with the United States and China.

Stop Funding Ukraine: Immediate cessation of military and financial support to Kyiv, shifting toward the strategic freezing of the conflict.

Energy Self-Sufficiency: Massive adoption of nuclear energy and renewable sources to eliminate external vulnerability.

Hi guys,

I've noticed that while there are plenty of ways to show support for Europe politically, there doesn't seem to be much representation of Europe or the EU in more everyday things like clothing, streetwear and pop culture.

I've been working on a few T-shirt designs around European identity, unity and some of the things that make Europe feel distinctly European.

I've attached a few of the concepts I've been working on below. They're still a work in progress, so I'd genuinely be interested to hear what people here think.

Which designs would you actually wear? And is there anything you think is missing or that you'd change?

Would love to hear your thoughts! 🇪🇺

Here is my work in progress website: europa-wear.com

Atlantic Union?
Democratic Union?

I think the best ones are either euro-english, Latin or something like that. EF = European Federation

If we are serious about European federalisation, I am strongly of the belief that we must use this as a moment to transcend current democratic norms, and it will not be enough to just make some tweaks to the standard US model of federalisation.

I understand that the current proposals are already not just "tweaks to the standard US model of federalisation" - but it is still not enough imo.

Specifically, how we are going to 'do' things is of the upmost importance - and I would strongly argue that a powerful sortition-based citizen's chamber within the legislative branch will be necessary, as well as more innovative electoral systems - like those based on range/score voting methods will be necessary too. As well as ensuring that monetary governance is democratised, rather than allowing central banking to remain incredibly technocratic.

Essentially, we need more thoroughly and well-thought-out concrete proposals for exactly what we wish for a federalised Europe to look like - otherwise we will struggle to be persuasive.

I fear that we will just become so desperate that we treat federalisation as an end rather than a means - where we become stuck with some lukewarm system that does very little to make Europe more democratic and effective.

It's not easy to make constitutional changes once they've been finalised - so it is incredibly important that we try as hard as we can to get as much right from the start as possible - otherwise we are setting up future generations for the same kinds of institutional inertia that have plagued all generations thus far.

Essentially, at this point in time, we need to really be focusing on the mechanisms and systems that we will genuinely be happy surrendering ourselves to in the future.

Everything else other than these specific 'how' questions are quite uninteresting to me at this point; what do you think?